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At one time, withdrawing money from PF (Provident Fund) was no less than winning a war. The process from filling the forms to visiting the office and waiting for the money for months was very tedious. But in 2026, the system has completely changed.

You no longer need your employer's permission to use your own money. EPFO has made its system completely digital and extremely fast. If you are also planning to withdraw your PF money, then this article is for you. Let us know what is the most authentic, safe and fast way to withdraw PF.

EPFO 3.0: Now you will get your money within few hours, not hours

Withdrawal of PF in 2026 has become easier than ever. Under EPFO ​​3.0 update, now 95 percent of the claims are being settled automatically, due to which the time to get the money has come down to a few hours or minutes. The biggest change is that the auto-settlement limit has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. This means that claims up to Rs 5 lakh no longer require any human intervention. Apart from this, now the facility of withdrawing PF money directly through UPI and special ATM cards of EPFO ​​is also being started.

Check these 4 things before claiming PF

In order for the PF money to come into your bank account without any interruption, it is mandatory to have some important documents in order before making the claim:

1. UAN: Your 12 digit Universal Account Number must be activated.
2. KYC: Your Aadhaar card, PAN card and bank account (with correct IFSC code) must be linked and verified with your UAN.
3. Mobile Number: Your mobile number linked to Aadhaar should be active as OTP will come on it.
4. Date of Exit: If you have left the job and want to withdraw the full amount, your 'Date of Exit' should be recorded by the previous employer on the EPFO ​​portal.

Step-by-step online method to claim PF

Withdrawal of PF through online process is the safest and fastest way. You can follow these easy steps sitting at home:

1. First of all, go to the Unified Member Portal of EPFO ​​and log in using your UAN and password.
2. After logging in, click on the 'Online Services' tab above and select 'Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)' from the dropdown menu.
3. Your information will open on the screen, enter the last 4 digits of your bank account and click on 'Verify'.
4. After the bank account is verified, click on the 'Proceed for Online Claim' button.
5. Now go to the option of 'I want to apply for' and select the claim form (Form 19, Form 31, or Form 10C) as per your need.
6. Fill the information as per your requirement and upload the photo of the check or passbook, finally submit your claim by entering the OTP received on the mobile number linked to Aadhaar.

Which form to choose when?

Often people make mistakes in choosing the form, due to which their claim gets rejected. You need to choose the right form according to your situation:

• Form 19: This form is used to withdraw the entire PF amount (Final Settlement) at least 2 months after leaving the job.
• Form 10C: This form is filled to withdraw your pension money from EPS, but its condition is that your total employment should be less than 10 years.
• Form 31: If you are working and you need advance (Partial Withdrawal) for reasons like medical emergency, marriage, children's education or buying a house, then this form will be useful for you.

How to avoid deducting tax (TDS)?

One expert tip that can save you money is to understand the tax rules. If you withdraw money after completing 5 years of continuous service, it is completely tax-free. But, if your service is less than 5 years and the withdrawal amount is more than Rs 50,000, then 10 percent TDS is deducted.

To avoid this, you should upload Form 15G online while making the claim (provided your total income is within the tax exemption limit). You should also keep in mind that under the new income tax rules from April 1, 2026, Form 15G and 15H have now been replaced by the new 'Form 121'.

How to check the status of your claim?

After submitting the claim, you do not need to go to the EPFO ​​office. You can check the current status of your application by going to 'Track Claim Status' on the EPFO ​​portal. Apart from this, you can also easily check the status of your claim by visiting UMANG App, giving a missed call to 9966044425 from your registered mobile number, or through SMS to 7738299899 (by typing EPFOHO UAN ENG).

If all the details in your profile (name, bank account, Aadhaar) match exactly, then due to the new system of EPFO, your money will be directly transferred to your bank account without any interruption.