Can NRIs withdraw EPF only at 58 years of age?
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) allows Non-resident Indians (NRIs) to withdraw their EPF balance under certain conditions. An NRI can withdraw their accrued EPF balance before migrating abroad for work, if they plan to settle permanently in a foreign country, or if they remain unemployed for more than two months. However, unlike resident Indians, NRIs don't have to wait until the age of 58 to withdraw their EPF retirement corpus.
Upon relocating permanently overseas, NRIs can withdraw their complete EPF balance. They must complete the necessary formalities before leaving India. Alternatively, NRIs can retain their EPF balance and withdraw it upon reaching the age of 58, when retirement age is applicable. During this period, the balance continues to earn interest at an 8.25% per annum rate.
The rules surrounding EPF withdrawals for NRIs are intricate. While the entire EPF corpus can be withdrawn if the NRI is leaving for employment abroad or settling permanently, NRIs may withdraw up to 75% of their PF balance immediately upon job loss. The remaining 25% can be withdrawn after one year of unemployment. As an NRI, one must also consider the tax implications of withdrawing their EPF balance, as it may be taxable under applicable income tax provisions and EPF rules.
It is advised for NRIs to check the relevant tax provisions before withdrawing their EPF balance, especially if they are withdrawing before retirement.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
