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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About GLC Wealth & Services

Is GLC Wealth a legitimate firm?

GLC Wealth Advisor LLP is an incorporated Limited Liability Partnership registered with the Registrar of Companies, Delhi. You may verify our details by going to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, visit – https://www.mca.gov.in/mcafoportal/login.do

Our Head Office is based out of New Delhi, the capital of India which gives us strategic advantage being in close proximity to the IEPF Authority/Registrars/Courts

Why should I hire your services?

GLC Wealth is being run by a reputed team of lawyers/chartered accountants/company secretaries/investment bankers qualified from the top Universities of the World. We are a leading professional wealth recovery firm who’s group patron has helped plethora of investors across the globe by providing sound legal advice and recovering hundreds of crores of unclaimed investments. Our esteemed clients will be happy to

How can you help if my shares/dividends have gone to the IEPF Authority?

GLC Wealth through its platform www.iepfclaim.in is the oldest and the most successful firm in reclaiming multiple crores of unclaimed shares/dividends from the IEPF Authority. We have a strong working relationship with the Authority and make personal representation of our client’s cases before the Authority to enable faster resolution of the claims. You don’t have to ever worry about running around in government offices to recover your own money.

Can you help me in searching for the investments of my father/mother?

GLC Wealth can definitely help you in finding out the shares in your father/mother’s name for which we will need basic details like your father/mother’s full name and the address at which the shares were bought. We are confident to find out most if not all the unclaimed shares in their names.

Why must I sign a Recovery agreement (limited power of attorney) and what does it authorize GLC Wealth to do?

The Recovery agreement/LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY is a necessary part of the recovery process. It is a standardized form that we are required by law to provide to the respective companies/RTAs/government authority. It protects you (the claimant) and us (the claimant’s representative). It is “LIMITED” in scope, in that it applies to this “ONE TRANSACTION ONLY”. By signing it, you DO NOT confer or imply any other legal rights to us, other than giving us the right to assist you with the filing of your claims for the specific unclaimed investments listed in the agreement.

Is there any risk associated with letting GLC WEALTH assist me?

There is absolutely NO RISK involved. WE ONLY GET PAID WHEN YOU GET PAID for the investments in your name. However, if you are a legal heir, the process might require obtaining a Succession Certificate/Probate/LOA from the Court. This entails hiring of a lawyer/attorney which can be done by you or we can assist you with the same. Also, COURT FEES depending on the jurisdiction of the State in which the case has to be filed will be borne by you, the legal heir. No other expenses will ever be charged from you up-front. If for some reason we are unable to recover your investments, YOU OWE US NOTHING. We only earn and collect our fee when we are successful on behalf of our clients. There are never any out-of-pocket expenses on your part and all such expenses are borne by us. Our fee is based solely upon a percentage of the recovered investments. The percentage we receive will be clearly stated in the Recovery agreement.

Why should I pay recovery fees to GLC Wealth to assist me?

There are many things in life that we can do ourselves for free. For example, we can file our own income tax returns, change the oil in our own car, or even defend ourselves in court if we really want to. Sometimes, however, we pay others to perform a service for us. Reasons for this are that they possess knowledge that we do not have; they have more experience than we do; or it is simply more convenient (they save us time and effort). In this instance, just because you can file a claim on your own behalf does not mean you should. While you have many concerns and obligations in your daily life, OUR BUSINESS is to recover unclaimed investments. Instead of spending your valuable time and money on calls and letter writing in an effort to track down your investments, instead of trying to find the correct contact people, instead of trying to become familiar with the filing requirements and instead of learning how to prepare and submit the proper documents, GLC Wealth, offers a simpler more efficient solution. Our professional experts with vast knowledge and experience will help you to recover your funds as soon as possible. Finally, yet importantly, would you have even known you were entitled to such investments unless we reached out to you? It took time, effort, and money for us to locate you and inform you about your unclaimed investments. We would genuinely appreciate your business for our efforts.

