Withdrawal of Provident Fund and EPS Pension: Rules

Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), is a mandatory savings and retirement scheme for eligible employees. Employees can rely on the fund's corpus after they retire.

Employees must contribute 12% of their wages to this fund each month, according to EPF rules. The employer also contributes 12%, of which 8.33% of wages up to ₹15,000 (max ₹1,250 a month) goes to the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) and the rest to the PF account. Annual interest is paid on funds deposited in EPF accounts.

Update — the EPF, EPS and EDLI Schemes were replaced in 2026. The Code on Social Security, 2020 came into force on 21 November 2025, and from 29 June 2026 the EPF Scheme 2026, EPS 2026 and EDLI Scheme 2026 replaced the 1952, 1995 and 1976 Schemes. The rate is still 12% and the wage ceiling is still ₹15,000 a month (S.O. 2702(E), 29 May 2026) — the ₹21,000 and ₹25,000 figures reported in the press have not been notified. Two things changed for readers: contributions are now calculated on "wages" as defined in section 2(88) of the Code, which is wider than "basic + DA"; and EPS is 8.33% of wages only up to the ceiling, at most ₹1,250 a month — someone whose wages already exceed the ceiling when they first join does not enter EPS at all, so their employer's entire 12% goes to EPF. (Position as of September 2026.)

Employees who retire can withdraw the entire amount accumulated in their EPF. However, this article explains how to make premature withdrawals from an EPF account if certain conditions are met.

Types of PF Withdrawals

On the EPFO member portal, subscribers can make three types of PF withdrawals. They are as follows:

1. Final PF settlement
2. Partial PF withdrawal
3. Benefit from pension withdrawal

Subscribers who have seeded their Aadhaar card details with their UAN can make the above-mentioned withdrawals on the EPFO member portal with the attestation of their employer.

Can you withdraw the pension (EPS) amount from PF?

Only if you leave before completing 10 years of eligible service. In that case you can take the EPS money as a one-time withdrawal benefit, but only 36 months after your last contribution was due (or on reaching superannuation age, if that comes first). With 10 or more years of service, there is no lump sum: you get a monthly pension instead.

Worked example. Say you leave after 6 years (72 months) of EPS service, and your wages were at the ₹15,000 ceiling throughout. Table IV of the scheme gives a factor of 6.07 for 72 months, so your withdrawal benefit is 6.07 × ₹15,000 = ₹91,050. After 3 years (36 months) the factor is 2.98, which works out to ₹44,700. The scheme uses the weighted average of your wages at the end of each wage-ceiling period, so your own figure depends on your salary history.

The scheme certificate is useful if you expect to work again in a covered job: the service it records is added to your new service, so it counts towards the 10 years. (Source: Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026, paragraphs 12 and 13 and Table IV, G.S.R. 527(E). Position as of October 2026.) To claim the withdrawal benefit online, see our step-by-step Form 10C pension withdrawal guide.

When can you withdraw your full PF balance?

Under the EPF Scheme, 2026 (G.S.R. 525(E)), which replaced the 1952 Scheme from 29 June 2026, you can withdraw your full PF balance:

1. On retiring after the age of 55.
2. On permanent and total incapacity for work.
3. Just before leaving India to settle or work abroad.
4. On retrenchment, or retirement under a voluntary retirement scheme.
5. After leaving a job, once you have not been employed in a covered establishment for a continuous 12 months before you apply. Women who resign to get married do not have to wait.

While you are still employed, you can make a partial withdrawal of at least ₹1,000 for illness, education, marriage, housing or special circumstances, generally after 12 months of membership. You must leave a minimum balance of 25% of your total contributions plus interest in the account. Our advance PF withdrawal guide covers the limits and how to apply. (Position as of October 2026.)

PF Withdrawal Rules

EPFO has listed a number of PF withdrawal rules in order to ensure that employees continue to be enrolled in the scheme and avoid making withdrawals from their PF corpus in order to save it for the future or for retirement.

