Complete Guide to EPF Withdrawal After Resignation: Process, Eligibility, and Tax Implications

There are a few criteria that govern the eligibility criteria for withdrawal of EPF balance after you have resigned. These include:

• You must have been continuously employed at your last company for at least two months.
• You need to have served a notice period of one month or made an equivalent payment to the employer subsequent to resigning
• You must also have the correct and up-to-date information on the EPFO website.
• You have not already started a new job.

If you are eligible according to the above criteria, you can withdraw up to 75% of your EPF balance one month after your resignation and the entire account balance after two months of resignation.

Here's a breakdown of how to withdraw your full PF amount online after leaving your job:

• Go to the official EPFO website and Login using your UAN and password.
• Once logged in, select the tab for "Online Services" and click on "Claim".
• Enter your bank account number and verify your details, then click "Yes" to "Proceed with Online Claim".
• Choose the withdrawal type you need to request, such as "PF Advance"/”Partial Withdrawal”/”Full Withdrawal”
• rovide a reason for the withdrawal using the drop-down list that is available online
• Next you can upload requested documents and submit your application using Aadhaar OTP.

If your claim is approved, the EPF amount claimed will be credited to the bank account based on the details provided at the time of claim submission.

Apart from the eligibility criteria mentioned earlier, there are some key terms and conditions that one needs to fulfill in order to withdraw EPF after resignation that one needs to keep in mind, including the below:

• If you have completed less than 5 years of service, you can withdraw your complete EPF balance by filling out and submitting EPFO Form 19.
• In the case of service over 5 years but less than 10 years, you are eligible to make a full withdrawal of your Employees’ Provident Fund account balance, however, taxes will be applicable on the amount withdrawn as per applicable rules. The alternative would be to transfer the EPF account balance to the account opened with the new employer.
• If you have completed over 10 years of service, the entire EPF account balance can be withdrawn subject to applicable tax deductions rules. Moreover, in such cases, monthly EPS pension will also be paid out.
• If you are between 50 and 58 and have completed at least 10 years of service, you may withdraw part of your pension with Form 10D, which is an application for a reduced early pension.
• If you have reached the age of 58, you can withdraw the full pension benefits using Form 10D.

Choosing the right form will depend on your age and the number of years of service you have worked to allow you to take maximum advantage of your PF benefits.

EPF is meant primarily for retirement savings and it features a combination of your contributions, your employer's contributions, and any interest that may accrue over the years. The time period over which you have contributed to the scheme is the key factor that determines whether you pay taxes on your EPF withdrawal.

If you withdraw your EPF funds before the five years of continuous service, both the principal and the interest would be taxed as income and TDS at the rate of 10% is also deducted if PAN card is submitted. The TDS rate is 20% if PAN is not submitted. This applies if your withdrawal from EPF account exceeds Rs. 50,000. If you withdraw from EPF after 5 years of continuous service, EPF withdrawal is tax exempt.

Exceptions to the above 5-year rule are applicable in the case of the employer shutting down or if an emergency or disability occurs. In such cases, you would not be taxed (regardless of the period of service). Therefore, your length of service is the greatest factor in determining the taxation of PF withdrawal after resignation.

To begin the Employees’ Provident Fund withdrawal process after resigning, you might be required to fill and submit the applicable EPFO form. Let’s take a look at the table below to understand their purposes better:

As you can see, different forms have different uses, so using the correct withdrawal application form is crucial for ensuring that your claim is not rejected.

To simplify your PF withdrawal process and avoid complications at the time of withdrawal, it is advisable to take note of the following:

• Verify that your name is spelled correctly: The spelling of your name must match in all relevant documents. Applicable documents include EPF passbook, bank checkbook, and bank passbook to avoid rejection.
• Consistent KYC: It is worth checking that your KYC details are accurate in order to avoid any delay or denial of your withdrawal claim.
• Ensure Aadhaar is Linked: Ensure that you have linked your UAN to your Aadhaar number, as it is not only necessary for withdrawal or transfer but also often mandatory to get your claim processed.
• Enter the Bank details accurately: Make sure you enter your bank account number accurately, as any error can potentially cause claim rejection.
• Check all key documents: Confirm that you are able to open and access all the PDF files and digital copies of documents utilised when making your claim. Failure to ensure this may lead to your claim being rejected and/or delayed.

