How to Close an EPF Account Online?

EPF or the Employee Provident Fund, is a mandatory saving scheme for salaried employees in India, acting as a retirement fund for employees. Both employers and employees contribute 12% of the employee’s basic salary to the EPF scheme, where these contributions accumulate interest over time. 

If you are wondering how to close an EPF account online, it is allowed under certain conditions. Read this article to learn about the terms and conditions for EPF account closure and the closing process.

Conditions to Close EPF Account 

EPF account closure is permissible only under these specific conditions:

• Upon Retirement: Employees can withdraw their entire PF balance and close the account upon retirement from service.
• Job Change: After the final settlement with the previous employer, an employee may choose to close the EPF account instead of transferring it to a new employer.
• Upon Demise of the Employee: In case of an employee’s demise, the nominee will get the accumulated PF amount and the EPF account will be closed.

Rules for Closing a PF Account Online

Are you looking for how to close an EPF account online because of a job change or retirement? Keep the following conditions in mind before closing your EPF account:

1. Service Tenure of Ten Years

If you are between 50 and 58 years of age and have completed continuous employment for 10 years, you can apply for an early EPF withdrawal. 

In such a scenario, fill out Form 10D and the ‘Composite Claim Form’ to withdraw the PF amount and other benefits. 

1. Service Tenure of Above Ten Years

If you served for an organisation for ten years but you are less than 58 years old, there are certain limitations. 

In this situation, if you close your EPF account, you will not get the Employee Pension Scheme amount. This benefit is only available after you retire from employment. 

1. Service Tenure of Less Than 10 Years

If your service tenure is less than ten years, you can claim both the EPF and EPS amounts. To claim these amounts and close the account, you need to duly fill a “Composite Claim Form”.

Furthermore, you need to select both ‘pension withdrawal’ and ‘Final PF Balance’ to complete the complete withdrawal and closure. 

1. Individuals Aged 58 Years and Above

If your age is 58 years or above and want to know how to close an EPF account online, you can withdraw the entire EPF amount and close the account by submitting ‘Form 19’. Additionally, to withdraw your Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) balance, you must submit Form 10D.

Steps to Withdraw Amounts From EPF Accounts

Below are the detailed steps on how to close an EPF account online and get the EPF amount:

Step 1: You need to go to the official website of EPFO.

Step 2: Type in your credentials like your correct password, UAN and the captcha code and then ‘Sign In’.

Step 3: Under the 'Online services' tab, click 'Claim (Form-31, 19, 10D &10C)’.

Step 4: Now, fill out all the important information on the page and click on ‘Verify’ to proceed further.

Step 5: Click on ‘Yes’ that will sign your ‘Certificate of Undertaking’.

Step 6: From the dropdown look for the option, 'only PF withdrawal (Form 19)’.

Step 7: Type in your whole address and check the disclaimer box. Then, click on ‘Get Aadhaar OTP’.

Step 8: Now, type in the OTP that you have received on your registered mobile number and submit the application.

Step 9: You will get a reference number after registering successfully.

Step 10: It takes 15 to 20 days to receive your full EPF amount in your UAN-linked bank account. 

Steps to Close EPF Account Offline

After understanding how to close an EPF account online, you should also have an idea on how to close it offline:

Step 1: Go to the official website of EPFO.

Step 2: Get the ‘Composite Claim form’ (for non-Aadhaar and Aadhaar) from there. 

Step 3: Fill out the Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar) carefully and send it to your nearest EPFO office. Your employer does not need to sign this form to attest to it.

Note: If you are using the Composite Claim Form (Non-Aadhaar) for EPF withdrawal, you must submit the form to the EPFO office with attestation from your employer. 

Things You Should Know About Form 19

Form 19 is used for final settlement when an employee is closing his/ her PF account. Here are some important information about the form:

Documents Required for PF Withdrawal From Your EPF Account

Now that you have an idea about how to close an EPF account online and offline, let us look at the essential documents required for account closure:

• Proof of ID: Keep your Aadhaar Card or any other valid ID document handy for authentication.
• Cancelled Cheque: Submit a cancelled cheque from your UAN-linked bank account with a visible account number and IFSC code.
• Bank Details: Ensure that you update the UAN-linked bank account details on the EPFO portal.
• Proof of Address: Your address proof is essential, in case there is a change of address during employment.

Final Word

Now that you have an understanding of how to close an EPF account online, you can complete the process seamlessly from the comfort of your home. Note that the process is completely free and upon submission, you can receive the PF amount within 15-20 days. If you are changing organisation, it is recommended not to close the account but switch it with the new employer.

Apart from EPF, you can enhance your savings by investing in Fixed Deposits. With Stable Money, you can open an FD account with 9.10% interest. Download the Stable Money app or visit Stable Money’s website to start investing in high-yielding FDs today.