Closed employer, mismatched exit date
Client A, Pune. Three rejections over a date-of-exit mismatch; the employer had shut down in 2019.
NRI country guide · US
Withdrawing your Indian PF from United States.
A practical guide for members now living in United States: what to check first, what is likely to be deducted, and how to complete the claim without travelling to India.
Fully remoteSessions in your time zoneNo OTPs by message
If you have moved to United States, you can generally settle your Indian Provident Fund without returning to India. We work with you by email and video call at times that suit US time zones.
India does not currently have a Social Security Agreement in force with United States, so the standard EPF rules apply.
Before you start
- Make sure your Aadhaar, PAN and bank account are linked to your UAN
- Keep an Indian bank account active for the credit
- Confirm your last employer has recorded your exit date
- Understand how TDS and tax in United States may apply
To discuss your matter, book a consultation.
The five questions
What members in United States ask first.
Clear answers before you file save weeks of correspondence later.
- 01Can I do this without an Indian mobile number?The Aadhaar-linked number receives the OTPs. If it has lapsed, we plan a safe way to update it or to keep it active, before any claim is filed.
- 02Which bank account will EPFO pay into?An Indian account in your name, normally an NRO account. From there, funds can be sent to United States in US dollars with the paperwork your bank requires.
- 03How much tax will be deducted?Non-resident withdrawals are taxed under different rules, and Form 15G is not available. If you hold Form 6166 from the IRS and file Form 10F, treaty relief may reduce the deduction. US tax residents may also need to report the withdrawal at home. Your US tax adviser should review how it is treated.
- 04Do I need to travel to India?No. Everything is handled remotely. Where an attested document is required, we explain how to get it locally.
- 05What about the time difference?United States is 8½ to 10½ hours behind IST. Consultations and OTP sessions are scheduled at a time that suits you.
Checklist
Keep these ready.
Gathering these before you file means the claim goes in once.
In India
Accounts and records
- UAN activated with KYC approved
- Aadhaar-linked mobile active, or a plan to update it
- NRO account in your name
- PAN linked to the UAN
- Exit date recorded for your last employer
In United States
Documents to arrange
- Passport and visa or residence permit
- Form 6166 from the IRS Only needed to claim treaty relief.
- Form 10F
- Overseas address proof
- Local tax advice on how the withdrawal is reported
How it works
Handled from United States, start to finish.
We send updates on a fixed schedule, at times that suit you.
Stage I
Review on Zoom / WhatsApp
We go through your UAN with you in a live session.
Stage II
India-side preparation
We correct your KYC and prepare the bank and tax paperwork.
Stage III
Claims and follow-up
We file the claims and chase the employer and the regional office.
Stage IV
Funds received
Money reaches your Indian account. We explain how to move it to United States.
Cases from abroad
Matters handled from United States.
Anonymised outcomes shared with client consent.
Two UANs and an inactive mobile
Client B, Dubai. Two UANs, an Aadhaar name mismatch and no Indian mobile linked to the account.
Service period restored
Client C, Chennai. Pensionable service understated after a transfer missed in 2009.
“Two years of rejections, and they found the problem in the first call: my exit date was wrong in the employer’s records. Settled in five weeks.”
“I live in Toronto and assumed I’d have to fly back. Everything happened on video calls and email, and they updated me every week.”
“They told me honestly that one of my two claims wasn’t worth the fee. The other one, my pension, they fixed completely.”
Questions from United States
Frequently asked.
If your question is not covered here, raise it in the consultation.
A family member can help with paperwork, but claims stay in your name and need your OTPs. We work directly with you so that nothing goes through an unofficial route.
We contact the employer and, where needed, use the regional office route to get the record corrected.
It depends on interest, tax and your plans to return. We set out the trade-offs in the consultation.
Next step