The Ministry of Corporate Affairs issued General Circular No. 07/2024 on 17th July 2024, announcing the merger of Forms IEPF-3 with IEPF-4 and IEPF-7 with IEPF-1 in MCA Version 3 to simplify the compliance process. The merged forms will now be processed through a Straight Through Process (STP). Additionally, the payment process for transferring required amounts to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) has been updated; such payments must now be made online via the “Pay Miscellaneous Fee” service on MCA 21, selecting the “Investor Education and Protection Fund” option. This circular supersedes General Circular No. 12/2017 and has been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority. Stakeholders, including nodal officers, regional directors, registrars of companies, and CEOs of NSDL and CDSL, are advised to plan accordingly.
File No.05/04/2020-IEPF
Government of India
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
5th Floor, ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan,
Dr. R.P. Road, New Delhi-110001
General Circular No- 07/2024 Dated: 17th July, 2024
To
All Stakeholders
Nodal Officers (IEPF) of Companies
All Regional Directors and Registrar of Companies
MD & CEO NSDL
MD & CEO CDSL
Subject: Merger of Forms IEPF-3 With IEPF-4 and IEPF-7 with IEPF-1 along with change in payment process thereof in MCA Version 3-reg.
Sir/Madam,
Pursuant to sub – rule (10), (11), (11A) & sub- rule (12) of rule 6 and sub-rule (9), (10) & (11) of rule 6A of Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016, various amounts needs to be transferred to the Authority as due on the shares transferred by the companies to it under sub- section (6) of section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013 and Form No IEPF-7 was required to be filed accordingly under sub- rule (13) &(13A) of rule 6 and sub-rule (12) of rule (6A) of Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules.
2. Similarly for shares and unpaid dividend not transferred to the Authority, the company was required to file Form No IEPF-3 under proviso to sub-rule (3(B)) of rule 6 of Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules.
3. To ease compliance burden and simplify filings, it has been decided to merge form IEPF-3 with Form IEPF-4 & IEPF-7 with IEPF-1 in MCA Version 3. The revised forms will be made STP(Straight through process).
4. Therefore, in supersession of General Circular No.12/2017, the amount required to be transferred under the provisions mentioned in para 1 will be required to be transferred online through MCA 21 through “Pay Miscellaneous Fee” service after selecting option “Investor Education and Protection Fund”. The stakeholders are requested to plan accordingly.
5. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
Your faithfully
(Anil C Kandpal)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India
Tel: 23389782
Copy to:
(i) IEPF Authority
E-governance Cell — to place the circular on the Ministry’s website.
