How to check EPF balance online
Here are a few steps that list down clearly the process to check your EPF balance online.
Step 1: The first step towards checking your EPF balance is to keep your EPF account number handy. This is the most important information with respect to any communication regarding your EPF account.
Step 2: Open the link, http://www.epfindia.com/site_en/KYEPFB.php and click on the “Know your balance” text at the bottom of the webpage.
Step 3: Select the state of the PF office in which your EPF account is maintained
Step 4: As soon as your select your EPF state, a list of city offices pertaining to that state will be listed down. Choose your city specific EPF office from the list. For example, if your PF state office is Karnataka and the local office is in Bangalore, then select Bangalore as the city.
Step 5: Now fill in your EPF account number, your name as mentioned in EPF records and your mobile number. Generally, the EPF number would be in the following format - TN/MAS/0054222/000/0000111. In case, the three digits in the middle are not there for your EPF account number, then leave the box blank and proceed. The first two alphabets in the EPF account number is the code for region and next three alphabets is the code for PF office. Accordingly, you can choose your regional PF office.
Step 6: Click submit and the EPF balance will be sent to you via SMS on the mobile number that you have shared in the form above.
How to check EPF balance via UAN
UAN is the Universal Account Number which is unique for all individuals enrolled under the EPF scheme. This number does not change when you change your employer or your PF account number. UAN is a unique number assigned to each employee. UAN can be generated by logging in to the EPF website. Once you have registered your UAN, you will receive details like EPF balance and other such information on your mobile phone via sms.
Earlier this year, The Ministry of Labor and Employment had asked all organizations and employers to register their employees for the UAN and to ensure that EPF related formalities are up to date for all employees.
Here are a few steps that lead to EPF balance checking via UAN.
Step 1: Open the web page http://uanmembers.epfoservices.in/
Step 2: Enter your Universal Account Number of UAN.
Step 3: Enter your mobile number at which you will receive SMS.
Step 4: Select your EPF state, and choose your city specific EPF office from the list. For example, if your PF state office is Karnataka and the local office is in Bangalore, then select Bangalore as the city.
Step 5: Fill in the captcha code that is prompted by the system. Finally you will receive the pin and the EPF balance details on the mobile number that you have furnished.
How to check EPF balance via SMS or Missed Call
There are several ways which can be employees to check your EPF balance. One such way which comes in handy at times when you do not have an active online connection is via SMS or missed calls. For this you will need to have an activated UAN number. In case you have a valid UAN, your mobile number too will be registered with the EPF department. Giving a simple missed call to 011-22901406 will ensure that you receive an SMS that lists down your PF number, age and name as per the EPF records. However, you will require your UAN along with Aadhar Number or PAN Number in order to know your EPF balance.
KYC details along with UAN is mandatory for knowing your EPF balance. Once your UAN is integrated with your KYC, every time you give a missed call to the Employee’s Provident Fund department, you will receive SMS with your EPF details including the EPF balance.
How to check EPF balance via mobile app
EPFO recently launched a mobile app for PF balance tracking so as to capitalize on the mobile application trend in the Indian market. The mobile app serves the purpose of balance check as well as passbook statement. The mobile app, however, is not available on Google Play Store and as such needs to be downloaded manually from the EPFO official website. The mobile app currently in the market is only available for the android version. EPFO will soon be launching mobile app versions for both blackberry and ios devices.
On the EPFO app link, click and check save target as. Once the app is installed on your mobile phone, you can open and feed in your name and account number to track the PF status. The execution file for the app can also be downloaded to the computer and then moved to the mobile phone. The main file is named m-epf.apk and will show on the desktop or mobile screen wherever you download it to.
Here are the steps for using the EPF mobile app:
Step 1: Open the mobile app on your phone and click member
Step 2: Under the Member option, click balance/passbook and then input your twelve digit UAN number. Also feed in your registered mobile number. The system will now verify the mobile number - UAn combination and will throw an error if it does not match.
Step 3: In case the mobile number-UAN combination is correct, you will be shown a screen which displays your updated EPF balance information along with personal details like your name, date of birth, Aadhar number, PAN for tax deduction, last month EPF contribution etc.
Step 4: In case you wish to see your EPF statement for the last 7 months, you can press the “view passbook” option and get a detailed statement for the last 7 months.
EPF Mobile App for EPF Balance tracking is a good and handy way to check your EPF balance and that too on the go.
Example:
Mr. Bhatt was working in a software company when he got a job change and shifted to Bangalore. Before deciding to withdraw his PF amount or carrying it forward to the new company, he wanted to know the exact EPF amount that he has in his EPF account.
He had heard from his colleagues that obtaining the EPF balance is an easy process via the Universal Account Number or UAN. However, he had doubts since he had never generated the UAN. But, then he was told that without UAN also, he could get EPF balance information via the SMS facility.
Checking your EPF balance via the EPF website and receiving the answer on your mobile phone is a convenient way to know about the actual amount in your EPF account. This way you can keep a tab on the running balance in your PF account.
How to access and download your EPF passbook?
EPF passbook is similar to our bank account passbook. The passbook lists down all transactions with respect to your EPF account including both deposits and/or any partial withdrawals.
Using the UAN portal
UAN can be used to download the passbook online from the EPFO website and then track the status of your EPF transactions. The EPF passbook has particulars regarding monthly PF contribution, monthly PF contribution from your employer, and contribution towards the pension scheme as well as the latest EPF balance. EPF passbook is like a full statement of all your transactions with the EPFO.
The only prerequisite for obtaining this passbook is to generate your UAN number which can then be used to login and download it.
