How To Claim Unclaimed Dividends, Shares

If you have been an investor in the stock market, you have been receiving dividend income from companies.

But, in case your bank account was/is not linked or you have changed address etc, you may have been missing the dividend cheques.

Having been in such situations, I know that I have missed some payments, especially before 2015.

Recently, I learned about the "Investor Education and Protection Fund" (IEPF).

I was reading the Hindu Businessline when I saw this report- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/unlock-your-hidden-wealth-claiming-unclaimed-shares-dividends-at-your-finger-tips-now/article67372398.ece

This report in the Economic Times also informs about the same-

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/government-to-launch-portal-for-unclaimed-dividends-shares-by-february/articleshow/101261861.cms?

I promptly looked for the IEPF Web Project and found their website- 

https://www.iepf.gov.in/IEPFWebProject/SearchInvestorAction.do

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has details regarding Investor Services on this website-

https://www.mca.gov.in/MinistryV2/investorservices.html

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has issued a Notification in the Gazette of India dated September 5, 2016, notifying the Rule "Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016." As per this Rule, companies have to identify and upload details of unclaimed dividend on their website.

Accordingly, detailed information is provided for the benefit of shareholders.

Details about the unpaid and unclaimed dividends can be seen on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) website-

https://www.bseindia.com/static/investor_relations/dividend.aspx

Information is shared from 2016-17 onwards. As only the last 5 years data is available.

As per information on the website of the IEPF, Ministry of Corporate Affairs-

Steps to file statement of investor-wise unclaimed and unpaid amounts

1. Download Form 5 INV.
2. Fill the form according to the instructions given in its instruction kit
3. Upload the filled form on the IEPF portal
4. After the Form 5- INV is filled and uploaded on the MCA21 portal, you are required to provide the investor wise details of unclaimed and unpaid amount in an excel file
5. Download the excel template from the IEPF Portal
6. Fill in the excel template with investor-wise detail
7. Upload the excel file with investor-wise details of unclaimed and unpaid amounts
8. After all the details are uploaded confirm upload of unclaimed and unpaid amount details

For additional information - https://www.iepf.gov.in/IEPFWebProject/services.html

More on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website-

https://www.mca.gov.in/mcafoportal/iepf5Service.do

This blog post has explained in great detail along with screenshots-

https://www.paytmmoney.com/blog/how-to-claim-unclaimed-dividends-shares/

Do hope you find this useful.

Hope you can claim your unclaimed dividends and shares.