Under 5 years YOE: Is a Partial PF Advance (Form 31) tax-free under new EPFO 3.0 rules?

Hi everyone,

I have 4.10 years of experience (transferred across two companies).

I want to take a Partial Advance (Form 31) under the "Illness/Essential Needs" category, I want to withdraw around 1.70 Lakhs while leaving the mandatory 25% balance in the account.

1. Can anyone confirm if Form 31 is 100% tax-free and exempt from TDS, even with less than 5 years of service?
2. Has anyone used the new EPFO 3.0 auto-settlement system (launched June/July 2026) for a Form 31 claim over ₹1 Lakh? Did it clear in 3 days?

Thanks!