Rules 8 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The last five rules of the IEPF Rules, 2016 are mostly the Authority's own business: its reports to the Central Government on companies that have not transferred what is due, the vesting of the old IEPF in the Authority, its returns, protection for action in good faith, and the repeal of earlier rules. This article is as amended up to G.S.R. 733(E) dated 1 October 2025 (Form IEPF-5); the rule text is per the MCA e-book to G.S.R. 552(E) of 9 September 2024. Later amendments should be checked before you rely on it. For IEPF compliance, see our compliance advisory service.
Rule 8 now consists of the Authority's reports to the Central Government: within sixty days of the end of the financial year on companies that failed to transfer the due amount, and by the end of the next financial year on companies that failed to file the IEPF-2 information. Rule 9 vests the old IEPF in the Authority. Rule 10 requires returns and an annual activity report within one hundred and eighty days of year-end. Rule 11 protects good-faith action. Rule 12 repeals the 2001 and 2012 rules.
Rule 8: power to direct payment
Rule 8 is headed "Power to direct payment of amount due to the Fund". Its first two sub-rules, which required companies to give the Authority a statement in Form IEPF-6 within thirty days of the end of the financial year about amounts due to be transferred in the next year, and a statement of reasons for any deviation, were omitted in 2019. What remains is:
- Rule 8(3). The Authority furnishes a report to the Central Government within sixty days of the end of the financial year giving details of companies that have failed to transfer the due amount to the Fund.
- Rule 8(4). The Authority furnishes a report to the Central Government by the end of the next financial year giving details of companies that have failed to file the information referred to in rule 5(8) (the IEPF-2 statement of unclaimed and unpaid amounts). See our article on rule 5.
For a company, the consequence is practical: a late transfer or a missing IEPF-2 finds its way into a report to the Government. The rule itself prints no penalty and no figure.
Rule 9: the old IEPF passes to the Authority
On and from the date of establishment of the Authority:
- any reference to the existing IEPF in any other law, contract or instrument is deemed a reference to the Authority;
- all properties and assets, movable and immovable, of the existing IEPF vest in the Authority;
- all rights and liabilities of the existing IEPF are transferred to the Authority;
- without prejudice to that, all debts, obligations and liabilities incurred, contracts entered into and matters engaged to be done by, with or for the existing IEPF immediately before that date are deemed done by, with or for the Authority;
- all sums of money due to the existing IEPF immediately before that date are deemed due to the Authority; and
- all suits and legal proceedings instituted or which could have been instituted by or against the existing IEPF may be continued or instituted by or against the Authority.
The "existing IEPF" is defined in rule 2 as the fund constituted under section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956; see our article on rules 1 to 4.
Rule 10: returns and reports
- 10(1). The Authority furnishes to the Central Government, at such time and in such form and manner as may be specified or as the Government may direct, such returns and statements and particulars about its activity.
- 10(2). Without prejudice to that, the Authority submits, within one hundred and eighty days after the end of each financial year, a report in the specified form giving a true and full account of its activities during the previous financial year.
The form and content of that annual report are covered in our article on the 2018 Annual Accounts and Annual Report Rules.
Rule 11: protection of action taken in good faith
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings lie against the Central Government, the Authority, any officer of the Central Government or any member, officer or other employee of the Authority for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under the rules. The same protection appears in rule 14 of the Authority Appointment Rules; see our article on rules 10 to 14.
Rule 12: repeal and savings
- 12(1). The Investor Education and Protection Fund (Awareness and Protection of Investors) Rules, 2001 and the Investor Education and Protection Fund (Uploading of information regarding unpaid and unclaimed amounts lying with companies) Rules, 2012 are repealed.
- 12(2). Despite the repeal, anything done or any action taken under the repealed rules, so far as it is not inconsistent with these rules, is deemed done or taken under the corresponding provisions of these rules.
The Schedule entry
The closing "SCHEDULE" entry lists Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III and Schedule IV. They deal with registers, documents for transmission and lost certificates, and the claim procedure, and are explained in our article on Schedules I to IV.
The five rules at a glance
| Rule | Subject | Key period or point |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Reports on non-compliant companies | Sixty days of year-end (failure to transfer); end of next financial year (failure to file IEPF-2 information) |
| 9 | Vesting of the existing IEPF in the Authority | Property, rights, liabilities, sums due and legal proceedings |
| 10 | Returns and reports | Annual report within one hundred and eighty days of year-end |
| 11 | Protection | Action in good faith |
| 12 | Repeal and savings | 2001 and 2012 rules repealed; actions saved |
A worked example
Starlight Industries Limited does not transfer an amount that was due to the Fund and does not file the IEPF-2 statement in time. Within sixty days of the financial year-end, the Authority's report to the Central Government lists companies that failed to transfer the due amount, and a later report, by the end of the next financial year, lists companies that failed to file the rule 5(8) information. If the company had a dispute with the old IEPF in court before the Authority was set up, rule 9(f) allows that suit to be continued by or against the Authority. An action the old rules authorised before repeal is saved by rule 12(2) so far as consistent with the 2016 Rules.
For the claimant's side, see our article on rule 7, and for the Act, sections 124 and 125 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Need help with IEPF compliance?
The surest protection against a place on the Authority's non-compliance lists is a calendar that tracks transfers and IEPF-2 filings. Our compliance advisory team can build one for your company.
Key takeaways
- Rule 8(1) and (2) were omitted in 2019; rule 8(3) and (4) are the Authority's reports on non-transferring and non-filing companies.
- Rule 9 vests the old IEPF's assets, rights, liabilities and proceedings in the Authority.
- The Authority reports to the Central Government within one hundred and eighty days of year-end.
- Good-faith action is protected.
- The 2001 and 2012 IEPF rules are repealed, with actions saved.
Read next
- Rule 7: claiming shares and dividend back in IEPF-5
- Schedules I to IV of the IEPF Rules
- Sections 124 and 125 of the Companies Act, 2013: IEPF
- IEPF Rules, 2016 guide
Disclaimer: Based on the Companies Act, 2013 rules (and the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020) named above as consolidated in the MCA e-book (consulted on 3 October 2026), with the later notifications the article names. Later amendments, fees, forms and the Companies Act, 2013 provisions referred to should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.