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Form 121 for PF Withdrawal: The New Form 15G and 15H

By Kusum · Reviewed by Harish, Labour Consultant, Delhi on · Updated

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Independent guide by India Customer Care. We are not EPFO. Use only the official EPFO portals and the UMANG app for your account, and never share your password or OTP with anyone.

On this page
  1. Do you need it?
  2. PAN matters
  3. How to file it with your claim
  4. Common mistakes
  5. Frequently asked questions
  6. Related guides on our other websites
  7. Sources
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PAN in your EPF account
Your total income this year

Form 121 is the self-declaration that replaced Forms 15G and 15H from 1 April 2026 under the Income-tax Act, 2025. If your PF withdrawal would attract TDS and you meet the conditions below, you upload Form 121 with your claim and EPFO doesn't deduct tax. It does not make the withdrawal tax-free.

Do you need it?

EPFO deducts TDS on a PF withdrawal only when all of these are true:

Tax on your income is nil

Estimate your total income for the year from all sources (salary, interest, rent and this PF withdrawal) and the tax on it. Then check your age:

  • Under 60: you can use Form 121 only if the tax is nil and the PF amount, plus any other income you are declaring on Form 121 (such as bank interest), is not more than the basic exemption limit. Nil tax only because of a rebate is not enough if the PF amount is above that limit.
  • 60 or older and resident in India: nil tax on your estimated income is enough.

If you meet these, file Form 121 with the claim and no TDS is cut. If you are not resident in India for tax, check with a tax adviser before filing.

Taxable income

Don't file Form 121 if tax on your income is not nil, or if you are under 60 and the PF amount is above the basic exemption limit. A false declaration is an offence. Let TDS be deducted and adjust it in your income tax return. Make sure a valid PAN is in your KYC so TDS is at 10% and not higher.

PAN matters

With a valid PAN linked to Aadhaar, TDS (if applicable) is 10%, and Form 121 can stop it altogether if you meet its conditions.

Without a valid PAN (or with an inoperative PAN not linked to Aadhaar), TDS is cut at a higher rate and a declaration is not accepted without PAN. Fix an inoperative PAN and add it to your EPF KYC before you claim.

How to file it with your claim

  1. Check: service under 5 years, amount ₹50,000 or more
  2. Estimate your income for the year
  3. Fill Form 121 and sign it
  4. Upload it in the online claim when asked
  5. EPFO pays without TDS
YouEPFO
  1. Get Form 121 from the Income Tax Department's website.
  2. Fill in your PAN, the tax year (2026-27 for withdrawals from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027), and your estimated income.
  3. When you file the PF claim online, the portal asks whether you want to upload the declaration. Upload the signed form as a PDF.
  4. File a new Form 121 every tax year in which you withdraw.

Common mistakes

Frequently asked questions

Does Form 121 make my PF withdrawal tax-free?

No. It only stops TDS from being deducted. If the withdrawal is taxable, you still have to show it in your income tax return and pay any tax due.

Can I still use Form 15G or 15H?

Not for payments from tax year 2026-27 (from 1 April 2026). Form 121 replaced both under the Income-tax Act, 2025.

Do I need Form 121 if I have 5 years of service?

Usually not. With 5 or more years of continuous service, PF withdrawals are generally tax-free and no TDS is cut.

Sources