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Home / NRI & Global Services / NRI Share & IEPF Recovery
Last updated: 2 October 2026
Shares or dividends left unclaimed for seven years are moved by companies to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). NRIs and their legal heirs can claim them back. Our team traces the holdings, prepares the claim and follows it with the company and IEPF — handled remotely in most cases.
When dividends on shares remain unclaimed for seven consecutive years, the company transfers both the unpaid dividends and the shares to the IEPF Authority. The shares are not lost — the owner, or the legal heirs if the owner has died, can claim them back.
The claim follows set steps:
For NRIs, shares are credited to an NRO demat account, and documents signed abroad are usually notarised and apostilled. For legal heirs, simplified documents — such as a legal heir certificate with an indemnity — are accepted up to ₹15 lakh in value.
Based on the IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016, as amended. Last updated: 27 September 2026.
Unclaimed dividends for seven years move the shares to IEPF
Claim form filed online on the MCA portal; revised from 6 October 2025
Issued by the company or its RTA before the claim is filed
Value up to which legal heirs can use simplified documents
Documents signed abroad are usually notarised and apostilled
Where recovered shares are credited for an NRI
Most rejections trace back to mismatched records.
Differences between the share certificate, PAN and bank records must be explained with supporting documents.
Old physical certificates need a demat account in the claimant’s name before credit.
Missing no-objection letters, indemnities or court documents for higher values.
A share claim often comes with an inheritance, a sale or a remittance.
Transfer other inherited assets.
Send sale proceeds or dividends abroad.
Report dividends and gains in your return.
Our dedicated share recovery desk.
We trace unclaimed shares and dividends in your name or the deceased holder’s name.
We obtain the entitlement letter from the company or RTA.
We prepare the claim documents, with notarisation and apostille guidance for papers signed abroad.
We file the claim online and send the signed set to the company’s nodal officer.
The company verifies the claim and reports to the IEPF Authority; we answer any queries.
Shares are credited to your demat account and dividends to your bank account.
Recovered shares are yours to hold or sell like any other investment.
Claims usually take several months end to end, depending on the company and the documents.
Recovered dividends are credited to your bank account.
A sale is taxed as a capital gain, with TDS for NRIs.
Proceeds can be sent abroad from NRO within RBI limits.
Share your query and our team will reply during business hours.
Yes. NRIs, and legal heirs living abroad, can claim shares and dividends transferred to IEPF by filing Form IEPF-5 with the required documents.
Usually not. Documents can be signed abroad, notarised and apostilled or attested at an Indian consulate, and the claim is filed online.
A letter from the company or its RTA confirming the shares and dividends due to you. It is needed before the IEPF-5 claim is filed.
The legal heir files the claim with transmission documents. For values up to ₹15 lakh, simplified documents such as a legal heir certificate with an indemnity are accepted.
To the claimant’s demat account — for an NRI, normally an NRO demat account.
ACS – Director, Expertvuw Management Pvt Ltd
Share recovery cases are handled by Expertvuw’s team, working with companies, RTAs and the IEPF Authority. Any certificate required by law is issued by an independent qualified professional.