How to Transfer EPF Online

EPFO has made provisions on its online portal that enable members to transfer their old EPF accounts to a new one in just a few steps. The online method of EPF transfer/PF tranfer saves a lot of time and lets the user transfer his provident fund from the comfort of his home or office. The PF transfer online process also involves uploading of documents online, thereby saving the employees from the hassle of getting the documents verified by the employer physically (the documents are verified digitally).

Starting April 1st 2024, EPFO will automatically transfer existing PF accounts of member employees to new accounts each time they switch their jobs without filling up a form or raising a request. This EPFO transfer includes the transfer of both the EPF as well as EPS amount in their new account.

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Eligibility Conditions

In order to transfer your EPF from an old account to a new one, you need to fulfill the following requirements:

• The employee should have activated his UAN on the EPF portal here and the mobile number used for activation should also be active
• The employee should seed his bank details such as the account number and IFSC code which should have been verified by the employer at the time of making transfer request.
• Aadhaar should also be seeded in the UAN account
• The Date of Joining (DoJ) and Date of Exit (DoE) should be mentioned on the portal along with the reason for exit.
• Only one transfer request against one member ID is accepted by EPFO

How to Transfer EPF Online/ Step by Step Process at EPFO Portal

Here is the step-by-step guide on how to transfer PF online or raise an EPFO transfer request online:

1. Login to your EPF account using your UAN, password and the OTP received on your registered mobile number here 
2. Click on the ‘One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request)’ option in the ‘Online Services’ section
3. Carefully verify personal information and the present PF account details
4. Click on ‘Get Details’ to view PF account details of the previous employment
5. Choose either your previous employer or present employer for attesting the claim form depending on the availability of an authorised signatory holding DSC. Choose one of the employers and provide your Member ID or UAN in the required fields.
6. Click on the ‘Get OTP’ button to receive the OTP to your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP in the space provided and click on the ‘Submit’ button to authenticate your identity. 
7. Next, an online filled-in PF transfer request form will be generated that needs to be self-attested and submitted in PDF format to your selected employer. The employer will also receive an online notification about the EPF transfer request.
8. The employer then approves the PF transfer request digitally. Once the approval is made, the PF is transferred to the new account with the current employer. A tracking ID is also generated that can be used to track the application online. 

Note: The employee has to download the Transfer Claim Form (Form 13). In some cases, the employee has to submit this form to the employer to complete the process of EPF transfer.

Documents Required for EPF Transfer

In order to ease the EPF transfer process/PF transfer process, you must be ready with the following documents before you begin with the process-

• Revised Form 13 (when DSC of establishment is not registered with EPFO). Alternatively, Form 11 can be used if the DSC of your establishment is registered with EPFO and your KYC details are approved with DSC).
• Valid Identity Proof (PAN, Aadhar or Driving License)
• UAN
• Current employer’s details
• Establishment Number
• Account Number
• Bank account details of the salary account
• Old and current PF account details

Forms Required for EPF Transfer

Given below is a list of forms that one may require while transferring the PF online- 

• PF Transfer form
• Form 13

Points to Consider while Transferring PF Online

Before applying for PF transfer, employees must ensure that their-

• UAN is active on the portal
• Registered mobile number is active
• Bank account is linked to UAN
• KYC is verified against UAN
• Both the employers (previous and current) have registered authorised digital signatures
• PF numbers of both employments (previous and current)  is saved in the EPFO database

What is the Use of UAN for Online Transfer of PF

Different employers allot different member IDs to an individual. UAN or Universal Account Number serves the purpose of linking those multiple PF account IDs that belong to one individual. Using the UAN, an individual can avail the following benefits- 

• Update the UAN card dynamically
• Updating PF passbook (along with transfer-in details)
• Receiving SMS update about the monthly credits in the PF account
• Automatically transferring the account on change of employer
• Linking previous member’s ID with the current one

How to Check the Status of PF Transfer

There are three ways to check the status of your PF transfer:

I. Track your Status using the Member Claim Status Link

To check your status for PF transfer online, you must follow the given steps-

1. Go to EPFO member portal here. This will lead you to the employee’s page on the portal
2. Under the Services’ section, click on ‘Know your Claim Status’
3. You will now be taken to a page where you need to enter your details such as UAN number and Captcha
4. After entering the required details, click on ‘Login’
5. On the next screen, you will be asked to select the Member ID for the account for which you wish to check the status
6. Then, click on ‘View your Claim Status’
7. The next screen will display your PF transfer status

II. Track your Status using EPFO portal

1. Visit the EPFO portal here
2. Enter the details like UAN, password, OTP and captcha
3. After logging in, go to Online Services and select ‘Track Claim Status’ 
4. From the next tab that appears, click on ‘Transfer Claim Status’
5. You status will appear on the next screen

III. Track your Claim Status through UMANG App

• You can also track your claim status through UMANG app.
• You simply need to select the EPFO “Track Claim” option and login using your UAN and the EPF member portal password to know your claim status.