Some additional reasons that we feel you should utilize our services are as follows:
  • We have personal contacts within many of the companies / RTAs / Government authorities that will be processing your claim
  • We are experts at knowing what documents need to be submitted in order to file a successful claim
  • We can advise you on how and where to obtain various types of documents that might be required to “prove entitlement”.
  • We can advise you and assist you in completing various forms/documents, so that they will be completed accurately, and your claim will be processed as expeditiously as possible.
  • We have the capability to check on the progress of your claim once it has been filed.
  • We will help you file your claim SAFELY and SECURELY. We are comprised of leading Lawyers/Chartered Accountants/Company Secretaries/Investment Bankers and as such we understand the sensitivity of the personal information and the legalities of the whole process to successfully claim your investments.
  • There is absolutely NO RISK involved. WE ONLY GET PAID WHEN YOU GET PAID.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are NO UP FRONT COSTS OR FEES and NO RETAINER is required as with other investigative services. We receive a percentage of the property that we help you recover. We only get paid when you are paid, and there are no additional costs

Why have we contacted you?

Why have we contacted you?

GLC Wealth identifies investments which might have been lost, forgotten or unclaimed for several years and traces the rightful owner, legal heirs or next-of-kins who may be residing across the globe.
If we have contacted you, this is because either we believe you may be the rightful owner / legal heir of these investments or because you may know the person or family we are seeking to locate.

How did you locate me?

GLC WEALTH collates vast amounts of data available in the public domain, social media websites, etc. and through its analytics team filters out the information of relevant investors or their legal heirs entitled to claim the unclaimed investments.

How did you obtain my personal information?

All your information is procured through public databases with no access to any private information/report pertaining to you or your family. Be rest assured that whatever information we have is secure with us.

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Contact-Form

Email

[email protected]

Call us

(+91) 93103-03046

Wealth Recovery Process

How did my investments become unclaimed?

People who had invested in the 80s, 90s or early 2000s used to have physical documents for all their investments. These would be in the form of share certificates, debenture certificates, FDs, National Savings Certificates, Kisan Vikas Patras etc. Due to long passage of time, people have lost/misplaced such physical records. Regular payments of redemption cheques, dividend warrants etc. are often “lost” due to old, outdated, inaccurate, or incomplete addresses. There are instances of name changes due to marriage, remarriage, or divorce etc. All these and many more circumstances lead to investments becoming unclaimed and moving to the Government due to certain laws and regulations.

How do I begin recovering my investments?

To begin the recovery process, you must sign a Recovery agreement and a special and limited power of attorney that GLC Wealth will be sharing with you. This provides us with the permission and authority to assist you in the recovery of your investments.

Why must I provide documentation containing personal information?

The government authority/companies/registrars that are holding your investments require that you submit various forms of documentation to comply with your KYC containing personal information. This is STANDARD PRACTICE and the documentation is necessary. It ensures that you are in fact the true owner or heir and that you are entitled to recover the said investments. Types of identification and documentation commonly requested to verify ownership (“prove entitlement”) often include Copies of:
  • Aadhaar Card
  • PAN Card
  • Drivers’ licenses
  • Marriage certificates
  • Death Certificates
  • Passports/OCI/PIO cards
  • Legal Heir
  • Certificate/Surviving Member Certificate
  • Succession Certificate/Probate/Letter of Administration
  • Utility bills
  • Banker’s attestation of Signature.
  • Cancelled cheques
  • Client Master List of Demat Account

Although at first glance, you might get intrigued to provide such personal information, however, it is for your verification and own protection so that no untoward or mischievous person claims your investments. Requiring proper documentation, that contains personally identifiable information, is necessary to prevent mistakes (releasing of investments to the wrong person) as well as fraud.

What types of investments become unclaimed?

  • Equity shares
  • Savings accounts
  • Insurance benefits/policies
  • Debentures
  • UTI bonds
  • Dividends
  • NSCs/PPF
  • Safety deposit box contents
  • Mutual funds
  • Bonds

Is there a time limit for recovering my investments?

Whether or not there is a time limit depends upon the type of your investments. Even if there is no time limit it is better to act promptly because you are losing interest when you are not in control of your money. Why let the government agency/company that is holding it derive the benefit from it? The sooner you reclaim what is rightfully yours, the better.

How long will it take until I receive my investments?

It generally takes between 8-12 months to release the shares once a completed claim has been received by the IEPF Authority. It can take longer depending upon the complexity of the claim and the time taken to undertake updation of KYC, issue of duplicate certificates, obtaining Succession Certificate / Probate, and undertaking transmission, etc.

