Most Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) subscribers know they can make partial withdrawals while still in service. What they often don't know is how much they are actually eligible to withdraw.
Until now, the answer wasn't straightforward. The withdrawal amount depended on different formulas for different purposes, and subscribers usually got to know the sanctioned amount only once the claim was processed.
That changes with the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026, which simplifies withdrawals by replacing more than a dozen withdrawal provisions with three broad categories—essential needs, housing, and special circumstances.
It also introduces a clearer structure for withdrawals. You can access up to 75% of your total EPF balance, provided you have completed at least 12 months of service. The remaining 25% must stay in your account to preserve long-term compounding for your retirement.
- Step 10: From the three options below, click on ‘PF Advance’
PF Advance (Form 31)
PF Final Settlement (Form 19)
Pension Withdrawal Benefit (Form 10C) - Step 11: Select the eligible service from the list of your current and previous employers. This step is not required if your previous EPF accounts have been merged.
- Step 12: Choose the purpose of withdrawal: essential needs, housing or special circumstances. The portal will display the maximum amount you are eligible to withdraw.
Things to keep in mind
- If you withdraw your EPF before completing five years of continuous service, TDS may apply. If your PAN is linked with your EPF account, tax will be deducted at 10%, provided the withdrawal exceeds the prescribed threshold of ₹50,000. No tax is deducted if the withdrawal amount is below ₹50,000, even if you have not completed five years of service.
- If PAN is not furnished, TDS will be deducted at the maximum marginal rate, which is currently 39%.
- If your total income is below the taxable limit, you can submit Form 15G or Form 15H, as applicable, to avoid TDS.
- Even if tax is deducted because PAN is not furnished, it is not your final tax liability. You can claim a refund while filing your income tax return if your actual tax liability is lower.