EPF Form 19 vs 10C vs 31: Which Form to Use and When
If you have an Employees' Provident Fund account, you will eventually come across three claim forms: Form 19, Form 10C and Form 31. They look similar but do very different things. Choosing the wrong one is a common reason claims get rejected.
This guide explains what each form does, when to use it, where to file it, and how to apply step by step.
Which form should I use?
| Situation | Form | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Retired or unemployed for required period | Form 19 | Withdraw full PF |
| Need money for child's education or medical treatment | Form 31 | Partial withdrawal |
| Left job after 5 years | Form 10C | Scheme Certificate now, or withdraw the pension share 36 months after the last contribution |
| Left job after 12 years | Form 10C (Scheme Certificate) | Protect pension |
| Turned 58 with 10+ years of service | Form 10D | Monthly pension |
The three forms at a glance
Form 19 is for full and final PF settlement. It affects your PF (EPF) balance and closes the account. Use it when you are retiring, have been unemployed for a long period, or are settling for good.
Form 10C is for pension (EPS) withdrawal or a Scheme Certificate. It affects your pension share. Use it when you leave a job with under 10 years of pension service, or when you want to preserve your pension rights.
Form 31 is for partial PF withdrawal (an advance). It affects your PF (EPF) balance, and the account stays active. Use it when you need money for a specific purpose.
Remember: Form 19 and Form 31 deal with your PF savings. Form 10C deals with your pension. They are separate pots of money, so you may need more than one form.
Form 19: Final PF settlement
What it is
Form 19 is the claim form for withdrawing your entire EPF balance (your contributions, your employer's contributions and interest). Once settled, the PF account is closed. For timelines and a step-by-step walkthrough, see our PF final settlement (Form 19) guide.
When to use it
- Retirement (EPF may be withdrawn on or after the age of 55)
- Permanent and total incapacity
- Permanent migration abroad, or leaving to take a job abroad
- Retrenchment, or a voluntary retirement scheme (no waiting period)
- Continuous unemployment for 12 months under the revised rules (previously 2 months)
When not to use it
- You are still employed.
- You only want part of the money (Form 31 applies).
- You want your pension share (Form 10C applies).
Note: Under the EPF Scheme 2026, you can claim the full balance after 12 continuous months without a job covered by EPF. Women who resign to get married do not have to wait. If you need money sooner, Form 31 lets you take the eligible balance (everything above the 25% minimum).
Where it is used
Online on the EPFO Member Portal or the UMANG app. It can also be filed through your employer or at an EPFO office.
Tax note
If your total service (including transferred service) is under 5 years and the payout is ₹50,000 or more, 10% TDS is deducted (Income-tax Act 2025, section 392(7)). If your income is below the taxable limit, you can submit a self-declaration to avoid it (section 393(6)).
Form 10C: Pension withdrawal or Scheme Certificate
What it is
Form 10C is for the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS). A part of your employer's contribution goes into EPS every month. Form 10C lets you either withdraw your EPS benefit or get a Scheme Certificate that preserves your pension service. For the full claim process, see our pension withdrawal (Form 10C) guide.
When to use it
- Less than 10 years of pension service: take a Scheme Certificate to carry your pension service to the next job, or claim the withdrawal benefit. The withdrawal benefit is paid only 36 months after your last contribution was due, or at age 58 if that comes first (EPS 2026, para 13(1)).
- 10 years or more, below the age of 58: a Scheme Certificate, which preserves pension rights for a future monthly pension
- Age 58 with 10 years or more: a monthly pension is claimed using Form 10D
How is the withdrawal amount calculated?
You don't get back exactly what was paid into your pension account. EPFO uses a fixed chart, Table-IV of EPS 2026, to work out your amount:
Withdrawal = your wages at exit × the Table-IV factor for your months of service
"Wages at exit" is the weighted average of your wages across each wage-ceiling period. The ceiling was ₹15,000 until 16 September 2026 and is ₹25,000 from 17 September 2026 (S.O. 5109(E)).
