Three forms, three purposes, one portal. Pick the wrong one and your claim bounces. Here's which form fits your situation, the exact online steps, and the readiness checklist that keeps a claim from being rejected.
First, Which Form Do You Actually Need?
Online, these three appear together under one heading — "Claim (Form 31, 19, 10C & 10D)" — and you choose from a dropdown. Getting the choice right is half the battle.
| Form | Use it for | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Form 19 | Final settlement — withdraw your full PF balance | After you've left the job (2-month waiting period for unemployment) |
| Form 10C | Withdraw the pension (EPS) portion | Total service under 10 years; over 10 years you get a Scheme Certificate and monthly pension at 58 instead |
| Form 31 | Partial advance while still employed | For specific needs — medical, marriage, education, housing, etc. |
Leaving a job for good? You'll usually file Form 19 and Form 10C together. Still employed and need money for a defined reason? That's Form 31.
Do this before you file anything. Most rejections are avoidable. Confirm all of the following first:
- UAN active and Aadhaar-linked
- KYC verified — Aadhaar, PAN and bank account all showing "verified"
- Bank name matches your UAN/Aadhaar name exactly
- Date of exit updated (Form 19 and 10C won't even open without it)
- No overlapping employment dates in your service history
Withdraw Online: Step by Step
- Log inSign in to the EPFO member portal with your UAN, password and captcha.
- Check KYCGo to Manage → KYC and confirm Aadhaar, PAN and bank show as verified. Fix anything pending before continuing — see our Aadhaar linking guide.
- Open the claimUnder Online Services, select Claim (Form 31, 19, 10C & 10D). Your details load automatically.
- Verify your bank accountEnter the last four digits of your linked bank account and click Verify. Then click Yes to sign the Certificate of Undertaking.
- Pick the claim typeIn "I want to apply for", choose Only PF Withdrawal (Form 19), Only Pension Withdrawal (Form 10C), or PF Advance (Form 31). For Form 31, add the reason and amount. Enter your full address.
- Sign with Aadhaar OTPTick the disclaimer, click Get Aadhaar OTP, enter the code sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile, and submit.
- Save the reference & trackA reference number appears on success. Track it under Online Services → Track Claim Status or in UMANG.
Prefer your phone? You can file the same claim in the UMANG app: open EPFO services, choose Raise Claim, verify your UAN by OTP, confirm the last four digits of your bank account, and submit. Same engine, mobile-friendly.
How Long It Takes, and the TDS Rules
Once submitted cleanly, the amount typically reaches your linked bank account in about 15–20 working days. On tax:
| Situation | TDS |
|---|---|
| Withdraw after 5 years of continuous service | Generally tax-free |
| Withdraw before 5 years, above the threshold, PAN linked | TDS at 10% |
| Withdraw before 5 years, PAN not linked | TDS at a much higher rate |
| Before 5 years but income below taxable limit | Submit Form 15G/15H to avoid TDS |
Think twice before withdrawing on a job change: If you're just switching jobs, transferring beats withdrawing — it preserves your continuous service (which is what makes future withdrawals tax-free and unlocks the EPS pension at 10 years). See our PF transfer guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Form 19 for final settlement after leaving, Form 10C for the pension portion when service is under 10 years, Form 31 for a partial advance while employed.
Usually 15–20 working days to the linked bank account, assuming verified KYC and an updated exit date.
Yes, if you withdraw above the threshold before five years of continuous service — 10% with PAN, higher without. After five years it's generally tax-free.
Not for the claim itself if KYC is verified. But your exit date must be recorded — the employer does this, or you can update it yourself two months after your last contribution.
If your bank account is already verified and linked to your UAN, the portal often skips the document-upload step entirely.
