How to transmit PPFAS units on a unit holder's death

From WebNotes, a public knowledge base. Last updated 17 May 2026. Reading time ~8 min. Level: Intermediate.

Key facts

Primary route	Submission of transmission request form, death certificate, and recipient KYC to the PPFAS or CAMS Investor Service Centre
Three principal scenarios	Single-mode folio with registered nominee; joint or Either-or-Survivor folio with surviving holder; single-mode folio without nominee (requires succession proof)
Processing time	10 to 30 business days for nominee transmission; 60 to 90 business days or longer where legal succession proof is required
Tax implication	Transmission itself is not a taxable event; the recipient inherits the original cost basis and holding period for future capital-gains computation

This guide covers the transmission of PPFAS Mutual Fund units following the death of a unit holder. Transmission is the legal process by which the deceased holder’s units are transferred to the rightful recipient: the registered nominee, the surviving joint holder, or the legal heir (where no nominee is registered). The process is governed by the SEBI Mutual Funds Regulations 1996 framework and is operationally handled by CAMS as PPFAS’s RTA. Most transmissions complete within 10 to 30 business days when nominee is on record; transmissions requiring legal-heir establishment can take 60 to 90 business days or longer.

Prerequisites

An original or notarised copy of the death certificate of the deceased unit holder.
The PAN, KYC status, and identity proof of the recipient (nominee, surviving joint holder, or legal heir).
Identification of the applicable transmission scenario:
- Scenario A: Single-mode folio with a registered nominee.
- Scenario B: Joint folio or Either-or-Survivor folio with a surviving holder.
- Scenario C: Single-mode folio without a registered nominee (the most documentarily complex scenario).
For Scenario C: a succession instrument (succession certificate, probate of will, or letter of administration) issued by a court; or, for transmissions below the SEBI-prescribed value threshold (typically Rs 5 lakh per folio per AMC, subject to change by SEBI circular), an indemnity bond and affidavit from all legal heirs in lieu of a succession instrument.
The recipient’s bank account details for the credit of any redemption proceeds (if redemption is requested alongside transmission) or for future SIP/SWP/transactional access.
An understanding that transmission is a legal-and-operational process, not a tax event. The recipient inherits the deceased’s cost basis and holding period for capital-gains computation. The recipient’s future redemption is taxed as if they had originally invested, with the deceased’s allotment date as the holding-period start.

Step-by-step procedure

Step 1: Identify the applicable transmission scenario

Determine which scenario applies. The documentary and procedural requirements differ materially.

Scenario A: Single-mode folio with nominee. The deceased held the folio individually (mode of holding: Single), and a nominee is registered on the folio. The nominee submits the transmission claim. Simplest and fastest path.
Scenario B: Joint or Either-or-Survivor folio. The folio was held jointly. On the death of one holder, the surviving holder(s) typically continue with the folio in their name(s). The transmission may simply update the registration to remove the deceased holder. For Either-or-Survivor folios, the survivor can continue operating the folio without immediate transmission, but updating the records is recommended.
Scenario C: Single-mode folio without nominee. The deceased held the folio individually and no nominee was registered. The legal heirs (per the applicable succession law) are the rightful claimants. A succession instrument is typically required, unless the folio value is below the SEBI threshold and an indemnity-bond approach is accepted.

Step 2: Obtain the death certificate

Obtain an original death certificate from the registrar of births and deaths at the relevant municipal authority. CAMS and PPFAS accept notarised copies of the original.

For deaths outside India, a death certificate issued by the local authority where the death occurred (apostilled or attested by the Indian embassy/consulate) is typically required. For NRI unit holders, additional documentary requirements may apply.

Step 3: Identify the recipient and complete their KYC

The recipient depends on the scenario:

Scenario A: The registered nominee.
Scenario B: The surviving joint holder.
Scenario C: The legal heir as established by the succession instrument.

