News Summary
- EPFO has ordered its field offices to replace Forms 15G and 15H with a new consolidated Form 121 for TDS exemption.
- The change takes effect from April 1, 2026, under the new Income-tax Act, 2025.
- Regional offices must assign a Unique Identification Number to every Form 121 received from members.
- EPFO will build a digital filing system for Form 121, but physical forms are accepted until then.
EPFO has told its regional and zonal offices to stop accepting Forms 15G and 15H for tax deducted at source exemptions. From April 1, 2026, members who want TDS withheld on eligible income must submit the new consolidated Form 121 instead. The change follows the rollout of the Income-tax Act, 2025, which replaces the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Form 121 is not compulsory for all members. It applies only to resident individuals whose estimated tax liability for the financial year is nil and who want no tax deducted at source. The member fills and signs Part A of the form. The paying office, such as an EPFO regional office, completes Part B.
Who Qualifies and What the Rules Require
The table below maps the key conditions in Form 121 to their outcomes:
| Condition | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Resident individual with nil estimated tax liability | Eligible to submit Form 121 |
| Member does not seek TDS exemption | Form 121 not required |
| Form 15G or 15H filed on or after April 1, 2026 | Office must not reject it; must follow up for Form 121 separately |
| Non-compliance by payer office (missing UIN, wrong reporting) | Penalties apply under the new tax law |
EPFO has made it mandatory for every paying office to assign a Unique Identification Number to each Form 121 received. The UIN must carry a sequence number, the relevant tax year, and the Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number of the payer. Offices must compile all Form 121 declarations received in a month and upload the consolidated statement to the income-tax e-filing portal by the 7th of the following month. These UINs must also appear in the quarterly TDS return filed in Form 140.
Timeline for the Transition
- April 1, 2026: Form 121 becomes the only accepted declaration for TDS exemption under the Income-tax Act, 2025.
- April 1, 2026 onwards: UIN sequences must start running from this date with no breaks.
- 7th of each month (from April 2026): Offices must upload the monthly consolidated Form 121 statement to the income-tax e-filing portal.
- Ongoing: UIN continuity must be maintained once the online digital filing system goes live.
EPFO’s internal systems division has been asked to build a facility that lets members digitally sign and submit Form 121 online. Until that system is ready, members can upload a physically signed Form 121 in place of the earlier forms, and offices must treat it as valid for compliance purposes.
The order was issued with the approval of the Central Provident Fund Commissioner. EPFO has asked all offices to inform eligible members about the switch to Form 121 so no one misses the deadline or faces an unexpected TDS deduction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Form 121 and why is EPFO introducing it?
Form 121 is a consolidated declaration that replaces Forms 15G and 15H for seeking TDS exemption on eligible income. EPFO is introducing it because the Income-tax Act, 2025 replaces the older Income-tax Act, 1961 from April 1, 2026.
Who needs to submit Form 121 to EPFO?
Only resident individuals whose estimated tax liability for the financial year is nil and who want no TDS deducted need to submit Form 121. It is not mandatory for all EPFO members.
What happens if a member submits the old Form 15G or 15H after April 1, 2026?
EPFO has said offices must not reject such forms. Instead, offices must follow up with the member to obtain Form 121 separately.
Can members file Form 121 online?
EPFO has asked its systems division to build a digital filing facility for Form 121, but it is not yet ready. Until then, members can upload a physically signed form and offices must accept it.
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