In an image forming apparatus a toner image is transferred onto a transfer material using an intermediate transfer member. The image forming apparatus has an image bearing member; a toner image forming unit for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; an intermediate transfer member movable along an endless path in contact with the image bearing member; a bias voltage applicator for applying a bias voltage to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member at a first transfer position of the intermediate transfer member; and an image transfer device for transferring the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto the transfer material at a second transfer position of the intermediate transfer member, a residual toner charge for charging residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after image transfer therefrom, to a polarity opposite from a regular polarity of the toner to permit the residual toner to transfer back, simultaneously with a next image transfer at the first transfer position, to the image bearing member when the residual toner passes through the first transfer position.