Withdrawal of provident fund

Save Share

This query is : Resolved

Querist : Anonymous

Querist : Anonymous (Querist)

02 January 2014 my client has left his job.what would be the tax treatment for the provident fund received in the bank from the left out company?

CA Pallav Singhania

CA Pallav Singhania (Expert)

02 January 2014 EPF or GPF, withdrawal is not allowed generally unless one has given up working or wants to be self-employed, etc. As per EPF rules, you are allowed to withdraw money only if you have no job at the time of withdrawing your fund and if 2 months have passed. Only transfer is allowed in case you have switched to a new job. Some people, however, withdraw the EPF after 60 days of leaving the organization, stating that they don't have any job, but this is illegal as per the EPF rules, if you are doing so after switching to a new job.

Thus, if you have no job at the time of withdrawing your fund and if 2 months have passed after leaving your organisation, then you are allowed to withdraw the fund. A declaration is required to be given stating the reason for the same. Otherwise, partial withdrawal is allowed in certain cases, which is in the form of loan, where one has to pay back that amount later and before that, has to state the reason for opting for withdrawal, for example, self or daughter's marriage, buying a home, education of self or children, medical treatment for self or family, among others.

There are certain specified criteria under which partial withdrawal is permitted. In case of education or marriage, for instance, the employee should have completed at least 7 years of employment or service.

The maximum aggregate withdrawal can't exceed 50 per cent of the total contributions made by you and withdrawal can be made only thrice during a person's total service tenure. Proof of education or wedding is also required to be submitted.