While understanding the PF withdrawal process, you should be thoroughly aware of the documents required. Let’s have a look at the list below:

• UAN Number and completely filled out withdrawal application form (Form 10C/Form 10D/Form 19 or Form 31)
• Identity and address proof documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, etc.
• Your Bank account details as visible on your passbook
• A cancelled cheque of the applicable bank account showing your IFSC code and account number

The above list is for illustration only and additional documents may be required to process an EPF withdrawal claim on a case by case basis.

If you're thinking about withdrawing your EPF in 2025, there are a few rules you'll want to be aware of. You should also remember that your current employment status plays a big part in whether you can withdraw your funds right now.

Whether you’ve left your job, are planning a career break, or simply need the money for an emergency, the rules are a little different depending on your situation. Let’s take a look at the rules and updates for the year 2025 with respect to EPF withdrawal below:

• A member may withdraw partial amounts for up to 75 percent after one month of unemployment, and the remaining balance may be withdrawn after two months of unemployment post resignation.
• When considering how to withdraw the full EPF amount after leaving a job, you'll need to adhere to the two-month window (or have a joining date at a new job that is later than two months of resignation).
• There is also the consideration for tax deductions (TDS) for an amount above Rs. 50,000 which is deducted from your EPF withdrawal. This is the same for amounts accessed before five years of your resignation.
• If you have provided your PAN card, the TDS on EPF withdrawal is 10%, while a higher TDS of 20% is applicable if you have not submitted your PAN.
• Loan against EPF account balance vary based on how long you have been working for the establishment (how long the service has been). If you transfer your EPF to your new establishment account, you are not eligible to get a EPF loan until the new account has been operational for at least 5 years.

Familiarising yourself with these rules is important to ensure your EPF withdrawal can be completed in a hassle-free manner.

There are different ways to check your PF withdrawal status online.

• The EPFO website provides one way by going to Services > For Employees > Know Your Claim Status, which can only be accessed by logging in after entering your UAN.
• After logging in, the UAN Member Portal also includes a ‘Track Claim Status’ option that is categorised under Online Services.
• If you would like to use your mobile, the UMANG app provides a similar option. You must log in using your mobile number linked to UAN, find it under Employee Centric Services, and then Track Claim.
• The EPFO also sends SMS alerts on contributions and withdrawals to your registered mobile number after a claim is received and the payment is transferred.
• If you are an offline claimant, you can only check your status through the EPFO website.

If you don’t wish to make a PF withdrawal after your resignation, consider one of these alternatives instead:

• EPF Transfer: When you change jobs, you can transfer your EPF balance from the old account to an EPF account with your new employer. This preserves the continuity of your retirement savings and transfer of your accumulated benefits. You will need to retain your UAN and simply submit your request and transfer paperwork.
• Loan Against EPF: You can also use your own EPF account balance as collateral for a loan, particularly for specific needs such as medical treatment, marriage expenses, purchase of home, etc. Your eligibility will depend on your duration of service. The typical interest rate is competitive compared to personal loan costs. This prevents you from completely or partially withdrawing your PF.

Withdrawing from a EPF account early can impact retirement savings.

• Initially, it diminishes accumulated savings meant for post-retirement financial security. Additionally, EPF withdrawals are subject TDS deductions, which means even further diminishment of the withdrawal amount.
• If the account holder withdraws more than Rs. 50,000, TDS of 10% is applicable.
• If no PAN submission is made, TDS may be deducted at 20% on the amount withdrawn.
• Regardless of PAN submission, both the TDS and applicable tax will decrease the net amount received at withdrawal, which may hurt retirement financial goals in the long term.

Not only do premature PF withdrawals undermine financial goals related to retirement, but they also disrupt the compounding effect necessary to create a sufficiently large retirement corpus. So it is best to minimise the premature withdrawal from a EPF account to limit the impact on retirement savings.