The recipient must be SEBI-KRA-compliant (KYC Registered or KYC Validated). If not, complete fresh KYC at any SEBI-registered intermediary or through the PPFAS SelfInvest sign-up flow (see how to open a PPFAS SelfInvest direct-plan account).

Step 4: Obtain succession instruments if required (Scenario C only)

For Scenario C, obtain the relevant succession instrument:

Succession certificate: Issued by a civil court. Suitable for movable property (which mutual fund units are). Generally takes 6 to 12 months to obtain.
Probate of will: Where the deceased left a will, probate is the court’s authentication of the will. Required in some jurisdictions (Bombay, Calcutta, Madras presidency areas under the Indian Succession Act).
Letter of administration: Issued by a court when the deceased died intestate (without a will) and probate is not applicable. Names the administrator of the estate.

The applicable instrument depends on the personal law (Hindu Succession Act, Indian Succession Act, Muslim Personal Law) and the deceased’s domicile.

Indemnity-bond alternative: SEBI permits transmission below a prescribed threshold (currently Rs 5 lakh per folio per AMC for SoA folios, subject to AMC-specific policies) on the basis of:

An indemnity bond from all legal heirs.
An affidavit by each legal heir confirming the claim.
A No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from each other legal heir.

This approach is faster but requires unanimous consent from all legal heirs.

Step 5: Submit the transmission request form

Download the PPFAS Transmission Request Form from amc.ppfas.com or pick it up at any PPFAS or CAMS Investor Service Centre. The form requires:

Deceased unit holder’s name, PAN, and folio numbers.
Recipient’s name, PAN, KYC status, and bank account details.
The applicable scenario (with checkbox).
A claimant declaration.

Attach the supporting documents:

Original or notarised death certificate.
Recipient’s KYC documents (PAN, address proof, photograph).
Recipient’s bank-proof (cancelled cheque).
For Scenario C: succession instrument or indemnity-bond-with-NOC set.

Step 6: Submit at a PPFAS ISC or CAMS branch

Physical submission is the primary route:

Any PPFAS Investor Service Centre.
Any CAMS Investor Service Centre (see PPFAS ISC locations for the network).
For low-value transmissions where the SEBI Investor Charter framework permits online routing, MF Central or the PPFAS SelfInvest service-request flow may be used.

Get the acknowledgement receipt with the transmission request number.

Step 7: Track the transmission request

CAMS processes the request:

Scenario A: Typically 10 to 15 business days.
Scenario B: Typically 7 to 10 business days (simple record update).
Scenario C with indemnity bond: Typically 20 to 30 business days.
Scenario C with succession certificate: Typically 30 to 45 business days after submission of the succession certificate (excluding the time to obtain the certificate itself from the court).

Track progress through PPFAS customer service (see PPFAS customer service and grievance redressal) using the transmission request number.

Step 8: Receive transmission confirmation

On successful transmission:

The units are transferred to the recipient’s name.
The recipient receives a transmission confirmation letter from CAMS.
The recipient can now operate the units: hold, redeem, switch, or transfer.
The recipient’s cost basis and holding period for capital-gains purposes inherit from the deceased.

For Scenario B, the joint folio simply continues in the surviving holder’s name; no fresh folio is created.

