Unclaimed dividends — and the related shares — are remitted to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) after 7 years. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs manages the IEPF. Here is how to check, file and recover your shares and dividends.
After 7 years
Unclaimed dividends & related shares move to IEPF
Still claimable
You can recover even after transfer to IEPF
MCA process
File Form IEPF-5 and complete company verification
The Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) is a government fund to which companies must transfer:
These shares and dividends are held by the IEPF Authority until the rightful owner claims them.
Shares are typically transferred to IEPF when:
Dividends on the shares remain unclaimed for 7 consecutive years.
The company sends notices, but warrants stay unencashed and contact/bank details are not updated.
Shares are in physical form and the shareholder does not respond to company or RTA communication.
Important: shares and dividends can still be claimed after they have been transferred to IEPF.
Step 1
Contact the company’s RTA and/or check folio history. Confirm transfer of shares and dividends, including relevant financial years. Request an Entitlement Letter listing what was transferred, if available.
Step 2
Prepare Form IEPF-5 printout & SRN, indemnity bond, advance stamped receipt, certificates or Demat statement, self-attested KYC, bank proof, entitlement proof, and legal-heir documents if claiming for a deceased holder.
Step 3
On the MCA IEPF portal, open Web Form IEPF-5. Fill CIN, claim type, folio/DP details, amounts/share counts, KYC and bank details. Submit, note the SRN, then download and print the form and acknowledgement.
Step 4
Prepare a physical claim package for the Nodal Officer (IEPF) at the company’s registered office. Mark the envelope “Claim for refund from IEPF Authority” and send by registered post or tracked courier.
Step 5
The Nodal Officer verifies your claim. If satisfactory, the company files an E-Verification Report with the IEPF Authority on your behalf.
Step 6
On approval, pending dividends are refunded online to your bank account, and shares are transferred from the IEPF Demat pool to your Demat account. Timelines vary; refunds often follow within a few months after verification.
Only one IEPF-5 may be filed per company per claimant at any point in time.
Name, PAN, bank and Demat details must match your KYC and company records.
If the Authority asks for changes or extra documents, respond within the given window (often 90 days) to avoid rejection.
Fulfil all legal heir and signature requirements for joint holdings or claims after death.
Mismatch in name, PAN, or folio/DP details between IEPF-5 and company records.
Indemnity bond or advance receipt missing or incorrectly prepared.
KYC or bank proof insufficient or incomplete.
Missing or unclear proof of entitlement.
Legal heir documents not properly executed.
Share company names, folio numbers and dividend information. We will help you shape a clear IEPF recovery strategy.
