ITC Limited has informed shareholders that the unpaid or unclaimed dividend declared for FY2018–19 is due for transfer to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) on 12 August 2026. The ordinary shares linked to dividend entitlements that have remained unclaimed for seven consecutive years will also be transferred to the IEPF if ITC does not receive a claim by 11 August 2026.
Scheduled Transfer
12 August 2026
Dividend Concerned
FY 2018–19
Last Date to Lodge Claim with ITC
11 August 2026
What ITC Has Announced
According to ITC’s investor-relations disclosures, ordinary shares in respect of which dividend entitlements have remained unclaimed for seven consecutive years from FY2018–19 are due for transfer to the IEPF on 12 August 2026.
ITC’s unclaimed-dividend schedule identifies the relevant payment as the company’s 89th dividend, declared on 12 July 2019. As of 31 March 2026, approximately ₹17.96 crore, or 0.25% of the total dividend for that year, remained unclaimed.
ITC has also stated that individual letters were sent to concerned members at their addresses registered with the company or their Depository Participants. The company published a public notice on 12 May 2026 in accordance with the applicable disclosure requirements.
Why Shares Are Transferred to the IEPF
The Investor Education and Protection Fund was established under the Companies Act, 2013 to receive and administer certain unpaid or unclaimed investor amounts. These include unclaimed dividends and, where the statutory conditions are met, shares linked to dividend entitlements that have remained unclaimed for the prescribed period.
Under Section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013, read with the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016, unpaid or unclaimed dividend remaining unpaid for seven consecutive years is required to be transferred to the IEPF. Shares in respect of which dividend entitlements have remained unclaimed for seven consecutive years are also subject to transfer in accordance with the applicable provisions.
Transfer to the IEPF does not necessarily extinguish the shareholder’s entitlement. The shareholder or another eligible claimant may apply to the IEPF Authority for recovery of the shares and/or dividend by following the prescribed procedure. Recovery is subject to documentation, company verification and approval by the IEPF Authority.
Key Facts from ITC’s Disclosures
- The relevant dividend relates to FY2018–19 and was declared on 12 July 2019.
- The dividend and concerned linked shares are due for transfer to the IEPF on 12 August 2026.
- ITC has stated that its Investor Service Centre will not be able to entertain claims received after 11 August 2026.
- Claims may be sent to the Investor Service Centre, ITC Limited, 37 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700071.
- Claims and queries may also be sent by email to isc@itc.in.
- ITC has identified Mr. R. K. Singhi, Executive Vice President and Company Secretary, as the Nodal Officer, with Ms. Nidhi Bajaj and Mr. T. K. Ghosal as Deputy Nodal Officers under the IEPF Rules.
- As of 31 July 2026, ITC had paid-up capital of approximately ₹1,252.95 crore, around 43.69 lakh shareholders and 99.73% of its shares held in dematerialised form.
Important Dates
Who May Be Affected
This notice is relevant to ITC shareholders who have not claimed or encashed the dividend declared for FY2018–19. This may include investors whose bank details or addresses were not updated, shareholders with old physical folios, joint holders where one holder is deceased, or investors who have forgotten about an older shareholding.
Concerned Shares
The transfer concerns only the shares linked to the relevant unclaimed dividend entitlement. It does not mean that a shareholder’s entire ITC holding will be transferred to the IEPF.
Legal Heirs
The matter may also affect the legal heirs of deceased shareholders. An eligible legal heir or other claimant may seek recovery by following the applicable transmission and IEPF procedures. Nominee status does not automatically guarantee entitlement in every case, because the outcome may depend on the nomination, transmission and succession documents applicable to the shareholder’s circumstances.
What ITC Shareholders Should Do
Check ITC’s official investor-relations information and shareholder lists to determine whether the relevant dividend or shares are associated with your name, folio or demat account.
If the FY2018–19 dividend remains unclaimed, send a claim to the Investor Service Centre at 37 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700071, or email isc@itc.in on or before 11 August 2026.
Include the details and documents requested by ITC or its Registrar and Transfer Agent. Shareholders should verify the exact document requirements directly with ITC before submitting sensitive information.
Update PAN, KYC, bank-account, address and nomination details with the relevant Depository Participant or Registrar and Transfer Agent to reduce the risk of future dividends becoming unclaimed.
If the concerned shares are transferred to the IEPF, the shareholder or eligible claimant may apply for recovery by filing Form IEPF-5 on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ IEPF portal. This is an application process and does not guarantee approval.
Legal heirs should complete the applicable transmission process and obtain the required succession or legal-heir documents before pursuing an IEPF claim.
Shareholders with physical certificates should expect additional KYC, transmission and dematerialisation requirements when recovering shares from the IEPF, depending on their circumstances.
What Happens After IEPF Transfer?
If ITC does not receive a claim by the stipulated date, the company will transfer the concerned shares to the IEPF in accordance with Section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013 and the applicable IEPF Rules.
Once transferred, the shareholder or eligible claimant may seek recovery of the shares and/or unpaid dividend from the IEPF Authority. The claim is made through Form IEPF-5 and must be supported by the documents prescribed in the form and applicable rules.
How to File Form IEPF-5
Form IEPF-5 is the prescribed online application for claiming shares, dividends and certain other amounts transferred to the IEPF.
- Complete and submit Form IEPF-5 through the IEPF portal.
- Note the Service Request Number generated after successful submission.
- Print the completed form and acknowledgement.
- Send the signed form, acknowledgement, indemnity bond and other required documents to the company’s IEPF Nodal Officer at the registered office.
- Wait for the company’s verification and submission of its report to the IEPF Authority.
- The IEPF Authority will consider the claim and, where approved, release the refund or shares according to the applicable procedure.
The IEPF Authority states that claims are subject to submission of the required documents and verification by the concerned company before the refund or shares are released.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss the 11 August 2026 deadline?
ITC has stated that its Investor Service Centre will not be able to entertain claims received after 11 August 2026. If no claim is received by the stipulated date, ITC will transfer the concerned shares to the IEPF in accordance with the applicable provisions of law.
Does this mean I permanently lose my ITC shares?
Not necessarily. The shareholder or an eligible claimant may apply for recovery of shares and unpaid dividend from the IEPF Authority by filing Form IEPF-5. The application is subject to company verification, documentation and approval by the IEPF Authority, so recovery is not automatic or guaranteed.
What is Form IEPF-5?
Form IEPF-5 is the official application used to claim shares, dividends and certain other amounts transferred to the IEPF. It is filed online, after which the claimant must submit the signed form, acknowledgement and other required documents to the company’s IEPF Nodal Officer for verification.
Can a legal heir claim shares held in a deceased shareholder’s name?
A legal heir may be able to claim the shares, subject to completion of the applicable transmission process and submission of the succession or legal-heir documents required by the company, Registrar and Transfer Agent and IEPF Authority.
Does nominee status automatically establish entitlement?
No. Nominee status does not automatically guarantee entitlement in every situation. The claimant should verify the applicable nomination, transmission and succession requirements with ITC or its Registrar and Transfer Agent.
Does this notice apply only to ITC shareholders?
The specific dates and notice described in this article apply only to ITC Limited. However, the statutory provisions concerning the transfer of qualifying unpaid dividends and associated shares to the IEPF apply more broadly, and other companies issue similar notices on different schedules.