The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) had earlier amended the IEPF Rules via Notification G.S.R. 571(E) dated August 14, 2019, effective from August 20, 2019. This amendment inserted Rule 5(4A), which mandates companies that had transferred amounts under clauses (a) to (d) of Section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956 — or filed IEPF-1 under Section 125(2)(a)–(n) of the Companies Act, 2013 — to file the relevant details in Form IEPF-1A along with the prescribed Excel template, if such statements were earlier submitted in formats other than the mandated one.

Despite multiple reminders, a large number of companies — over 3,000, including 1,758 listed and 1,103 unlisted ones — have failed to comply. The IEPFA currently holds over 31,000 SRNs filed in non-compliant formats, making it difficult to correctly trace transferred amounts to rightful investors. This has caused delays in refunds and increased grievances.

To streamline the refund process under the new MCA21 V3 platform, IEPFA has now provided a final opportunity to all defaulting companies to regularise their filings.

These companies must submit Form IEPF-1A along with the correct Excel template within 30 days from this notice, i.e., on or before August 30, 2025.

The Authority will email each company’s Nodal Officer with the list of SRNs requiring attention and the relevant Excel template. Companies that fail to act by the stated deadline will face regulatory action under the Companies Act, 2013.

All stakeholders are therefore advised to treat this as a final compliance window and ensure timely and correct submission of information.