The investments are in the name of my parent who is deceased, am I entitled to recover the same?

If you are the legal heir of the unclaimed investments according to the laws governing India then you are entitled to recover it. In case your parent passed away outside India and was a foreign national, you’ll be governed by the inheritance laws of that specific country.

I do not possess the physical certificates for my investments. Will I still be able to get my shares back?

It is indeed possible to get your investments back if you are still the owner. Procedure for issue of duplicate certificates will have to be complied with that entails filing of FIR, newspaper advertisements, indemnity cum surety bonds etc.

NRI

I am a NRI and my parents bought shares in India several years back. How can I claim or transfer these investments in my name?

In case the parents are deceased and they were Indian Citizens at the time of their death, you can claim your parent’s investment in India in case the value of the investments in any one company is more than 5 lakhs either by providing a succession certificate from the court or a probate of will or letter of administration followed by completing the procedure of transmission of shares with the respective companies. If the parents passed away outside India and were a foreign national then you’ll be governed by the inheritance laws of that specific country. However, if the parents are still alive the shares can be transferred in your name by completing the due process and submitting the requisite documents for transfer of shares with the respective companies. In case the shares have been transferred to the government authority because the dividends could not be claimed for past several years in addition to the above mentioned procedure you will also have to file the claim with the government authority that is IEPF to claim back such investments.

What all documents are required for a NRI to claim back investments in India?

For an NRI to claim back investments in India the following documents are required:
In case you are an Indian Passport Holder:

  • PAN Card
  • Passport
  • Address proof (both Indian and overseas)
  • NRE\NRO Account
  • Demat Account

In the case of a foreign passport holder in addition to the above-mentioned documents, either OCI or PIO card is mandatory.

Is OCI/PIO card mandatory for a NRI to claim investments in India?

The claimant is required to have OCI / PIO card only in case he/she has a foreign passport. However, in the case you are holding an Indian passport OCI/PIO card is not required.

Is NRE/NRO required?

NRE/NRO account is mandatory to claim any share investments in India.

What if I don’t have an Indian PAN (Permanent Account Number) card?

PAN card is mandatorily required for NRIs claim investments in India. If you do not have a PAN card in India, the same has to be obtained by filing form 49AA.

Is a Demat account needed? If yes, then how can I get one?

While holding shares in physical form is not barred a Demat account is required if you wish to sell or transfer them as the government has banned the sale/ transfer of physical shares. You can easily open a Demat account online by visiting the website of your preferred DP (Depository Participant) and filling out a form with KYC details however having a PAN card is a prerequisite to opening a Demat Account in India.

Do I need to visit India?

You don’t need to visit India for the investment recovery process. All the documents will be sent to you for execution from India. However, if you are the claimant of the shares by way of inheritance you might need to visit India or appoint a local power of attorney to obtain requisite court orders as per the Indian Succession Act.

Do I need a representative or Power of Attorney in India?

Although having a POA in India is not mandatory but having one can ease out the process for a NRI claimant in case the shares are being transmitted by way of inheritance and a succession certificate / probate of will / letter of administration is to be obtained from court.

Transmission of Shares

My parents had bought some shares several years back and now they have passed away. Can your company help us in finding the shares that were owned by my deceased parents given that I am not familiar with the names of the companies?

Yes, we can definitely help you in tracing your father’s investments but for that we will require some basic details like your father/mother’s full name and address at which the shares were bought. We are confident we will be able to find most if not all the unclaimed shares in their name.

What is the difference between Transfer and Transmission of Shares?

Transfer of Shares is the process of transferring ownership to the transferee. In other words, it is a voluntary act of transferring shares from one person to another. On the other hand Transmission of Shares takes place when someone dies and the ownership is transferred under the supervision/operation of the Inheritance Laws in India, to the legal heirs of the deceased individual.

What is the procedure for transmission of shares in a company's records?