Why Transfer from EPF to NPS Transfer 

EPS and NPS are both government-backed retirement savings schemes with the provision of pension after retirement. However, individuals may wish to transfer their EPF account to NPS because of certain reasons such as:

• Employees working in the public sector have to create an account in NPS, unlike private organizations. Transfer of job from a private organization to a Government organization will lead to withdrawal of EPF by the employees
• While EPF involves almost no risk and offers fixed returns, NPS offers a better return in comparison at the cost of a moderate level of risk
• NPS is a more transparent investment option in comparison with EPF as it lets you take an insight into where your money is being invested
• Investments made in NPS allow you to make changes in your portfolio and manage your retirement corpus. For instance, you can make changes in asset allocation in NPS and thus get a chance over earning better returns
• NPS offers better tax benefits than EPF. You can get an extra tax deduction of up to Rs. 50,000 by making investments in NPS

EPF to NPS Transfer Process

To transfer your EPF account to NPS, you must follow these steps-

1. Open an NPS Tier-1 account
2. You need to contact your employer and seek for the recognised PF
3. The PF will then initiate the fund transfer process
4. After the process has been initiated, your EPF corpus will be released
5. The cheque of Demand Draft will be released in the name of employee
6. You will be issued a letter stating the transfer of your EPF account to NPS

Note: The EPF transfer amount will not be eligible for tax deduction since it is not an actual investment made to the NPS account.

The transfer of EPF to NPS involves a number of hurdles during the process as well. Hence, it is advised that you go through the entire process in detail and transfer your account only if it is necessary.

Benefits of Transferring PF Online

If you are still working and tend to continue with the same, you are advised not to withdraw your PF corpus. PF is a long-term fixed investment backed by the Government of India, and there is hardly any risk involved in this investment. It is, therefore, advised that you withdraw your PF only in case of emergency. You should transfer your EPF amount instead of withdrawing it. The PF transfer option comes with a range of benefits for employees, some of which are listed below-

• TDS is charged on PF withdrawal if the account is less than 5 years old. If you transfer your PF account and maintain it for 5 years, you become eligible for tax-free withdrawal of your money
• EPFO offers compound interest on your savings. This implies that if you close your current PF account and open a new one, the interest earned would reduce with respect to the transferred account
• Employees who continue with the same EPF account for more than 10 years become eligible for pension after they attain 58 years of age which will not be possible if an employee closes the account every time he switches his job

Importance of Linking UAN with Aadhar

Here’s why you are advised to link your UAN with Aadhar-

• Since your Aadhaar card contains all your personal information, it is considered one of the most important documents required for personal verification
• Linking your UAN with Aadhaar will ensure that the information provided by you is consistent and free of errors
• In order to ensure safety, EPFO has made it mandatory to link your UAN with Aadhaar such that only you can make EPF withdrawals and payments in your EPF account
• The data provided in Aadhaar works as a proof of citizenship as well
• Linking of UAN with Aadhaar ensures that only one person has access to one account, thereby eliminating duplicacy of accounts

FAQs on PF Transfer

Q1. Can EPF withdrawal be done without PAN?

If you wish to withdraw EPF without PAN, you will be liable for deduction of TDS at the maximum marginal rate of 34%. However, if your claim amount is less than Rs. 50,000, no TDS will be deducted.

Q2. When is EPF withdrawal taxable?

EPF withdrawal is taxable if it is made before 5 years continuous years employment.

Q3. How much tax is applicable on EPF withdrawal?

If you have submitted your PAN, then a TDS of 10% is applicable at the time of withdrawal. If not, then a TDS of 34% will be applicable at the time of withdrawal of EPF.

Q4. How to show EPF withdrawal in ITR?

The withdrawals from EPF are considered income for the employee and should be mentioned under the head ‘Income from salary’. If you have withdrawn money from your EPF account, then you may report the same at the time of filing the ITR by selecting ‘Section 10(12) Recognized Provident Fund’ on the portal. 

Q5. What is the EPF withdrawal enquiry number?

PF withdrawal Enquiry number is 1800 118 005 or 14470 (toll-free).

Q6. How to withdraw EPF without company’s approval?

If you have submitted your Aadhaar number to the PF office, you will not require the approval or authorization of your employer while withdrawing your PF.

Q7. Can EPF be withdrawn while working?

No, money from PF account cannot be withdrawn while you are still working. You must have been unemployed for a minimum of 2 months to apply for partial withdrawal of your PF corpus.

However, you can apply for partial withdrawal of EPF under certain conditions such as medical emergency of the account holder or family member, wedding of self or child, purchase or construction of a house

Q8. How many times EPF can be withdrawn?

The maximum that can be withdrawn is either the total employee’s share or six times his wage, whichever is lower. The number of times that you can withdraw for a similar reason is 3.

Q9. Can EPF be withdrawn anytime?

No, EPF cannot be withdrawn anytime, There are a number of conditions that must be met in order to be eligible for PF withdrawal such as employment tenure, reason for withdrawal, the account holder’s age, etc.

Q10. What is PF transfer?

PF transfer refers to transferring  your old EPF account to the new account when you change your job.

Q11. Is PF transfer mandatory when changing jobs?

No, it’s not mandatory to transfer your PF when you change your job. However, transferring or merging your old PF account to the latest one can help you earn more interest on your savings.

Q12. Can I transfer PF without UAN (Universal Account Number)?

No, you should have an active UAN to transfer your PF account.

Q13. Can PF transfer be done offline?

At present, there is no provision to transfer your PF offline.

Q14. How to transfer PF amount to bank account?

There is no provision to directly transfer the PF amount to your bank account. In order to do so, you either need to make a partial or complete withdrawal, provided you meet the withdrawal eligibility criteria.

Q15. Can PF be transferred to a spouse’s PF account?

No, there is no provision to transfer your PF to your spouse’s PF account.

Q16. Can I transfer PF if I am unemployed for a period?

You can only transfer your PF  to a new account once you are employed again. However, in case you are unemployed for more than 2 months, you can choose to withdraw your entire EPF corpus.

Q17. Can I transfer PF online if my previous employer does not verify the claim?

You can transfer your PF online by choosing to get your current employer verify the claim.