These are the following:

1. All withdrawals made before completing 5 years of continuous service are taxed. Withdrawals from the EPF after 5 years of continuous service are tax-free.
2. Withdrawals will not be taxed if the employee was terminated or is unemployed due to illness, for example. (Income-tax Act, 2025, Schedule XI Part A, paragraph 8(1)(b). Position as of October 2026.)
3. If the employee withdraws before completing 5 continuous years in the scheme, the principal amount as well as the interest earned is taxed. Nonetheless, the amount will be taxable in the current fiscal year.
4. If an employee withdraws ₹50,000 or more before completing 5 continuous years, 10% TDS (tax deducted at source) will apply if he or she has provided the EPFO with his or her PAN number. Without PAN, TDS is deducted at 20%. (Position as of October 2026.)
5. If the entire PF balance is transferred to the National Pension System (NPS), it is not taxed at the time of transfer. (Position as of October 2026.)
6. If an employee changes jobs and opens a new PF account, it will be considered continuous service to the scheme as long as there is no gap in contributions.
7. The EPFO lets members use the Composite Claims Form to make a partial withdrawal or a final settlement claim.
8. If the employee has linked his or her Aadhaar card to their UAN, they can use the Composite Claims Form to make a withdrawal directly to the EPFO without the need for employer attestation. Those who have not seeded their Aadhaar card details with their UAN must submit the Composite Claims Form along with their employer's attestation to make a withdrawal.

(Source for the tax rules above: Income-tax Act, 2025, Schedule XI Part A paragraph 8, and sections 392(7) and 397(2), as published in the Gazette on 21 August 2025; later amendments by Finance Acts are not checked here. Position as of October 2026.)

Who these rules don't fully apply to

1. Members of an exempted private PF trust. If your employer runs its own PF trust, withdrawals and settlement go through the trust's rules and process first. Our guide on moving a private PF trust balance to EPFO explains how that works.
2. People who joined with wages above ₹15,000. If your wages were already above the ceiling when you first joined, you never entered EPS, so there is no pension amount to withdraw: your employer's full 12% goes to your PF.
3. International workers. The schemes have separate provisions for international workers, including their own EPS withdrawal rule, so check those before relying on this page.

(Position as of October 2026.)

Procedure for PF Withdrawal

Because of EPFO changes, subscribers to the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) plan no longer need their employer's permission to make partial or entire withdrawals. All the subscriber has to do is ensure that their UAN is seeded with the information from their Aadhaar card. Furthermore, the EPFO has made available the Composite Claims Form, which can be used to request a partial or total withdrawal. Subscribers can complete the withdrawal process entirely online, either through the EPFO member portal or the UAN website.

For the full steps, see our guides to the PF final settlement (Form 19) and the pension withdrawal (Form 10C).

Requirements for PF Withdrawal

To ensure a smooth withdrawal process, subscribers must meet the requirements listed below if they wish to carry out a withdrawal without the attestation of their employer.

1. Subscribers must ensure that their UAN is active and that their mobile phone number is linked to their PF account. (Not sure how your UAN differs from your PF number? See EPF number vs UAN.)
2. The PF member should also link his or her Aadhaar card to their PF account.
3. The member's bank account information, as well as the bank's IFSC code, must be included.
4. The member will be required to seed his/her PAN details for final settlements prior to the completion of 5 years in the EPF scheme.

This article explains the rules as they stand in October 2026. It is not tax or legal advice: for your own case, check your EPFO passbook and the EPFO portal, or speak to a tax adviser.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I withdraw my PF pension amount after leaving a job?

Yes, if your EPS service is less than 10 years. You can claim the withdrawal benefit with Form 10C, but only 36 months after your last contribution was due, or on reaching superannuation age if that is earlier. With 10 years or more, you get a monthly pension instead.

Does the PF final settlement include the pension amount?

No. The final settlement (Form 19) pays out your PF balance: your share, the employer's PF share and the interest. The pension (EPS) part is claimed separately with Form 10C, under the EPS rules above.

How long after leaving a job can I withdraw my full PF?

Under the EPF Scheme, 2026, you can withdraw the full balance once you have not been employed in a covered establishment for a continuous 12 months before applying. Retirement after 55, retrenchment, voluntary retirement and moving abroad do not need this wait.

Is PF withdrawal taxable?

Withdrawals after 5 years of continuous service are tax-free. Before 5 years, the amount is taxable, and 10% TDS applies on withdrawals of ₹50,000 or more if your PAN is on record with the EPFO (20% without PAN).