Transmission of shares is a long and technical process. In order to get the transmission of shares done successfully one needs the following:

  • Details of legal heirs (relation proofs and KYC documents).
  • Death certificate of the deceased shareholder.
  • Original share certificates in case of physical shares or statement of demat account in case of shares held in demat account.
  • In case there is no nominee in the shares affidavit from the legal heirs is required along with:
    • In case the value of shares in any one company is more than 5 lakhs either a succession certificate or a probate of will or letter of administration in favor of the legal heirs is required from the courts.
    • In case the value of shares in any one company is up to 5 lakhs NOCs from all legal heirs not objecting to such transmission in favor of the claimant is required.
  • The transmission process needs to be completed with the registrar/company which includes submitting transmission forms, affidavits, etc.
  • In case the shares have been transferred to the IEPF Authority, a claim needs to be filed with the IEPF Authority once the transmission process is completed in the company’s records.

What if the shares were held jointly with my parents/relatives who have passed away?

In such cases wherein one of the account holders of a joint account holding expires then, as per the Companies Act (2013) the shares are transferred fully to the other joint holder(s), as the living account holder(s) shall be the only one to get legal recognition by the companies to be entitled to owning the complete shares.

What is a succession certificate? And, is it an essential document for transmission of shares in the name of the legal heir?

A succession certificate is provided to the beneficiary/successor of the deceased person who died intestate and did not leave any will to be inherited. Succession Certificate plays an important role in the transfer of assets including properties, bank balances, shares, and other securities of the deceased person to the legal heirs in case he/she dies intestate without leaving a will. For transmission of shares in India in case the value of the shares in a company exceeds 5 lakhs then a succession certificate is required in case the shareholder passes away intestate without leaving behind a will. For the value of shares less than 5 lakhs succession certificate is not mandatory.

What is the difference between a Succession Certificate and a Legal Heir Certificate?

When it comes to transmission of shares a lot of people juggle between the comprehension of a succession certificate and a legal heir certificate.

  • A succession certificate is a document issued by the civil court to the legal heir(s) of the deceased in the absence of a will. The court authenticates the heir(s) claims on the assets previously owned by the deceased by passing a Succession Certificate in favor of the legal heirs. The individual(s) who obtain the Succession Certificate are entitled to claim or inherit the deceased’s assets including share investments.
  • Whereas, a Legal Heir Certificate just establishes and authenticates the relationship between the deceased and their legal heir(s). This certificate is not considered as a conclusive proof of succession under the laws of inheritance devised by the Indian government.

What is a probate of will and letter of administration?

Probate of will is a process where a Will is certified to be valid or authentic under the jurisdiction as the final testament of the deceased. A probate is provided to the appointed executor by the Court along with a copy of the Will, and the granting of a probate initiates the legal process of settling the deceased’s assets under the Will.
Primary difference between Probate and Letter of Administration is that Probate is granted to an executor nominated under the will. Whereas in case the Will does not nominate an executor, the beneficiaries of the deceased will have to apply for a Letter of Administration which would grant them the same rights that an executor would have enjoyed.

IEPF Claims

What is IEPF? Why are shares and dividends transferred to IEPF?

IEPF stands for Investor Education and Protection Fund.
Set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) under Section 125 (1) of the Companies Act 2013, Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), is a government body which was established by the central government to educate investors about their investments, protection of interests and to manage the unclaimed dividends and other securities of companies.
As per Section 124 (5) of Companies Act 2013 any dividend which is lying unclaimed for 7 consecutive years is bound to be transferred to the IEPF.
Also, as per Section 124 (6) of Companies Act 2013 all shares in respect of which dividends have not been claimed for 7 or more consecutive years will also be transferred to the IEPF.

What are the documents required to file an IEPF claim? And what is the best mode to apply for it?

Reclaiming your shares and dividends from the IEPF Authority can be a cumbersome process if not done correctly. With years of expertise in this field we aim to simplify the process for our clients. To file an IEPF claim, one requires following documents:

  • Self-attested copy of Aadhar card & PAN Card.
  • Cancelled cheque leaf.
  • Client master list of the demat account self attested by the claimant and attested by the DP.
  • Self attested SRN Acknowledgment.
  • Indemnity Bond self-attested by the claimant and witnessed.
  • Advance stamped receipt bearing the revenue stamp, self-attested by the claimant along with signatures of the witnesses.
  • Letter from Registrar and Transfer Agent which has been verified by the Nodal officer to be used as a Proof of Entitlement.
  • Original certificates of the shares and investments, if held in the physical form or a copy of a transaction statement if held in the demat form as a proof of ownership of investments. In case original share certificates are lost documents submitted to RTA for issue of duplicate shares need to be attached.
  • Copy of passport and OCI /PIO card in case of foreigners and NRIs.
  • Any other supporting documents submitted to the company for name change, address change, signature change, issue of duplicate shares etc.

