<h1>Companies Must Transfer Unclaimed Dividends and Deposits to IEPF After 7 Years, Says Section 205C, Companies Act 1956.</h1> Under Section 205C of the Companies Act, 1956, companies must transfer unclaimed and unpaid amounts related to dividends, matured deposits, and debentures to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) after seven years. The Minister for Corporate Affairs reported to the Lok Sabha that Rs. 693.37 crore has been credited to the IEPF for the period 2001-02 to 2012-13. This amount is part of the Consolidated Fund of India. There have been no reported instances of companies misappropriating these unclaimed funds by transferring them to their balance sheets.