Company · Annual rhythm
We have unpaid dividend sitting for years — what's the IEPF chain?
The short answer
Unpaid dividend does not sit in your books forever. Within seven days after the 30-day payment window closes, amounts move to a special unpaid dividend account. If still unclaimed after seven years, they transfer to the IEPF through IEPF-1 within 30 days of that expiry. Meanwhile, IEPF-2 — the statement of unclaimed amounts — is due within 90 days of the AGM.
What gets filed with MCA
Within 30 days of the expiry of the 7-year unclaimed period.
Section 124(5), Companies Act 2013; Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority Rules 2016
Within 90 days of the AGM (approximately by December 29 for March year-end companies).
Section 124, Companies Act 2013; Rule 5, IEPF Rules 2016
No deadline — claimant can file anytime after transfer to IEPF.
Section 125(3)(a), Companies Act 2013; Rule 7, IEPF Rules 2016
The paperwork nobody tells you about
Statutory formats that never touch the MCA portal — but an ROC inspection or due diligence will ask for every one of them.
Unpaid dividend moves to a special account within 7 days after the 30-day payment window; to IEPF after 7 years
Sections 123–125, Companies Act 2013
The sequence
- 1Track dividends declared and identify amounts unpaid after the 30-day payment window
- 2Transfer unclaimed amounts to the unpaid dividend account within seven days
- 3File IEPF-2 within 90 days of the AGM with details of unclaimed amounts
- 4After seven years of non-claim, transfer to IEPF via IEPF-1 within 30 days of expiry
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Questions founders actually ask
How long before dividend goes to IEPF?
Unclaimed dividend moves to a special account within seven days after the 30-day payment window. If still unclaimed after seven years, it must be transferred to IEPF.
When is IEPF-2 due?
Within 90 days of the AGM — approximately by 29 December for companies with a March year-end.
Can shareholders get their money back after IEPF transfer?
Yes. The claimant files IEPF-5 anytime after the transfer to seek refund of shares and unpaid dividend from the IEPF Authority.
Reviewed by Harun Raaj, Chartered Accountant
Founder, Harun Raaj & Associates. Last verified 2026-08-24 against MCA V3 records and ICSI reference material. Form-level deadlines and penalties live on the linked form pages and update there.