Can an Ex-Employee Withdraw PF if the Employer Missed Annual Returns Submission?

Dear All, Please let me know if an ex-employee wants to withdraw his/her PF after three months of leaving the organization, but his/her ex-employer has not submitted the annual return of 2011-12 till now. Can he/she be eligible to withdraw his/her PF amount? The employer provided Form 3A to the ex-employee. Please reply.

Thanks & Regards,
Devender

Thanks for your message. The PF Office is currently denying the release of PF money until the employer submits the returns for 2011-12. Is there any clause or law, as per the PF Act, that allows individuals to withdraw their PF with just Form 3A, even if the employer hasn't submitted the returns? Thank you in advance.

Yes, the PF department is right. If any employee leaves the organization between the financial year and the employer provides Form 3A, the PF department will accept the form. However, if the employer does not deposit the annual return for 2011-12 by 30th April 2011, and after the due date of the annual return, the PF department will not accept any claim forms. The PF department is only liable to accept forms before the due date.