Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) is a Govt. of India Authority for the promotion of investors' awareness and protection of the interests of investors. It is a Ministry of Corporate Affairs-initiated fund established under the Companies Act, 2013 designed to safeguard the interests of investors. The IEPF Authority is mandated to make refunds of shares, unclaimed dividends, deposits, etc., that have been transferred to IEPF.
If the dividends declared by a company remain unclaimed for seven consecutive years or more, then the dividends as well as the pertaining shares are transferred to IEPF. In case the shares are in Demat, the dividends remain unclaimed due to the bank accounts linked with Demat being inoperative or dormant.
If the dividends declared by a company remain unclaimed for seven consecutive years or more, then the dividends as well as the pertaining shares are transferred to IEPF. In case the shares are in Demat, the dividends remain unclaimed due to the bank accounts linked with Demat being inoperative or dormant.
To claim the shares from IEPF, the claimant must fill out Form IEPF-5 online at www.iepf.gov.in. Claimant must submit a printout of the Form together with additional documentation to the company's Nodal Officer at its registered office for verification of the claim. The nodal officer examines the documentation, validates the claim online, and submits it to IEPFA. The claim is approved by the IEPFA once all documentation has been verified. The shares are subsequently credited to the claimant's Demat account.
the case of foreigners and NRIs, a copy of their passport, OCI, and PIO card is required.
