Claiming Unpaid Dividends and Shares from IEPF – FAQ

This guide explains how to claim unpaid dividends and shares transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). For the latest rules and updates, please visit the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) website.

1. What is the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)?

The IEPF is a fund set up by the Government of India where unclaimed dividends and shares are transferred after they remain unclaimed for a specific period.

2. What is an unpaid dividend?

A dividend that is not paid or claimed within 30 days from its declaration date is treated as an unpaid dividend.

3. What happens to unpaid dividends initially?

If a dividend remains unpaid for 30 days, the company must transfer it to a special Unpaid Dividend Account with a scheduled bank within 7 days.

4. When are unclaimed shares or dividends transferred to IEPF?

• Any amount in the Unpaid Dividend Account unclaimed for 7 years from the date of transfer must be transferred to IEPF.
• All shares for which dividends have not been claimed for 7 consecutive years or more are also transferred to IEPF.

5. Will my shares be transferred if I have claimed dividends in the past 7 years?

No. If you have claimed or received a dividend in any of the last 7 years, your shares will not be moved to IEPF.

6. How to claim shares or dividends from IEPF?

Step 1: Contact the Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA) for an entitlement letter.
Step 2: Register on the MCA website. (Watch instructional video)
Step 3: Fill and submit e-Form IEPF-5 online.
Step 4: Send the physical documents to the company’s Nodal Officer (IEPF) after online submission.

7. How to fill the IEPF-5 form?

Refer to the Instruction Kit for Form No. IEPF-5 (PDF) for detailed guidance.

8. How to check if my form is correctly filled?

Click Check Form in the e-Form. The system will validate mandatory fields and display any errors. On successful validation, you will see:
Form level pre-scrutiny is successful.

9. Can I edit the form after validation?

Yes. Click Modify, make your changes, and then re-run Check Form.

10. Is there a fee for submitting the IEPF-5 form?

No fee applies. However, when prompted for payment options, select Pay Now (even if the fee is zero) to generate the acknowledgement.

11. What documents must I send physically after online filing?

Send these to the company’s Nodal Officer (IEPF):

• Printed, signed copy of the IEPF-5 form
• Acknowledgement copy (with Service Request Number)
• Notarized original Indemnity Bond (as per claim amount rules)
• Self-attested ID proof (Aadhaar for Indians; Passport/OCI/PIO for foreigners)
• Proof of entitlement (e.g., RTA letter, share certificate)
• Cancelled cheque leaf with your name printed
• Self-attested bank passbook copy
• Self-attested PAN card copy
• Self-attested Client Master Report (CMR) of your demat account
• Notarized death certificate (if a joint holder is deceased)

12. How should I prepare the Indemnity Bond?

• For claims ≥ ₹10,000 or share refunds: Use non-judicial stamp paper (as per state’s Stamp Duty Act).
• For dividend claims < ₹10,000: Use plain paper.
• Must be notarized and signed by the claimant and witness, with date and place mentioned.

13. Can I use the specimen formats from the website?

No. Do not submit annexures directly printed from specimen formats. Use them as a guide and insert your own details before printing.

14. Where do I send the documents?

Send all physical documents to the company’s registered office addressed to the Nodal Officer (IEPF) in an envelope marked:
"Claim for refund from IEPF Authority"

15. How long does the process take?

Processing time depends on the company’s and IEPF Authority’s verification speed. After the company verifies your claim, it is forwarded to the IEPF Authority for final approval.

16. What if my claim is rejected?

You will receive a communication stating the reason for rejection. Once the issue is resolved, you can reapply.

17. Who can I contact for help?

• The company’s Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA)
• The company’s Nodal Officer (IEPF)
• MCA Helpdesk (for technical issues with e-Form filling)