A few Table-IV factors:
| Years of service | Table-IV factor |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 1.02 |
| 2 years | 1.99 |
| 3 years | 2.98 |
| 4 years | 3.99 |
| 5 years | 5.02 |
| 6 years | 6.07 |
Example: 5 years (60 months) of service, all before 17 September 2026, at or above the ceiling: ₹15,000 × 5.02 = ₹75,300. If all 60 months fall after 17 September 2026, the cap becomes ₹25,000 × 5.02 = ₹1,25,500.
Under EPS 2026, Table-IV gives a factor for every month of service (1 month = 0.08, 12 months = 1.02, 24 months = 1.99), so check the factor for your exact months.
When not to use it
- To withdraw your PF balance. That is Form 19.
- If you will join another covered employer soon, since a Scheme Certificate or service transfer may protect your pension better than a withdrawal.
- If you joined above the wage ceiling (₹15,000 until 16 September 2026, ₹25,000 from 17 September 2026), you are generally not an EPS member, so there is nothing to claim.
Where it is used
Online on the EPFO Member Portal, usually together with Form 19 as a combined claim. It can also be filed through your employer or an EPFO office.
Form 31: Partial withdrawal (advance)
What it is
Form 31 permits a member to withdraw a portion of the EPF balance while remaining a member. The advance is non-refundable, and the account continues to earn interest. For the step-by-step process, see our advance PF withdrawal (Form 31) guide.
Permitted purposes
- Essential needs: illness, education and marriage
- Housing needs: buying or building a home, repaying a home loan, or renovating, up to 5 times during membership
- Special circumstances: up to 2 times in a financial year
Current limits
- Minimum service: 12 months
- Education advances: up to 10 times during membership
- Marriage advances: up to 5 times during membership
- Minimum balance to keep: 25% of everything paid in (your share, your employer's share and interest). You can withdraw up to 100% of the rest, the "eligible balance".
- Each withdrawal must be at least ₹1,000.
The 10 and 5 limits are ceilings, not guaranteed amounts. What you can actually withdraw depends on your eligible balance and the purpose.
Reasons why Form 31 claims get rejected
- Service is under 12 months.
- The purpose doesn't match the category you selected.
- The claim would leave less than 25% in the account.
- KYC, Aadhaar or bank details are not verified.
Where it is used
Online on the EPFO Member Portal or the UMANG app. It can also be filed through your employer or an EPFO office.
How to apply online
All three claims are filed in the same place: log in to the EPFO Member Portal with your UAN, then go to Online Services → Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D). Before you start, make sure your Aadhaar, PAN and bank account are verified in KYC and your date of exit is updated.
For the full step-by-step process, see our guides to Form 19, Form 10C and Form 31.
Apply through PensionBox: the hassle-free way
Filing on the EPFO portal yourself means getting your KYC, date of exit and bank details exactly right, and a small mismatch is enough for a claim to be rejected. On PensionBox, a PF expert works on it with you: they check your details, guide you to the right claim and follow it up until it is closed. Over 1,000 users have completed PF and EPF requests with PensionBox.
- In the PensionBox app or website, open Help Center.
- Under the EPF services, choose Withdraw Provident Fund for a full withdrawal, Advance Claim Request for a partial withdrawal (Form 31), Merge/Transfer Provident Fund or Data Correction.
- Enter your name, email, mobile number and 12-digit UAN, and describe what you need.
- Upload the documents asked for, such as Aadhaar, PAN and a cancelled cheque or passbook.
- Pay the service fee. The fee and GST are shown before you pay.
- Track the request in Help Center. It stays listed with its status until it is closed.
Rules as of November 2026, from the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 (paragraphs 46 and 49), the Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026 (paragraphs 7 and 13, Table-IV), the wage ceiling notification S.O. 5109(E) and the Income-tax Act, 2025 (sections 392(7) and 393(6)). This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim PF and pension together?
Yes. They are separate claims, but they can often be filed together as a combined claim on the portal.
Can Form 31 withdraw 100% of my balance?
No. A 25% minimum balance must remain in your account.
Does Form 10C give me my PF money?
No. It only covers your pension (EPS) share.
What if my claim is rejected?
Read the rejection reason on the portal, fix the issue (usually KYC, exit date or purpose), and file again.
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