What all steps need to be followed to file a successful IEPF Claim.

Contrary to the general belief that IEPF Form 5 is the first and only step to claiming your shares from the IEPF, filing IEPF Form 5 is in fact the last step to a successful IEPF claim. The following steps need to be followed before reaching the final stage of filing the IEPF Form 5:

  • Get your KYC details updated in the company’s record like name, address, signature, bank details, and demat account details.
  • Get an entitlement letter from the company after submitting the original share certificates or following the procedure of issuing duplicate shares in case the original shares are lost.
  • Arrange all the documents in digital form to upload online while filing the IEPF Form 5.
  • File the IEPF Form 5 by registering online on the MCA website.
  • Take printouts of all the documents as per the IEPF Help Kit and sign all documents.
  • Send all documents in hard copy to the Nodal Officer of the company.

How can you assist in claiming shares from the IEPF? Or can I do it on my own?

GLC Wealth, with its strong understanding of the workings of the IEPF authority over the years, has successfully helped in reclaiming numerous unclaimed dividends and shares that had been transferred to IEPF. With just some of the basic information and documentation provided by you, we will happily assist you in claiming your investments from the IEPF Authority.

While you can claim your shares from the IEPF on your own, GLC Wealth helps you to do it in a more time-efficient and hassle-free manner. Any small error or mistake made during the process can lead to a delay of a few months and even a claim getting rejected in some cases. It might also require a lot of running around and coordination between the registrars, companies, and the government authority. GLC aims at streamlining the whole process which entails preparing all the required documents in one go, coordinating between all the parties involved, and even representing your case in front of the IEPF Authority if required.

General Queries

What is a Share Certificate?

A share certificate is a legal document issued by a company to its shareholders i.e. the investors who have bought the shares of that company, authenticating their ownership of the shares. The share certificate acts as evidence of the purchase of shares.

What are bonus shares?

In case of bonus shares the company issues additional shares to the existing shareholders in the ratio as decided by the company. For example if you are holding 100 shares of company A which has issued a bonus of 1:2, you will be allocated 1 new share for every 2 shares held by you. So your new shareholding becomes 150 shares.

What do you mean by Stock Split?

In case of a split of shares the face of the shares is changed and shares of revised face value are issued to the shareholder. For example if you are holding 100 shares of company A having a face value of 10/- each and the company splits the shares into shares of face value of 1/- then the shareholder will be issued 1000 new shares of 1/-.

What is the difference between a stock split and bonus shares?

In case of a stock split basically your no. of shares increases in the proportion of the split and the face value of the share changes from old face value to new face value.

Whereas, in case of bonus, new shares of the same face value are issued to the shareholder so the total no. of shares goes up.

What is meant by corporate action?

Corporate action can be simplified as an action carried out by a publicly-trading company like merger or demerger, bonus shares, split of shares, rights issue, buy-back. When a company undergoes any corporate action the shareholder of the company get the benefit of the same like in case of merger/demerger or bonus issue or split of shares or they get to participate/subscribe to the issue like a rights issue or a buy back offering.

In case of a merger / demerger the shareholder is issued shares of the new entity either by submitting the old share certificates or by way of cancellation of old shares and issue of new shares.

Similarly in case of split of shares the face of the shares is changed and shares of revised face value are issued to the shareholder. For example if you are holding 100 shares of company A having a face value of 10/- each and the company splits the shares into shares of face value of 1/- then the shareholder will be issued 1000 new shares of 1/-.

In case of bonus shares the company issues additional shares to the existing shareholders in the ration as decided by the company. For example if you are holding 100 shares of company A which has issued a bonus of 1:2, you will be allocated 1 new share for every 2 shares held by you. So your new shareholding becomes 150 shares.

How does corporate action affect my shareholdings?

When a publicly-trading company undergoes corporate action, it’s shareholders receive revised share certificates while the old share certificates are cancelled.

