Ceat Limited has announced that it will transfer unclaimed dividends and equity shares to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) by September 3, 2026. This action follows the provisions of Section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013, and the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016. Shareholders who have not claimed dividends for seven consecutive years or more are affected by this transfer.

The company has communicated separately to the concerned shareholders via their registered postal addresses with the Registrar and Transfer Agent (RTA), NSDL Database Management Limited. Full details of the affected shareholders are available on the company's website under the "Shareholder Information" section. Shareholders holding shares in physical form will have their original certificates automatically cancelled, while those holding shares in electronic form will see their demat accounts debited.

To avoid the transfer, shareholders must submit an application to the RTA with a request letter and requisite forms signed by all holders, along with necessary identification documents. If the company or RTA does not receive communication by the deadline, the shares will be transferred to the IEPF without further notice. Once transferred, claims against the company for these dividends or shares will not lie, and shareholders must approach the IEPF Authority for recovery.

The notice also highlights a special window for re-lodgement of physical share transfer requests, open from February 5, 2026, to February 4, 2027. This window applies to requests originally submitted on or before April 1, 2019, that were rejected, returned, or not processed due to deficiencies. Additionally, the IEPF Authority has relaunched the "Saksham Niveshak" initiative from April 1, 2026, to July 9, 2026, to facilitate the payment of unclaimed dividends to rightful shareholders.

Shareholders with queries can contact NSDL Database Management Limited at 4th Floor, Tower 3, One International Centre, Senapati Bapat Marg, Prabhadevi (West), Mumbai – 400 013, or via email at investor.ndmlrta@ndml.in .

CEAT Limited has communicated the tax deduction at source (TDS) provisions applicable to dividends distributed under the Income Tax Act, 2025. The company outlined the compliance requirements and tax rates for resident and non-resident shareholders for the financial year 2026-27. The communication emphasizes the necessity of valid documentation to ensure appropriate tax deduction and avoid higher withholding rates.

Resident Shareholders

For resident individual shareholders, TDS will be deducted at 10% on the dividend amount, provided the shareholder holds a valid Permanent Account Number (PAN) linked with Aadhaar. This deduction is governed by Section 393(1), Table Sr no. 7 of the Act. However, TDS will not apply if the aggregate dividend distributed during the financial year does not exceed ₹10,000. Shareholders wishing to claim exemption from TDS must submit Form 121 and other prescribed documents.

If a shareholder does not hold a PAN or if the PAN is not linked with Aadhaar, the TDS rate increases to 20% as per Section 397(2) of the Act. Resident shareholders are advised to ensure their Aadhaar is linked to their PAN to avoid the higher rate. Forms such as Form 121 can be submitted electronically via depository participants NSDL or CDSL.

Non-Individual Residents

Resident shareholders classified as non-individuals, such as insurance companies, mutual funds, and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), may qualify for nil or lower TDS rates. This concession is subject to the submission of self-declarations and self-attested copies of registration certificates and PAN cards. Specific declarations are required for entities like the New Pension System Trust and finance companies located in International Financial Services Centres (IFSC).

Non-Resident Shareholders

Non-resident shareholders, including Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), are subject to a TDS of 20%, plus applicable surcharge and cess, under Section 393(2) of the Act. However, they may opt for the beneficial tax rates provided by the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and their country of residence. To avail these treaty benefits, shareholders must submit a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC), self-declaration in Form No. 41 valid for FY 2026-27, and a declaration meeting treaty eligibility requirements.

Additionally, non-resident shareholders must provide a self-attested copy of their PAN card, if allotted, or specific details as per Rule 217 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026, if PAN is unavailable. FIIs and FPIs must also provide a self-attested copy of their SEBI registration certificate. The application of beneficial DTAA rates is contingent upon a satisfactory review of these documents by the company.

Compliance and Deadlines

The company has stated that no communication regarding tax determination will be entertained after July 7, 2026. Shareholders holding shares in dematerialized form must update their tax residency status, PAN, and contact details with their depository participants. Those holding physical shares must furnish details to the Registrar and Transfer Agent, NSDL Database Management Ltd. (NDML). The company clarified that it is obligated to deduct tax based on records available from depositories or the RTA and cannot revise TDS returns retrospectively due to shareholder delays.