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IEPF Assist

IEPF claim assistance for shares and dividends transferred to the fund

If a company has transferred your shares or unpaid dividend to IEPF, we help you understand the route back, organise the papers and follow the claim through.

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What is an IEPF claim?

When a company's dividend stays unpaid or unclaimed for seven consecutive years, the law requires the related shares — and the unpaid dividend amounts — to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), which is administered by the IEPF Authority under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Transfer to IEPF does not extinguish your ownership. The original holder, or a legal heir, can apply to the IEPF Authority to claim the shares and any dividend back, by filing Form IEPF-5 and supporting the claim with documents that the company then verifies.

In practice, many claims run into trouble not because the investor has no right, but because the paperwork is unfamiliar: old folio numbers, changed names, missing certificates, or a company that is slow to verify. That is where organised assistance helps.

What this service involves

  • Checking whether your holding moved to IEPF

    Using what you know — company, folio or demat details, old certificates, dividend warrants — to understand whether and when the shares were transferred.

  • Preparing the claim

    Gathering the facts and documents needed for the Form IEPF-5 application so that details match company records.

  • Coordinating with the company and RTA

    Following up for the verification the company's Nodal Officer must complete before the IEPF Authority decides the claim.

  • Responding to queries

    Helping you understand and answer deficiency or query notes, and re-submit in the way the authority expects.

Who may need this service

  • Investors whose shares were transferred

    You held shares, did not claim dividends for seven years, and later found the shares were moved to IEPF.

  • Legal heirs

    You inherited a relative's investments and the holdings turn out to be with IEPF. See our legal-heir claims service.

  • Senior citizens

    Holders of 1980s–1990s investments who want a patient guide through the online and paper steps.

  • NRIs

    Overseas investors dealing with Indian companies and authorities from a distance.

Common problems we see

  • Details in company records differ from your documents

    Old name, spelling, address or signature that no longer matches your current identity papers.

  • Missing or lost original certificates

    Physical certificates that cannot be found, or were never collected.

  • Company or RTA is unresponsive

    Long gaps at the verification stage are one of the most common frustrations reported by claimants.

  • Queries and re-submissions

    Claims returned for corrections, extra documents or clearer proof.

How the process generally works

The exact steps depend on the company, the type of holding and the facts of your case. This is a general outline.

  1. 1

    Identify the holding

    Collect company name, folio number or demat details, approximate number of shares and any old documents.

  2. 2

    Obtain company-side details

    Ask the company or its RTA for the information needed for the claim, such as details of the transfer to IEPF.

  3. 3

    File Form IEPF-5 online

    The form is submitted on the MCA portal. An acknowledgement and Service Request Number (SRN) are generated.

  4. 4

    Send required documents to the company

    The company's Nodal Officer (IEPF) verifies the claim against the documents you send, as the current instructions require.

  5. 5

    Company verification

    The company submits its verification report to the IEPF Authority.

  6. 6

    Authority decision and credit

    If the claim is accepted, shares are credited to the claimant's demat account and any dividend is paid to the claimant's bank account, as applicable.

Document checklist

Checklist: claim shares or dividend from IEPF (Form IEPF-5)

Applies to: Claimant is the original holder, or a legal heir, claiming from IEPF

A starting checklist drawn from the revised Form IEPF-5 (in force from 6 October 2025). The company's Nodal Officer and the IEPF Authority decide what they need in your case.

Details you will need to enter

  • Company name and the folio number or DP ID / client ID of the original holding
  • Number of shares and the financial years of unpaid dividend, as far as known
  • Reason the shares or dividend were not received or encashed
  • A working mobile number and email IDThe revised form verifies these by OTP.

Claimant documents

  • Proof of identity and PAN of the claimant
  • Demat account details (Client Master List) into which shares are to be credited
  • Bank account details, with a copy of a blank cancelled cheque leafAs indicated for the revised form; confirm on the portal.
  • Authority letter, if a representative files on your behalfIf applicable

Company-side papers

  • Original share certificates, where shares are held in physical formIf applicable
  • Indemnity bond, if the current instructions require oneIf applicable
  • Entitlement letter from the company or RTAIf applicableReports differ on whether it is now optional. Check the portal.

If the original holder has died

  • Attested death certificateIf applicable
  • Proof of relationship and legal heirship; succession certificate or other court document where applicableIf applicable
  • NOC from other legal heirs or nominees, affidavit and indemnity, as the instructions requireIf applicable

How IEPF Assist can help

  • Explaining your situation and the likely route in plain language
  • Preparing a document checklist specific to your case type
  • Helping you complete and review claim details before filing
  • Tracking the claim and following up with the company and RTA
  • Helping you understand and respond to queries

We are an independent consultancy. We help you prepare, organise and follow up — the decision on your request always rests with the company, the Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA), the depository or the relevant authority.

Expected stages and possible delays

We cannot promise a completion date, because processing depends on third parties. Common reasons for delay include:

  • Verification by the company's Nodal Officer taking longer than expected
  • Mismatch between the details on the form and company records
  • Incomplete, illegible or inconsistent supporting documents
  • Queries raised by the authority that need fresh documents
  • Procedural changes while your claim is pending

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose my shares when they go to IEPF?
No. The shares are held by the IEPF Authority and you can claim them back through the prescribed process, subject to verification.
Can IEPF Assist guarantee that my claim will be approved?
No. Approval rests with the IEPF Authority and the company. We help you prepare and follow up; we cannot guarantee any result or timeline.
Can a legal heir claim shares transferred to IEPF?
Yes, legal heirs can claim, usually with additional proof such as a death certificate and succession-related documents. See the legal-heir claims service.
Is a fee payable to the IEPF Authority for the claim?
Check the current instructions on the IEPF Authority portal. Our own fees, if any, are explained to you before you engage us.

Related services

Unclaimed Shares Recovery

Help locating and recovering old, forgotten or unclaimed shares — whether held in the company's books, with an RTA, or transferred to IEPF.

Read more

Legal Heir Share Claims

Help for legal heirs claiming shares and dividends of a deceased shareholder — from tracing to transmission or IEPF claims.

Read more

NRI IEPF Claim Assistance

Help for NRIs and overseas legal heirs dealing with IEPF claims and Indian shareholdings from abroad.

Read more

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Discuss your case with us

Tell us what you know about the shares or documents. We will explain the likely route and what to keep ready.

Request Consultation

Last updated 18 Oct 2026. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.

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