Worry No More! Unclaimed Shares & Dividends Will Be Easier to Recover — IEPFA’s New Portal Coming Soon

If you’ve ever forgotten about old shares or missed out on dividend payouts, you’re not alone. Many investors often lose track of their investments, and sometimes, family members remain unaware of holdings after a loved one passes away. But here’s some good news: claiming your long-lost shares and dividends will soon be easier than ever, thanks to a new initiative by the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA).

The IEPFA is preparing to launch a brand-new digital portal, expected to go live by August 2025, which will streamline the process of claiming unclaimed shares and dividends. This new platform promises a faster, more transparent, and hassle-free experience for investors.

💡 No More Paperwork Hassles!

Until now, claiming old shares or dividends was a time-consuming and frustrating task. Investors had to gather multiple documents, submit notarized papers, and follow a lengthy verification process, which discouraged many from even attempting to recover their money.

The upcoming IEPFA portal aims to simplify this journey completely. Investors will be able to:

✅ Track claim status live on the portal
✅ Easily verify their PAN, bank account, and demat details
✅ Directly communicate with companies for quick settlements

This is especially useful in cases where dividends fail to reach investors due to outdated bank details or wrong addresses. Under Indian rules, if dividends or shares remain unclaimed for 7 consecutive years, the funds automatically transfer to IEPFA. But the new portal is designed to help you reclaim those funds quickly and efficiently.

💡 Massive Unclaimed Wealth Awaits Owners

IEPFA currently holds over 1.1 billion shares, with an estimated value of ₹1 lakh crore. On top of that, unclaimed dividends totaling more than ₹6,000 crore are waiting to be returned to the rightful owners.

The new portal is part of IEPFA’s mission to reunite investors with their hard-earned money and clear backlogs in the system.

💡 Investor Camps to Raise Awareness

To assist investors further, IEPFA and market regulator SEBI are planning to conduct ‘Investor Awareness Camps’ in major cities. These sessions will help guide individuals on how to claim their stuck investments smoothly.

In certain situations, companies may even transfer the due dividends directly into your bank account once verification is complete, making the process even more seamless.

💡 Simplified Claim Process Already in Motion

IEPFA has already taken some steps to ease the recovery process. If your unclaimed shares or dividends are worth up to ₹5 lakh, you won’t need a succession certificate. Additionally, some of the earlier notarization requirements have been scrapped.

Before filing a claim, you can also check online whether there are any unclaimed shares or dividends registered under your name on the IEPFA’s website.

With these investor-friendly reforms, the tension of lost investments could soon become a thing of the past!