Hi Sir. The current organisation I am working in, I will be completing 3 years in November end. My PF amount contributed is approx Rs. 80,000. I wish to resign from my current company since I have got a much better opportunity in a gulf country. So can I withdraw my whole PF amount after 2-3 months of when I will leave the Company. Will that amount be taxable. Please suggest?

Ans: The retirement age set by the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is 58 years for private sector employees. Therefore, you are not eligible for full PF withdrawal (contribution + pension). However, early retirement age is set at 55 years of age.

The taxability of your PF withdrawal depends on two factors:

• Your service period: If you have completed at least 5 years of continuous service (without any breaks exceeding 6 months), then the entire PF amount (including employer and employee contributions) is tax-free at the time of withdrawal.

• Your contributions made after 1 April 2004: If you have made any contributions to your PF account after 1 April 2004, then the interest earned on those contributions will be taxable.

Moreover, you need to verify the following to ensure the complete PF amount is tax-free:
• As your both accounts (company A and B) are not linked, you need to get them linked to avoid any tax implications.
• Whether there were any breaks exceeding 6 months in your service period.

Waiting until you turn 60 years old will not automatically make your PF withdrawal tax-free. The taxability still depends on your service period and contributions made after 1 April 2004, as mentioned earlier.

Ans: It can be tricky to access your PF balance when the company no longer exists. Here are some steps you can take to retrieve your PF balance:

1. Gather Your Documents:

• UAN (Universal Account Number): You can check your UAN on your pay slips from the past employer or by logging in to the EPFO website if you remember your PF account number.
• PF Account Number: If you don't have a UAN, you'll need your PF account number, which was usually mentioned on your salary slips.
• Company Details: Try to gather any information you can about the company you worked for, such as its previous name, acquiring company's name (if known), and the date of acquisition.

2. Withdrawal Process:
Option 1: Online (if you have UAN):
• Log in to the EPFO Member Interface using your UAN and registered mobile number.
• Go to the "Services" tab and select "Claim Settlement."
• Choose the appropriate withdrawal form based on your reason for withdrawal (Form 10C for full withdrawal, etc.).
• Fill in the details for the account you want to withdraw from (specify "previous employer" if you don't see it automatically).
• Enter the company details you have as "Establishment Type" and mention "Closed Establishment" in the remarks section.
• Submit the claim form with all required documents (scanned copies).

Option 2: Offline (if no UAN):
• Download the appropriate withdrawal form for non-UAN members (Composite Claim Form).
• Fill in the form with your details and company information.
• Get the form attested by a bank manager or gazetted officer.
• Submit the completed form with supporting documents to the Regional PF Office having jurisdiction over your previous employer's location.
3. Follow Up:
• Whether you apply online or offline, keep track of your claim status regularly. You can do this through the EPFO website or by contacting the regional PF office.
• If you remember the acquiring company's name, contacting their HR department might also be helpful. They might have records of your previous company's employees and PF accounts.