Investor Update
With respect to demat accounts, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of ‘choice of nomination’ to December 31, 2023,” said SEBI in a circular on Tuesday, the September 26th 2023.
Reclaiming Unclaimed Shares from IEPF
Investing in shares has been a popular method of wealth creation in India. However, many investors have faced the problem of forgetting to claim their investments or letting them expire. This has resulted in a large number of unclaimed shares in India. To address this issue, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs established the Investor Education & Protection Fund (IEPF). In this article, we will discuss the complete procedure for recovering shares from IEPF.
The Challenge of Unclaimed Paper Shares
In the past, investments in corporations were made using paper share certificates. Investors received tangible grants for the investments they made in a corporation in the form of debentures or shares. These shares or debentures were in paper form, making them difficult to keep and readily losable and destroyable.
As a result, unclaimed shares in physical form might exist for several reasons, including ripped shares, lost shares, forgotten shares, the passing of a genuine shareholder, and deconstructed shares.
The IEPF was established to address the problem of unclaimed shares.
It was created to protect the interests of investors and to promote investor education. The IEPF holds unclaimed shares for seven years, after which they are transferred to the IEPF Authority. The IEPF Authority is responsible for ensuring that the shares are transferred to the correct individual.
What is the Role of IEPF for unclaimed shares?
When dividends or shares go unclaimed or underpaid for 30 days, they are moved from the underpaid dividend account to the IEPF account within 7 days. The IEPF is responsible for transferring or recovering these unclaimed shares through a well-defined procedure. The reasons for the recovery of shares from IEPF may include loss, damage, mutilated share certificates, expired records, improper execution of transmission, death, etc.
Recovery of Shares from IEPF
The procedure for recovering shares from IEPF is as follows:
Step 1: Check if your shares are lying with the IEPF
To check if your shares are lying with the IEPF, you need to visit the IEPF website (https://www.iepf.gov.in/IEPF/refund.html) and click on the “Search” button under the “Claim Refund” tab. You will then be asked to enter your PAN number or your folio number. Once you have entered the required information, click on the “Search” button.
Step 2: Initiate the Claim
If your shares are lying with the IEPF, you need to initiate the claim process by filing an online application on the IEPF website. To apply, you need to click on the “File Claim” button under the “Claim Refund” tab. You will then be asked to enter your PAN, folio, and other details.
Step 3: Upload the required documents
After you have applied, you need to upload the required documents on the IEPF website. The documents required for claiming the shares include a copy of your PAN card, a copy of your Aadhaar card, a copy of your bank passbook or cancelled cheque, and a copy of your share certificate.
Step 4: Submit the application
Once you have uploaded the required documents, you must apply to the IEPF website. After you have applied, you will receive an acknowledgment receipt.
Step 5: Follow up with the IEPF Authority
After you have applied, you need to follow up with the IEPF Authority to ensure that your claim is processed. You can track the status of your claim on the IEPF website using your acknowledgment receipt.
Now, this recovery of shares from IEPF can be a complicated process, and shareholders need to take cautious advice from a well-professional or skilled person to make the process faster and hassle-free.
What is the Role of Unclaimed Investment and Debtor Recovery Services?
To expedite and simplify the recovery process, shareholders should heed the counsel of professionals. The best share recovery service can offer you the needed help throughout such a process. The consultant can help you in various ways, such as providing guidance on the documentation process, verifying the application form, and ensuring that all necessary documents are submitted correctly. In addition, they can also provide advice on the appropriate time to claim your shares from IEPF and offer support throughout the entire process.
Rurash Financials is your one-stop shop for claiming such unclaimed shares and handles it for you in a special & distinctive way. We have a team of experts who are well-versed in the rules and regulations governing the recovery of shares from the IEPF.
Our team will guide you through claiming your IEPF unclaimed shares, including filing the necessary paperwork and completing the necessary formalities. We will ensure that your claim is processed quickly and efficiently so that you can receive your shares as soon as possible.
Dealing with the entire share recovery can be a complex and confusing process and that is why we are committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service and support. We will work closely with you to ensure that your claim is processed smoothly and that you receive the best possible outcome.