What can go wrong

Nominee status not on record: If the deceased’s folio shows neither a nominee nor a SEBI opt-out declaration, the transmission falls into Scenario C, requiring legal-heir establishment. This is a primary reason for ensuring nominees are registered on all folios well in advance.
Multiple legal heirs disputing the claim: For Scenario C with an indemnity-bond approach, unanimous consent from all legal heirs is required. Any heir withholding consent forces the matter to the succession-certificate route, which takes 6 to 12 months in court.
PPFAS units across multiple scheme folios: If the deceased held units across multiple PPFAS schemes (e.g., PPFCF, ELSS, Liquid), each scheme folio requires a separate transmission entry on the request form, but typically a single submission covers all of them.
ELSS lock-in implications on transmission: Locked ELSS installments cannot be redeemed until their three-year lock-in elapses, but the transmission moves the units to the recipient. The recipient inherits the residual lock-in periods.
NRI recipient or non-resident estate: Non-resident recipients have additional documentation requirements (foreign address proof, tax-residency declaration for FATCA/CRS purposes). The transmission can take longer.
Distributor-acquired folio transmission: If the folio was acquired through a distributor (regular plan), the distributor is not consulted in the transmission. The recipient typically continues holding the regular-plan units; the recipient can subsequently switch to direct plan via SelfInvest after transmission completes.
Bank account closure timing: The deceased’s bank account is typically frozen on death. If the deceased’s bank account was registered against the folio, redemption proceeds cannot be credited until a fresh bank account is registered in the recipient’s name as part of the transmission.
Tax-residency change on transmission: If the recipient is in a different tax jurisdiction or a different tax-residency status (NRI vs resident), the tax treatment of future redemptions may differ. Consult a tax adviser.
Estate-duty considerations: India abolished estate duty in 1985, so transmission itself does not trigger an estate-duty event. However, the recipient’s future income or capital gains from the inherited units are taxable in the recipient’s hands.
Joint folio with two deceased holders (sequential deaths): If both joint holders of an Either-or-Survivor folio die, the folio reverts to Scenario A (if the second deceased had registered a nominee) or Scenario C (if not).

Documentary checklist by scenario

Scenario	Death certificate	Recipient KYC	Bank proof	Succession instrument	Indemnity bond	Estimated time
A: Nominee on file	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	10 to 15 BD
B: Joint or EOS folio	Yes	Yes (existing)	Yes	No	No	7 to 10 BD
C: No nominee, below threshold	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes, with NOCs	20 to 30 BD
C: No nominee, above threshold	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	30 to 45 BD after succession instrument

Pre-emptive measures to ease future transmission

Register nominees on every folio. Use how to add or update a nominee on a PPFAS folio to register up to three nominees with percentage allocation.
Keep KYC of nominee or potential heir up to date. Ensure their PAN-Aadhaar linkage and SEBI-KRA status.
Maintain a current Will. A Will reduces Scenario C complexity. Probate of a clear Will is generally faster than a contested succession.
Document the folio inventory. Maintain a personal record of all PPFAS folios (folio numbers, schemes, units) in a secure location accessible to the family.

How to add or update a nominee on a PPFAS folio is the pre-emptive step that simplifies future transmission
How to redeem PPFAS units via SelfInvest covers the recipient’s post-transmission redemption flow
How to update bank account on a PPFAS folio covers the recipient’s bank-account registration
How to open a PPFAS SelfInvest direct-plan account is the recipient’s SelfInvest entry path
The reference article on the PPFAS SelfInvest portal covers the full portal functionality
The reference article on PPFAS customer service and grievance redressal covers escalation paths during transmission delays

External references

References

PPFAS Mutual Fund, transmission forms at amc.ppfas.com/downloads/forms/.
PPFAS Mutual Fund, SelfInvest portal at selfinvest.ppfas.com (accessed May 2026).
SEBI Master Circular for Mutual Funds, 22 May 2024.
SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
SEBI circulars on transmission process for SoA-mode mutual fund units.
Indian Succession Act, 1925, with subsequent amendments.
Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist beneficiaries).
Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937.
CAMS Investor Services operational documentation on transmission.
PPFAS investor desk FAQ at amc.ppfas.com/faqs/.

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WebNotes Editorial Team

The WebNotes Editorial Team covers Indian capital markets, payments infrastructure and retail investor procedures. Every article is fact-checked against primary sources, principally SEBI circulars and master directions, NPCI specifications and the official support documentation published by the intermediary in question. Drafts go through a second-pair-of-eyes review and a separate compliance read before publication, and revisions are tracked against the SEBI and NPCI rule changes referenced in the methodology section.

Last reviewed: 17 May 2026
Conflicts of interest: WebNotes is independent. No relationship with any broker, registrar or bank named in this article.