EPF Passbook Download — How to Check EPF Balance Online

What is EPF Passbook?

EPF (Employees' Provident Fund) passbook is a digital record of all contributions made to your PF account. It shows monthly deposits by your employer and you (the employee), pension fund contributions, and interest earned.

Every salaried employee in India whose basic salary is up to ₹15,000/month is mandatorily enrolled in EPF. Many companies also enrol employees with higher salaries.

Your EPF passbook contains:

• Employee Share — 12% of your basic salary + DA (contributed by you)
• Employer Share — 3.67% of your basic salary + DA (contributed by employer)
• Pension Fund (EPS) — 8.33% of your basic salary + DA (from employer's share, goes to EPS)
• Interest Credited — Annual interest on your EPF balance

EPF Interest Rate

The current EPF interest rate for FY 2024-25 is 8.25% per annum. Interest is calculated monthly but credited to your account at the end of the financial year.

What You Need Before You Start

Before checking your EPF balance or downloading the passbook, make sure you have:

1. UAN (Universal Account Number) — A 12-digit number assigned to every EPF member. Check your salary slip or ask your HR department.
2. UAN Activated — Your UAN must be activated on the EPFO member portal.
3. KYC Linked — Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account should be linked to your UAN.
4. Mobile Number — The mobile number registered with EPFO (linked to your UAN).

How to Activate Your UAN

If your UAN is not yet activated, follow these steps:

1. Go to EPFO Member Portal
2. Click "Activate UAN" on the login page
3. Enter your UAN, Aadhaar or PAN or Member ID
4. Enter your name, date of birth, and registered mobile number
5. Click "Get Authorization PIN" — you will receive an OTP on your mobile
6. Enter the OTP and set your username and password
7. Your UAN is now activated

Method 1: Download EPF Passbook from EPFO Portal

This is the most detailed method. You get a complete passbook with all transactions.

1. Go to EPFO Passbook Portal
2. Enter your UAN and password
3. Enter the captcha and click "Login"
4. After login, you will see a list of your Member IDs (one for each employer)
5. Click on the Member ID you want to check
6. Your passbook will open showing all contributions month by month
7. Click "Download Passbook" to save it as a PDF

Note: Passbook data is usually updated with a delay of 1-2 months. If your latest month's contribution is not showing, check back after some time.

Method 2: Check EPF Balance on Umang App

The Umang (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) app is an easy way to check your EPF balance on mobile.

1. Download the Umang app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
2. Register or log in with your mobile number
3. Search for "EPFO" in the app
4. Tap "View Passbook"
5. Enter your UAN and OTP sent to your registered mobile
6. Your EPF passbook and balance will be displayed

You can also use the Umang app to raise claims, check claim status, and more.

Method 3: Check EPF Balance via SMS

If you don't have internet access, you can check your EPF balance by sending an SMS.

1. Send an SMS to 7738299899 from your registered mobile number
2. Format: EPFOHO UAN (for English)
   • Example: EPFOHO 100123456789
3. You will receive an SMS with your latest EPF balance

Supported languages: You can get the balance in different languages by replacing the language code:

• English: EPFOHO UAN ENG
• Hindi: EPFOHO UAN HIN
• Tamil: EPFOHO UAN TAM
• Telugu: EPFOHO UAN TEL
• Kannada: EPFOHO UAN KAN
• Malayalam: EPFOHO UAN MAL
• Bengali: EPFOHO UAN BEN
• Marathi: EPFOHO UAN MAR
• Gujarati: EPFOHO UAN GUJ
• Punjabi: EPFOHO UAN PUN

Requirement: Your UAN must be linked with your Aadhaar and bank account for this to work.

Method 4: Check EPF Balance via Missed Call

This is the simplest method — no internet or smartphone needed.

1. Give a missed call to 011-22901406 from your registered mobile number
2. You will receive an SMS with your EPF balance details

Requirement: Your UAN must be activated and Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account must be linked.

Understanding Your EPF Passbook Entries

When you open your passbook, you will see these columns:

At the bottom of the passbook, you will see the closing balance which is your total EPF corpus.

How to Transfer EPF When Changing Jobs

When you switch jobs, you should transfer your old EPF balance to your new EPF account. Here's how:

1. Log in to EPFO Member Portal
2. Go to Online Services → One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request)
3. Verify your personal details and PF account details
4. Select your previous employer and current employer
5. Choose which employer should approve the transfer (attest the claim)
6. Submit the request with your digital signature (Aadhaar OTP)
7. Track the status under Online Services → Track Claim Status

Transfer usually takes 10-20 days if both employers have approved KYC.

Common Issues and Solutions

UAN Not Activated

• Ask your HR department for your UAN
• Go to the EPFO portal and follow the activation steps mentioned above
• You need your Aadhaar or PAN linked to your employer records

KYC Not Verified

• Log in to the EPFO Member Portal
• Go to Manage → KYC
• Add your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details
• Your employer needs to approve the KYC — follow up with HR

Passbook Not Showing Latest Contributions

• Employer contributions are updated with a 1-2 month delay
• If older months are also missing, your employer may not have deposited the PF — escalate with HR
• You can file a complaint on EPFiGMS if the issue persists

Forgot UAN Password

1. Go to EPFO Member Portal
2. Click "Forgot Password"
3. Enter your UAN and captcha
4. Verify via OTP on your registered mobile
5. Set a new password

Mobile Number Not Registered or Changed

• You need to update your mobile number through your employer
• Ask HR to update the mobile number in the EPFO portal
• Once updated, you can use SMS and missed call services

Related Guides

• How to Withdraw EPF/PF Online — Step-by-step PF withdrawal process
• How to File Income Tax Return Online — Your EPF interest may be taxable if balance is high
• NPS Account — National Pension System Guide — Compare NPS with EPF for retirement planning

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I check my EPF balance without UAN?

No. You need an activated UAN to check your EPF balance through any method — portal, app, SMS, or missed call.

2. Is EPF passbook download free?

Yes. Downloading your EPF passbook from the EPFO portal or Umang app is completely free. There are no charges.

3. Why is my EPF passbook showing zero balance?

This usually happens when your employer has not yet deposited the PF amount, or your KYC is not verified. Contact your HR department and check if contributions are being deposited.

4. How often is the EPF passbook updated?

The passbook is typically updated within 24-48 hours after your employer deposits the PF contribution. However, there can be a delay of 1-2 months depending on when the employer files the ECR (Electronic Challan cum Return).

5. Can I download EPF passbook for previous employers?

Yes. When you log in to the passbook portal, you will see Member IDs for all your previous employers (as long as they were under the same UAN). Click on any Member ID to view that passbook.

6. Is EPF interest taxable?

EPF interest is tax-free up to a certain limit. From FY 2021-22 onwards, interest on employee contributions exceeding ₹2.5 lakh per year is taxable. For most employees, this does not apply.

7. What if my employer is not depositing PF?

File a complaint on the EPF Grievance Portal (EPFiGMS). You can also call the EPFO helpline at 1800-118-005 (toll-free). Non-deposit of PF by the employer is a legal offence.