Form 15G Guide: Avoid TDS on PF

Avoiding TDS on your PF withdrawal starts with understanding EPFO's tax rules. For the full picture, see our EPFO guide for employees. Withdrawing PF before 5 years of service? You could lose 34.6% to taxes. Learn how to declare zero tax liability by filing Form 15G.

Dr. Ananya Sen

When is TDS Deducted on PF Withdrawals?

According to Income Tax rules, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) is levied on PF withdrawals if the following two conditions are met:

  • Your total continuous service is less than 5 years.
  • The total PF withdrawal amount is ₹50,000 or more.

What are the TDS Rates?

Scenario TDS Rate
Service > 5 Years Nil (0%)
Withdrawal < ₹50,000 Nil (0%)
Service < 5 Yrs, Withdrawal > ₹50K, PAN Submitted, Form 15G Submitted Nil (0%)
Service < 5 Yrs, Withdrawal > ₹50K, PAN Submitted, No Form 15G 10%
Service < 5 Yrs, Withdrawal > ₹50K, No PAN Submitted Maximum Marginal Rate (34.6%)

How to Submit Form 15G Online

If your total taxable income for the financial year (including the PF withdrawal) is below the basic exemption limit (₹3 Lakh in the New Tax Regime), you can submit Form 15G to prevent any TDS deduction.

  1. Download the latest Form 15G (or 15H for senior citizens above 60 years) from the Income Tax portal.
  2. Print it, fill out Part 1 manually, and sign it. Leave Part 2 blank.
  3. Scan the filled Form 15G and convert it into a single PDF document (must be below 1MB).
  4. Login to the EPFO Unified Portal and go to Online Services > Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D).
  5. Under the Form 19 section, you will see a prominent Upload Form 15G button. Click `Choose File` and upload your signed PDF.
  6. Complete your Aadhaar OTP authentication to submit the claim.
āš ļø Warning: Making a false declaration in Form 15G to avoid TDS when your income is actually taxable is a punishable offense under Section 277 of the Income Tax Act.
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Updated for 2026
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