Recovery of Shares from IEPF: A Complete Guide for Sharehold

When dividends on shares remain unclaimed for seven consecutive years, the shares are transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). To recover these shares, the shareholder or their legal heir must apply to the IEPF Authority through Form IEPF-5, available on the IEPF website. Key documents include identity proof, shareholding proof, and a copy of the acknowledgment. After submission, the claimant must send the physical documents to the company’s Nodal Officer. Upon verification, the company sends a verification report to the IEPF Authority, which then approves the refund. The process may take several months, but with proper documentation, rightful owners can successfully reclaim their shares. Engaging a professional can ease the process and reduce delays.