Using the Member portal
Employees Provident Fund Organization or EPFO has a member portal where you can register online and then view your EPF passbook. The facility can be availed only by individuals whose employer has uploaded the Electronic Challan cum Return for the salary month of May 2012 and beyond.
The best part about using the member portal for PF passbook is that there is absolutely no need to remember any user id or password. Only registered mobile number and any of the identity proof number such as PAN, Aadhar, voter id etc. are required to register and then make further logins. Multiple id numbers can be fed and stored along with the registered phone number. Any of these id numbers can then be used in combination with the phone number for retrieval of EPF statement via the EPF passbook.
Using the above listed two portals for downloading and viewing EPF passbook is a great way to know your EPF balance also.
Important points to keep in mind while checking EPF balance
With the introduction of technology in various government projects, the maintenance and tracking of EPF balance too has become a piece of cake. However, there are certain points that need to be kept in mind for successful login and viewing of EPF balance. Let us look into a few of these points.
- For registration at member portal for passbook download, only one mobile number can be used for one registration
- Any registered mobile number can view only one EPF account details and for more accounts either more phone numbers should be registered or PF transfer through form 13 needs to be applied for.
- One member of the portal can view a maximum of up to 10 EPF account balances
- Multiple id numbers can be added one after the other during registration so as to make use of any identity proof number during the time of registration
News About EPF Balance
EPFO Targets To Make PF Cover Available to All Workers by 2030
The Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), India’s retirement fund organization, recently announced that it targets to cover all the nation’s workers under Provident Fund (PF) life insurance and pension by the year 2030. In its ‘vision document’, the organization has mentioned that it aims to provide "universal social security coverage on mandatory basis by way of provident fund, pension and life insurance for all workers of the country". Also, it they aim to make available, with the help of state of the art technology, online services for EPFO benefits along with excellent service delivery practices. The meeting was chaired by the Mr. V. P. Joy, Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC), with participation from members of the All India EPF Staff Federation and the EPF Officers Association.21st July 2016
EPFO subscribers might be allowed to contribute to pension schemes
The EPFO would be soon allowing its subscribers to voluntarily extend contributions to its pension schemes along with the employer’s compulsory contributions. Under the new proposal, subscribers can contribute to EPS 95 to get retirement benefits. This will be in addition to the 8.33% contributed by the employer to the Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS 95). This proposal is still awaiting approval from EPFO's Central Board of Trustees.20th June 2016
TDS will not be applicable on PF Withdrawals worth less than Rs. 50,000.
The Indian government has raised the threshold limit on Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) for PF withdrawals. The previous threshold limit was Rs. 30,000 and currently, it is Rs. 50,000. This is a result of amendment of section 192A of Income Tax Act, 1961 by the new Finance Act, 2016. This regulation has been in effect since the first of this month. All subscribers of the EPFO can avail this provision. This move has been made by the government in order to encourage long term savings and reduce the instance of premature withdrawal of PF. For subscribers who submit form 15H and form 15G, TDS will not be deducted..
14th June 2016
Labour laws relaxed by the Centre in an attempt to create more jobs for MSMEs.
The labour and employment ministry has relaxed labour laws for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to improve manufacturing and also to promote the “Make in India” campaign. MSMEs will be exempted from inspections in relation to labour laws, inclusive of the Employees State Insurance Act, the Contract Labour Act, the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, the Industrial Disputes Act and the Trade Union Act. This has been done to encourage more entrepreneurs to be engaged in manufacturing. This announcement comes shortly after a similar proposal was implemented for start-ups in January. 2016.6th June 2016
EPFO may provide low cost housing to subscribers.
The 5 crore subscribers of the EPF scheme may be provided with low-income and suitable housing depending on the outcome of a CBT (Central Board of Trustees) meeting of the EPFO.
The Lok Sabha was being addressed by the Labour Minister Mr. Bandaru Dattatreya, who proposed that the government explore the possibility of providing low-cost housing of a suitable nature to the EPF subscribers. This proposal has been made before, and the committee previously decided to allow for a provision wherein the subscribers could withdraw an overdraft-type loan from their PF accounts, and pledge future EPF contributions as EMIs towards repayment. This format requires a tripartite agreement between the subscriber, bank, and EPFO.
The government plans to collaborate with banks, the NBCC, and housing finance companies in order to make this a reality.
Mr. Dattartreya has come under a lot of criticism from financial experts and unions lately due to the proposal to allocate more EPF corpus towards investments in equities and stocks.
The same panel previously suggested that this scheme be implemented for EPF subscribers who fall under the “low income formal category”, and whose lifetime income would not be sufficient to purchase a house.
26th May 2016
PF Accounts to be Integrated Under a Single UAN: EPFO
EPFO (Employees Provident Fund Office) has advised people to integrate their multiple PF accounts under a single UAN. This would provide benefits such as lifetime PF membership, combined insurance benefits and pension, etc. Another highlight is that there would be a significant payout from these combined accounts upon superannuation. The Universal Account Number (UAN) would hold these multiple accounts and make it easier for the subscribers to monitor and track their subscription and to withdraw funds when necessary.17th May 2016
Finance Ministry pushed to retain the EPF interest rate at 8.8%.
The Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has guaranteed the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) that the Finance Ministry will be asked to review its decision of keeping the EPF interest rates at 8.8% and all the required justifications will be presented. With trade unions protesting against the Finance Ministry’s decision to lower the interest rate to 8.7%, the Union Labour Minister reiterated that his Ministry was working to uphold the Central Board of Trustees’ decision to keep the interest rate at 8.8%. The EPFO has also been pulled in by the Labour Ministry to review the Finance Ministry’s decision to cut the EPF interest rate to 8.7%.10th May 2016
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