You can withdraw your Provident Fund (PF) money under certain conditions:
- Full withdrawal is allowed upon retirement at the age of 58 or above.
- If you leave your job, you can withdraw 75% of your PF after being unemployed for more than 1 month, and the remaining 25% after 2 months of unemployment.
- For housing, you can withdraw up to 90% of your PF balance after completing 3 years of membership, which has been reduced from the earlier 5 years.
- Instant withdrawal of up to Rs 1 lakh is possible for emergency needs.
- Generally, PF withdrawal before 5 years of continuous service may attract tax.
Also, PF cannot be withdrawn while you are still employed at the current job; partial withdrawals or advances are possible under specific rules. So, the timing depends on the reason for withdrawal — retirement, unemployment duration, housing, or emergencies.
