EPF Form 19

Last Updated on October 9, 2023 by BFSLTeam BFSLTeam

Within the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952, a salaried employee, in India, has to make a certain contribution from their salary to EPF. EPF stands for the Employee Provident Fund and the contribution made is a percentage of the employee’s basic salary plus the dearness allowance. Under the Employee Provident Fund Scheme, the employer also has to make a percentage contribution. Withdrawals by the employee can be made under this scheme, but they require an EPFO member to fill in some forms for the same, and the EPF Form 19 is one of these.

EPF Form 19 Explained 

The EPF Form 19 must be filled when an employee (a member) wishes to make a final withdrawal (final settlement) from their EPF/PF account. When an employee is initially enrolled into the EPF scheme by their employer, they may receive a UAN or Universal Account Number. This is a unique identifier of the employee who may wish to avail of certain services and facilities under the EPF scheme. 

Nonetheless, in case some employees do not have a UAN, they can still make withdrawals from their EPF account by filling and submitting EPF Form 19, as mandated by the EPFO (Employee Provident Fund Organisation). In such cases, the member or employee only has to submit their EPF account number to apply for a withdrawal of funds from their EPF account. Form 19 is used when the employee wishes to claim a final settlement of their EPF account. 

There are various EPF Forms available, and they serve different purposes. These forms must duly be filled and submitted to the EPFO to fulfil a claim settlement. All the required forms are readily available on the EPFO portal which can be accessed online.

It must be noted that to access the EPFO portal, an employee must have a UAN which needs to be activated before using it to access the portal. 

Eligibility for Filling EPF Form 19

EPF Form 19 can only be filled by an employee having an EPF account. The form is essentially used only to withdraw the entire EPF amount at maturity of the scheme, that is, the time of retirement, or when a member/employee is unemployed for a period of 2 months. 

Nonetheless, if an employee switches employment from one organisation to another, their EPF amount will be transferred from a prior account to the new current account.

Also Read: Track PF Claim Status 

EPF Form 19 – Details to Fill

The EPF Form no 19 can be found on the EPFO portal after you gain access to the EPFO home page. The form is two pages long, and employees must enter the details listed below:

• Employee Provident Fund account number
• Bank account number and IFSC code (The same bank account as that registered with the employer’s present employer).
• The joining and exit date of the employment
• PAN details
• Form 15G/15H

Other details that must be filled by an employee include their postal address, a preferred remittance method (money order/cheque/bank details), and a revenue stamp of Rs. 1. The employee also has to submit a canceled cheque for the process of bank account verification.

How to Fill EPF Form 19 Online

Once you have activated your UAN, you can, as a member employee, access the EPFO portal and conduct processes and transactions related to your EPF online. Here are the steps to fill out Form 19 online via the EPFO portal: 

• Step 1 – Login to the EPFO portal/website using your Universal Account Number (UAN), and password, and fill in the CAPTCHA.
• Step 2 – Once this is done, go to “Online Services” and click on that. Now select “Claim (Form – 31, 19 & 10C)”.
• Step 3 – Now you have to enter the last four digits of your bank account number that is linked with the EPF account and click on “Verify”.
• Step 4 – A certificate of undertaking will be displayed and you will have to click on “Yes” to accept this and proceed. 
• Step 5 – Next, you must select “Only PF Withdrawal (Form – 19)” from the drop-down menu appearing under the “I want to apply for” option.
• Step 6 – A disclaimer page will be displayed. Check this and click on the “Get Aadhaar OTP” option.
• Step 7 – You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile. Enter this for verification.

Once the process is complete, you will receive a reference number. After your employer approves your application request, the PF amount due will be credited to the employee’s bank account. 

Also Read: Difference Between EPF and PPF

Prerequisites for Filling EPF Form 19

There are some specific prerequisites to note before you go ahead and fill out Form 19. When you visit the EPFO home page on the portal, you should note that the following information is already prepared before you start: 

• Your UAN should be activated on the portal. 
• Your PAN, Aadhaar, and bank account details should be linked with your UAN.
• Your cell number should be linked to your UAN.
• In case you are not eligible to gain the final settlement of your EPF account, Form 19 will fail to display itself on the portal. 
• If you are eligible for the final settlement, then Form 10C will also be displayed. 

Also Read: UAN Member Portal

Concluding Lines – Advantages of EPF Form 19

The EPFO has developed a convenient online process for employees to submit Form 19 and make an application to claim their final EPF settlement. The key advantage of this self-process is that it does away with the need for attestation from the employer. The online process of submission and attainment is quicker too. Additionally, the process brings transparency with e-governance in full effect.