Are physical shares worthless after the ban?

The ban on the transfer of shares in physical form was introduced by SEBI in late 2018. In accordance with the regulation imposed by SEBI, it is mandatory for shareholders to convert their shares into Demat form for the purpose of transfer of shares applicable from 1st April 2019. Investors are still permitted to hold shares in the physical form but, any share transfer request using physical shares will be turned away and will only be possible once shares are converted into Demat form. SEBI further clarified that:
  • This decision does not prohibit shareholders from holding physical shares even after 01st April 2019.
  • Any investor, who wants to transfer the shares after 01st April 2019 can do so only after the shares are dematerialized.
  • Any transfer deed(s) once lodged prior to 01st April 2019 and returned due to any deficiency/discrepancy in the documents can be re-lodged for transfer even after 01st April 2019

I need to transfer my physical shares. How can I do it?

  • Choose a depository participant (DP) and open a demat account.
  • Once you have a Demat account, fill out the Dematerialization Request Form (DRF)
  • Submit the certificates of the physical shares you want to dematerialize and the DRF to the DP.
  • Your DP will then send an electronic request to the Registrar and Transfer agent.
  • The Registrar and Transfer agent will verify the certificates, form, and your personal information documents.
  • The company whose shares you own will replace your name in their Register of Members with the depository’s name.
  • And once the Company’s Register of Members has been updated you will receive a confirmation regarding the transfer of dematerialized shares to your demat account.

Is it mandatory to produce the share certificate while transferring the shares?

Consider the share certificate as your ticket to transferring the shares. Share certificate issued by the respective company is mandatorily required during the process of transfer of shares as it acts as the evidence to ensure that the certificate issued in the name of a person is the owner and is willingly transferring his/her shares.

I faced the issue of mismatched signatures while transferring shares. What can be done?

Mis-match of signature is a common issue as with the passage of time or changes in name the signature might have changed over time. In such cases the latest signature needs to be registered in the company’ records for which signature verification form duly filled and attested from the bank manager and affidavit for signature change on a non-judicial stamp paper might be required depending upon the company’s requirements.

What are the documents required to obtain a duplicate share certificate?

Duplicate share certificates are usually made due to the loss of the original share certificates. Getting duplicate shares issues is a long and technical process which requires dealing with multiple parties. You can obtain a duplicate share certificate by providing below listed documents/details:

  • The F.I.R filed with the police enlisting: Share holder’s name, number of shares, folio number, certificate number and distinctive number.
  • An affidavit drafted on a Non-Judicial stamp paper.
  • An indemnity bond agreement drafted on a Non-Judicial stamp paper.
  • Newspaper advertisement stating the loss of the original share certificate.

What are the documents required for the change of name on share certificates post marriage?

Marriages are one of the most common reasons why people change their names on a share certificate. However, the process of changing the name is the same in all cases. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has made this process easier by simplifying the name change procedure. Therefore, any shareholder that desires to change his/her name will be required to submit the following documents:

  • Letter of Request stating the reason for the change of name (here, the reason is marriage).
  • Attested Marriage Certificate (or Gazette Notification).
  • Self-attested address proof and PAN card.
  • Affidavit for name change.
  • Original share certificates

What is the legal process for changing the name on share certificates?

The problem of name mismatch is very common and can be due to several reasons such spelling mistakes, change of name after marriage or divorce or name /spelling changes in general. Whatever your reason may be, here are step that you need to follow to successfully get your name changed on your share certificates:

  • Draft a letter to the concerned company enclosing the reason for change of name along with details about your old and new name.
  • Attach with it attested copies of identity proof such as , PAN card, passport, affidavit etc
  • Also include in it the original share certificates on which you require the name to be changed.
  • Finally, self attest all the pages of the letter and send it to the company whose shares you own.
  • In case of minor changes in old and new name an Affidavit stating the old and new name and the documents proofs for the same might suffice. However, in case there is a major change in name a Gazette Notification might be required as per company’s requirements depending upon case to case.

My shares are in my possession in physical form and still it says that the shares have been transferred to IEPF. How is that possible?

