Check Your EPF Balance

There are various methods available to check the current balance in the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), including an offline SMS-based option. To check the EPF balance online, there are two primary methods. Firstly, by visiting the official Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) website, and secondly, by utilising the UMANG app. In both instances, having your Universal Account Number (UAN) is essential. Additionally, registering your mobile number with EPFO is crucial to accessing and checking your EPF balance online.

Check Your EPF Balance Online

Checking your EPF balance has become a very efficient and convenient process for employees and Provident fund organisation members.

You can check your EPF balance online by following the process listed below:

EPFO Portal

Employees can access their EPF passbook by using the EPFO portal. But, the employees must hold a UAN, and it should be activated. Follow the procedure below to check your EPF balance online through the EPFO portal.

Step 1: You must visit the EPFO portal through the official website https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/index.php.

Step 2: Visit the next page, and under the ‘services tab’, click on for employees.

Step 3: Click on the ‘member passbook’ option under the ‘services tab’.

Step 4: Enter your captcha, password, and UAN, and then sign in.

Step 5: Under member ID’, you can check your EPF balance.

Umang App

Here are the steps to access your EPF details using the UMANG app:

Step 1: Download the ‘UMANG’ app from the App Store or Google Play Store and open it. Register on the app and access EPFO services. Registration options include Digilocker, mobile number or ‘MeriPehchan’.

Step 2: After registration, use the search bar at the top of the app and type ‘EPFO’.

Step 3: Upon searching for EPFO, select ‘View Passbook’ under the 'Service' option.

Step 4: Choose ‘Employee-centric service’ on the new page. Enter your UAN number when prompted and click on ‘Login’.

Step 5: Enter the one-time password (OTP) sent to your registered mobile number and proceed.

Step 6: After verification, a new page will display your EPF passbook and balance information.

Remember, the mobile number must be linked to the same UAN for which you are trying to access the passbook. If the mobile number isn't registered, this service won't be accessible, and an error message will be displayed.

Check EPF Balance by Missed Call and SMS Service

You can check your EPF balance by dropping an SMS or a missed call by following the process mentioned below:

Missed Call

EPF members can check their balance by dropping a missed call from their registered mobile number to 011-22901406. To access this service, the employee's Permanent Account Number (PAN), bank account number and Aadhar must be linked with their UAN. If these details are not linked, the employee can request their employer to ensure the linkage for accessing this facility.

SMS Service

If employees have activated their UAN, they can check their PF balance and last contribution by sending an SMS to 7738299899. The format for the SMS should be EPFOHO UAN ENG, with 'ENG' representing the preferred language for receiving the details in the last three letters of the SMS.

How to Check EPF Balance of Private Trusts/Exempted Establishments

In the case of an exempted establishment or a private trust, where the EPF contribution is directed to company-managed trusts instead of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, only the company-managed trust possesses the authority to disclose an employee's PF account balance. 

For EPF accounts maintained within exempted establishments, there isn't a standardised method available for checking PF balances. The EPFO doesn't offer a passbook facility for members of exempted establishments.

As per the Employee Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952, few employers can administer their own PF schemes for their workforce. Exempted establishments, such as major companies like HDFC, TCS, Infosys, Godrej, Nestle, and Wipro, among others, have in-house EPF trusts and are exempted from contributing their EPF corpus to the EPFO.

These exempted establishments manage the EPF corpus through their own trusts, which are expected to yield higher returns compared to the EPF-managed fund. Nevertheless, the regulations governing EPF contribution to EPFO are also applicable to these trusts.

Employees of exempted establishments can ascertain their EPF balance through various methods:

1. Check PF or Pay Slip: Many large establishments provide salary slips to employees through internal emails. Employees can refer to their pay slips to find information about their EPF account balance. Some companies also issue EPF slips along with salary slips, displaying monthly contributions and EPF account balance details.

2. Company's Employee Portal: Several major companies maintain employee portals where employees can log in and access their EPF account balance under the dedicated EPF section. Companies like Wipro offer online facilities for checking EPF account balances.

3. Contact HR Department: Employees can reach out to the company's HR department, which manages employees' PF-related matters and can provide relevant details regarding EPF account balances.

4. Track Contributions: Employees can monitor their monthly contributions by reviewing their salary slips, enabling them to calculate their annual EPF balance. Using the EPFO's set interest rate for EPF interest calculation is essential. It's important to note that a fixed sum (up to Rs.1,250 per month) is allocated to the EPS account.

EPF Balance for Inoperative Accounts

As per a Government notification in November 2016, dormant EPF accounts will now accrue interest and will no longer be classified as inoperative. Previously, EPFO ceased interest payments to dormant accounts starting in 2011.

With the new amendment, all inoperative accounts will earn interest at a rate of 8.5% per annum. Contributions to these accounts will continue until the account holder reaches the age of 58 or until the withdrawal date, whichever comes earlier.

Earlier, accounts became inoperative primarily due to complex EPF transfer processes and employees choosing to open new accounts when changing jobs. Communication gaps between an individual's current and previous employers also contributed significantly to this issue. For those unable to track details of their old inoperative accounts, approaching the EPF help desk can facilitate the transfer of balances from those accounts to their current ones.