PF Withdrawal means taking out the money you’ve saved in your Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) account. EPF is a retirement savings plan where both you and your employer contribute a part of your salary every month. After retirement or in some special cases, you can withdraw this saved money. This guide explains everything you need to know about PF withdrawal, including new rules for 2025, types of withdrawals, required documents, and how to withdraw your PF amount online in simple steps.
Overview of Provident Fund (PF) Withdrawal
Provident Fund (PF) withdrawal means taking out your saved EPF money. EPF is meant to secure your financial future after retirement. Usually, you can’t withdraw your PF money until you retire, but there are some exceptions where partial or full withdrawals are allowed before that.
Main Details About EPF Withdrawal
| Name | PF Withdrawal |
| Full Form | Provident Fund Withdrawal |
| Who Can Benefit | Employees contributing to EPF |
| Official Website | https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/index.php |
Updated EPF Withdrawal Rules for 2025
The EPFO has made some rule changes to help members access their PF during emergencies or job loss. You can now withdraw up to 75% of your PF balance or an amount equal to 3 months’ basic salary plus dearness allowance, whichever is less. You can submit this request online, and online claims are handled faster within 3 working days, compared to 20 days offline.
New PF Withdrawal Rules You Should Know
- You cannot withdraw your PF money while employed except in some special cases.
- Partial withdrawal is allowed for emergencies like medical treatment, buying or building a house, or higher education. Partial limits apply based on the purpose.
- If you lose your job due to layoff or company closure, you can withdraw your PF amount.
- You must be 55 years or older to withdraw full PF after retirement. Early withdrawal of 90% is allowed one year before retirement at age 54.
- After one month of unemployment, you can withdraw up to 75% of your PF balance. The remaining 25% can be moved to a new EPF account when you get a new job.
- Tax exemption on PF amount applies only if you have contributed continuously for 5 years. Otherwise, PF withdrawal during service is taxable and subject to TDS as per rules.
- TDS applies only if your withdrawal is above Rs. 50,000. You need to provide your PAN to avoid higher TDS deductions.
- If your Aadhaar is linked to UAN and your employer approves, you can withdraw PF directly online without employer permission delays.
Types of PF Withdrawals
- Final PF Settlement: Full withdrawal after retirement or job loss.
- Partial PF Withdrawal: Money withdrawn for emergencies before finishing service.
- Pension Withdrawal: Withdrawal related to EPS (Employees Pension Scheme) benefits.
PF Withdrawal Before 5 Years of Service
If you withdraw PF before 5 years of continuous service, TDS will be applied except if the amount is below Rs. 50,000. You must provide correct details in your Income Tax Returns to avoid extra tax issues. Employer, employee contributions and interest may get taxed depending on exemptions claimed.
PF Withdrawal After Retirement
- You can claim your full PF and pension amount when you reach retirement age (usually 58 years).
- PF withdrawal after retirement is tax-free but the interest earned on the amount is taxable if not withdrawn within 3 years.
- If you have served 10 or more years, you can get full pension benefits under EPS.
Documents Needed for PF Withdrawal
- Your Universal Account Number (UAN) provided by your employer.
- Bank account details that must match the details in your EPF account.
- Identity proof matching EPF account details (such as Aadhaar, PAN).
- Details of joining and leaving the company, provided by your employer.
How to Withdraw PF Online in 5 Easy Steps
- Visit the official EPFO website.
- On the homepage, go to the ‘Services’ tab and click ‘For Employees’.
- Click on ‘Member UAN/Online Service (OCS/OTCP)’.
- Log in using your UAN, password, and captcha code.
- After login, click on ‘Manage’ tab and select ‘KYC’ to check and confirm your details are correct.
- Next, go to ‘Online Service’ and click ‘Claim (Form-31, 19 & 10C)’.
- Enter last 4 digits of your bank account and verify it. A certificate will be generated.
- Click ‘Proceed for Online Claim’, then select ‘PF Advance (Form-31)’.
- Choose the reason for withdrawal from the dropdown and fill in the requested details.
- Tick the declaration box and submit your withdrawal request.
- Upload any required supporting documents depending on your withdrawal reason.
- Your claim will be approved by EPFO and the money will be transferred to your bank account. You will get an SMS update once completed.
Tax Rules on PF Withdrawal
- TDS applies for withdrawal before completing 5 years of service unless the amount withdrawn is less than Rs. 50,000.
- If PAN is provided, TDS is 10%; without PAN, TDS is 34.608%.
- TDS exemption is available in cases like company lockouts, layoffs, or serious health conditions.
Using this updated guide, you can easily understand PF withdrawal rules in 2025 and withdraw your EPF money online quickly. Remember to keep your UAN and KYC details updated to avoid delays.