There is a misconception that if you are holding physical shares then nothing can happen to the status of these shares. According to the law if you are not claiming your dividends for the last 7 consecutive years then the ownership of the shares is transferred to the IEPF authority. So, although you are in physical possession of the shares but for all practical purposes the shares have been transferred to the government. But of course you can claim these back by following the complete procedure of IEPF Claim.

My shares are in Demat form and still it says they have been transferred to IEPF. How is that possible?

There is a general belief that if the shares are in Demat Account then they are fully secure. However, even in the digital world, the shares in Demat A/C can be transferred to the government authority if the bank account linked to the Demat A/C is suspended or changed because of which you are not able to claim the dividends. Hence, if you are not claiming your dividends for the last 7 consecutive years the shares will be transferred to the government even if the shares were in Demat A/c. You can claim back these shares by following the complete procedure of IEPF Claim.

Unclaimed Deposit

What are unclaimed deposits, and how do they occur?

  • Money lying in any account maintained with a bank is termed to be unclaimed deposit when there is no transaction or operation in the said account for a period of ten years or more.
  • Primary reason for deposits becoming unclaimed is the death of the depositor/accountholder without leaving a nomination. Most depositors while opening their account or even afterwards do not carry out the necessary modifications for appointing a nominee in their accounts. Incase of their demise, banks are required to follow the legal procedures before handing over the money to the legal heirs.

What happens to unclaimed deposits held by banks and other financial institutions?

After a deposit is termed unclaimed, it has to be transferred to the Reserve Bank of India’s – Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF)

Are there any legal requirements for organizations to report and transfer unclaimed deposits to the government?

  • As per the directions of the RBI, banks shall remit the amounts of unclaimed deposits electronically to a designated account created for the purpose.
  • Accordingly, the amount is required to be transferred to the Fund on the last working day of the month.

How can individuals locate and claim their unclaimed deposits or property?

  • Any individual who has an unclaimed deposit has to first verify from their own financial records about old bank accounts/fixed deposits etc.
  • They can also go to the individual websites of the banks who are mandated by RBI to furnish details of unclaimed deposit holders with their bank.
  • There is no centralised database of complete unclaimed deposits with all banks across India.
  • However, an individual can claim such amounts from their bank by complying with the requirements mandated by the RBI

Is there a time limit for claiming unclaimed deposits, and what happens if they remain unclaimed?

There is no time limit for claiming such unclaimed deposits

Can unclaimed deposits be inherited by heirs, and if so, what is the process for claiming them?

  • Yes, unclaimed deposits can be claimed by the legal heirs of the accountholders.
  • The legal heirs have to complete the formalities of transmission including providing legal heir certificate/succession certificate/Will or Probate of Will to the respective banks. In addition, NOCs of other legal heirs, indemnity bonds may also be asked for by the banks.

Are there any tax implications for claiming unclaimed deposits or property?

There is no such tax implication for claiming unclaimed deposits as there is no transfer of capital asset for capital gains computation. An account holder is claiming back one’s own money which was forgotten about.

What steps can individuals take to prevent their deposits from becoming unclaimed in the first place?

  • Most important step is to appoint a nominee in one’s account or deposit.
  • Details of the bank accounts/deposits should be shared with the family members to keep them abreast in case of any mishappening.
  • KYC details should be regularly updated so that regular communication/alerts from the bank can come to the individuals.
  • Unwanted/extra accounts should be closed down and only 1-2 accounts should be maintained for day to day living.
  • FD slips should be kept safely.

What types of assets can be considered unclaimed deposits, and how do they differ from unclaimed property?

  • As per RBI, balances in savings / current accounts which are not operated for 10 years, or term deposits not claimed within 10 years from date of maturity are classified as “Unclaimed Deposits”.
  • There is no definition in any law for unclaimed property.

What efforts do governments make to reunite individuals with their unclaimed deposits or property?

p>Some of the efforts that can be initiated by the Government are as follows:

  • Creating a central database with complete details of unclaimed deposits with an easy to use interface for the public at large to search for their unclaimed deposits.
  • Organising camps and promotion activities to aware the public for claiming their unclaimed accounts.
  • Monitoring the position of unclaimed deposits in customer grievance redressal meetings at various levels.
  • Simplify the legal procedures and requirements to enable legal heirs to claim such unclaimed deposits even if the amounts are small.