EPF Form 31 – Meaning, When to Use, How to Download & Submit

With the objective of encouraging savings among the working class in the country, the government of India launched the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) allowing employees and employers to deposit a fixed amount to the employee’s PF account. Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) helps employees to set up a corpus for their retirement. This corpus can, however, be utilized for various requirements, even during the employment period. Members can also apply for partial withdrawals from their PF account under certain circumstances. This can be done by submitting EPF Form 31, which is an application for advance from the fund.

Here, we will discuss in detail on EPF Form 31.

When can you use EPF Form 31?

Form 31 is an Employee Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal form in India. You can use this form under the following circumstances:

• Resignation from employment: If you resign from your job and want to withdraw your EPF balance, you can use Form 31.
• Retirement: If you retire from service and want to withdraw your EPF balance, you can use Form 31.
• Termination of employment: If your employment is terminated for any reason and you want to withdraw your EPF balance, you can use Form 31.
• Partial withdrawal for specific purposes: If you want to withdraw a portion of your EPF balance for specific purposes such as medical treatment, higher education, etc., you can use Form 31.
• Final settlement of EPF: If you have completed 10 years of service or have reached the age of 55, you can use Form 31 to withdraw your entire EPF balance.

It is important to note that you can only withdraw your EPF balance if your account is active and not inoperative. You should also ensure that all the required documentation and information are submitted with Form 31 to avoid any delays in processing your request.

How to Download EPF Form 31?

To download EPF Form 31, here are the steps to be followed:

• Visit the EPFO portal using this link – https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/index.php
• Log in to the portal by entering the UAN and password
• Go to the ‘Online Services’ and navigate to ‘Claim’ 
• Once the new page is launched, users will be asked to enter details such as name, date of birth, father’s name, PAN, Aadhaar number, date of joining the company, and registered mobile number.
• Click ‘Proceed for Online Claim’
• From the dropdown menu on the next page, select ‘PF Advance (Form 31)
• Choose the reason for withdrawal of advance and enter the amount to be withdrawn along with current residential address
• Sign the disclosure section and mark the box that states, ‘Get Aadhaar OTP’
• Enter the OTP that received on the registered mobile number and click on ‘Validate OTP and Submit Claim Form’

Documents required to Submit EPF Form 31

To submit Form 31 for Employee Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal in India, the following documents are typically required:

• Photocopy of the EPF passbook or UAN (Universal Account Number) statement
• Original or attested photocopy of PAN (Permanent Account Number) card
• Original or attested photocopy of Aadhar card
• Original or attested photocopy of the latest salary slip
• Original or attested photocopy of the appointment letter or service certificate
• Original or attested photocopy of the discharge certificate or termination letter, if applicable
• Original or attested photocopy of the proof of age (for partial withdrawals on grounds of higher education or marriage)
• Original or attested photocopy of the medical certificate, if applicable (for partial withdrawals on medical grounds)

The documents required may vary depending on the purpose of the withdrawal and the latest rules and regulations of the EPFO. 

EPF Form 31 format

Form 31, also known as the EPF Advance Form, is commonly used for filing a claim for partial PF withdrawal or advance requests from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) account. Employees are not permitted to withdraw funds from their EPF accounts whenever needed. There are certain norms for PF withdrawal. Similarly, withdrawal using Form 31 can only be made in certain situations.

For partial PF withdrawals, EPF Form 31 can be filled online and offline. If applying offline, the PF member or claimant has to manually fill details in the form. If the employee wants to make an online application, details are often auto-filled. It is important for the member to register his/her UAN for availing online services.

Here’s a look at EPF Form 31 –

What does EPF Form 31 contain?

Broadly, the details contained in the EPF Form 31 are:

• Personal Information: The form contains details such as the name, address, and Universal Account Number (UAN) of the member.
• Employment Information: The form includes information about the current status of the member, such as whether they are currently employed or have retired.
• Bank Account Details: The form requires the member to provide their bank account details, including the account number and IFSC code, for the purpose of transfer of the EPF balance.
• Reason for Withdrawal: The form requires the member to specify the reason for withdrawal, such as resignation, retirement, termination of employment, or partial withdrawal for specific purposes.
• Signature: The form requires the signature of the member, as well as the signature of the employer (if the member is currently employed).

How to download Form 31?

Here are the steps for downloading the EPF Form 31:

• Visit the official website of the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) at https://epfindia.gov.in/.
• Click on the “Downloads” tab.
• Look for “Forms” in the dropdown menu and select “Members” from the options.
• Find and click on the link for Form 31.
• The form will be displayed in a PDF format and can be saved or printed for submission.

How to submit Form 31 offline?

Here is a brief overview of how to submit Form 31 for Employee Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal offline in India:

• Download the latest version of Form 31 from the official website of the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) or obtain a hard copy from an EPF office.
• Fill out the form accurately and completely, including all required information and signature(s).
• Attach all necessary supporting documents, such as proof of identity, PAN card, and bank details.
• Submit the completed form and supporting documents in person to the nearest EPF office or through mail to the regional office.
• You will be required to provide a receipt for the submission of the form and documents.
• Wait for the EPFO to process your request and transfer the EPF balance to your designated bank account.

How to submit Form 31 online?

Here is a brief overview of how to submit Form 31 for Employee Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal online in India:

• Log in to the Member Portal of the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) using your Universal Account Number (UAN) and password.
• Click on the “Online Services” tab and select “Claim (Form 31, 19 & 10C)” from the options.
• Fill out the form accurately and completely, including all required information and signature(s).
• Upload all necessary supporting documents, such as proof of identity, PAN card, and bank details.
• Submit the form and supporting documents online through the Member Portal.

How to check Form 31 claim status?

Here are the steps to check Form 31 claim status online:

• Go to the EPFO website using this link – https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/index.php
• Click on ‘Click here for Knowing your Claim Status’
• A drop-down list will show up from where users have to select the location of their PF office
• The next page displays region code and user’s office code
• Enter the Establishment code 
• The next page will ask users to enter a 7-digit account number
• ‘Submit’ form to see the status of application on the next page

Conclusion

For partial withdrawals from EPF accounts, members must use the EPF form 31. The advances or loans taken from the EPF account can help members to meet different financial requirements, especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

FAQs

1. How to cancel your EPF Form 31?
   After you have applied for partial PF withdrawal by submitting Form 31, you cannot cancel your application. You will have to reach out to the EPFO Regional Office if you are facing any urgencies.

2. What does ‘under process’ mean?
   ‘Under process’ means that a PF application is under consideration. Applicants must keep a check on claim status until it gets approved and the status changes to ‘your claim has been settled’.

3. How many times can I claim Form 31?
   Members are allowed to withdraw PF up to 2-3 times on a non-refundable basis. The minimum gap between withdrawals should be at least 6 months. However, a member can only withdraw once for one reason.

4. Why is my EPF Form 31 rejected?
   EPFO may reject EPF Form 31 under circumstances such as missing updated information in the form, advance claimed in the past, required documents not furnished, or failure to submit the EPF form within stipulated period.

5. How can I get Form 31?
   Form 31 can be accessed from the EPF website. For this, a member has to log in using his/her UAN and password on the portal. Next step is to go to the ‘Online Services’ tab and select ‘Claim’ for submitting an online request.

Other interesting reads

• EPF – All You Need to Know About EPF
• EPF Form 5 – Intimation of new employees to EPFO
• EPF Form 19 – How to Fill EPF Withdrawal Form?
• EPF Withdrawal – How to Fill EPF Form & Get Claim Online
• How much can you withdraw from an EPF account due to COVID-19?