How to Check and Withdraw EPF/PF Online (Employee Provident Fund)

What is EPF/PF?

The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement savings scheme managed by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.

Under EPF:

• 12% of your basic salary + DA is deducted from your pay every month
• Your employer contributes an equal 12% (8.33% goes to EPS pension, 3.67% to EPF)
• The money earns interest (8.25% for FY 2024-25) and grows over your career
• Every member gets a Universal Account Number (UAN) that stays the same across jobs

EPF applies to establishments with 20+ employees, and to employees earning basic salary up to ₹15,000/month (though many higher-paid employees are also covered).

How to Check PF Balance Online

There are 4 easy methods to check your EPF balance:

Method 1: EPFO Member Passbook Portal

1. Go to https://passbook.epfindia.gov.in/
2. Enter your UAN and Password
3. Enter the captcha and click Login
4. Select your Member ID (company-wise)
5. Your passbook with month-wise contributions and interest will be displayed
6. You can download the passbook as a PDF

Method 2: UMANG App

1. Download the UMANG app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
2. Open the app and search for EPFO
3. Select Employee Centric Services → View Passbook
4. Enter your UAN and OTP sent to your registered mobile
5. Select your Member ID to view the full passbook with balance

Method 3: Missed Call

1. Your mobile number must be linked to your UAN
2. Give a missed call to 011-22901406 from your registered mobile number
3. You will receive an SMS with your PF balance details, last contribution, and Member ID

Note: This service is available only for UAN-activated members with KYC-linked accounts.

Method 4: SMS

1. Send an SMS: EPFOHO UAN to 7738299899
2. Send from your registered mobile number
3. You will receive your PF balance via SMS
4. If you prefer the message in a regional language, send: EPFOHO UAN [language] (e.g., EPFOHO UAN HIN for Hindi)

Supported languages: English (ENG), Hindi (HIN), Punjabi (PUN), Gujarati (GUJ), Marathi (MAR), Kannada (KAN), Telugu (TEL), Tamil (TAM), Malayalam (MAL), Bengali (BEN).

How to Withdraw PF Online (Step-by-Step)

You can withdraw your PF entirely online through the EPFO Unified Member Portal. No need to visit any office.

Prerequisites

• UAN must be activated
• Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account must be linked and verified (KYC complete)
• Bank account must be seeded with UAN (IFSC code required)
• Your employer must have approved your KYC details

Steps to Withdraw PF Online

1. Go to https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/
2. Log in with your UAN and Password
3. Click on Online Services → Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)
4. Verify your details — name, date of birth, Aadhaar, PAN, bank account
5. Enter your bank account number and click Verify
6. A certificate of undertaking will appear — click Yes to proceed
7. Click Proceed for Online Claim
8. Select the type of claim from the dropdown:
   • PF Advance (Form 31) — for partial/advance withdrawal
   • PF Final Settlement (Form 19) — for full PF withdrawal
   • Pension Withdrawal (Form 10C) — for EPS withdrawal (less than 10 years of service)
   • Pension (Form 10D) — for monthly pension (10+ years of service, age 58+)
9. Fill in the required details based on the claim type
10. Enter your address and upload documents if required
11. Click Submit and note your Tracking ID
12. Your employer will need to approve the claim (for some claim types)
13. Once approved, the amount is credited directly to your linked bank account

Types of PF Withdrawal

Advance Withdrawal (Partial — Form 31)

You can withdraw a part of your PF while still employed for specific purposes:

COVID-19 special withdrawal was a temporary provision allowing withdrawal of up to 3 months' basic wages or 75% of PF balance (whichever was lower). This scheme has ended but may be reintroduced during emergencies.

Full Withdrawal (Form 19)

You can withdraw your entire PF balance in these situations:

1. Retirement — at age 58
2. Resignation/job change — if unemployed for 2 continuous months after leaving a job
3. Permanent emigration from India
4. Female member leaving employment for marriage (and not working for a period)

Important: If you switch jobs, it is better to transfer your PF rather than withdraw, to keep your savings growing and avoid tax.

PF Transfer to New Employer

When you change jobs, transfer your old PF to your new PF account instead of withdrawing. This keeps your service history and tax benefits intact.

How to Transfer PF Online

1. Go to https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/
2. Log in with your UAN and Password
3. Click Online Services → One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request)
4. Verify your personal details and PF account details
5. You will see your previous employer and current employer details
6. Select which employer should attest the claim (current or previous)
7. Click Get OTP — OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile
8. Enter OTP and click Submit
9. The selected employer will receive the transfer request for approval
10. Once approved, your old PF balance is merged into your current account

Transfer typically takes 15–30 days after employer approval.

How to Activate UAN

Your Universal Account Number (UAN) is essential for all EPF services. Your employer allots it, but you need to activate it.

Steps to Activate UAN

1. Go to https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/
2. Click Activate UAN (under Important Links)
3. Enter your UAN, Aadhaar number (or PAN or Member ID)
4. Enter your name and date of birth as per records
5. Enter your registered mobile number
6. An OTP will be sent — enter it and verify
7. A password will be sent to your mobile via SMS
8. Use your UAN and this password to log in (change it after first login)

How to Link KYC (Aadhaar, PAN, Bank)

1. Log in to the Unified Member Portal
2. Go to Manage → KYC
3. Add your Aadhaar, PAN, and Bank Account details
4. Click Save — the details are sent to your employer for verification
5. Once your employer approves, the status changes to Verified ✅
6. After Aadhaar verification, your Aadhaar-linked mobile becomes the registered number for OTPs

Tip: Complete your KYC first. Without verified KYC, you cannot file any online claims.

Documents Required

For PF Withdrawal

• UAN (activated)
• Aadhaar (linked to UAN)
• PAN card (linked to UAN, mandatory if withdrawal > ₹50,000)
• Bank account (linked to UAN with correct IFSC)
• Cancelled cheque or bank passbook copy (for verification)
• Form 15G/15H (to avoid TDS, if applicable)

For PF Transfer

• UAN (same across both jobs)
• Previous and current employer Member IDs
• Aadhaar-linked mobile for OTP

Processing Time

How to Track PF Claim Status

1. Log in to https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/
2. Go to Online Services → Track Claim Status
3. Enter your Member ID or check the dashboard for status updates

You can also track via the UMANG app under EPFO services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is PF withdrawal taxable?

• If you withdraw before 5 years of continuous service, the amount is taxable
• TDS of 10% is deducted if the withdrawal exceeds ₹50,000 (with PAN linked)
• TDS of 20% if PAN is not linked
• Submit Form 15G (below 60 years) or Form 15H (senior citizens) to avoid TDS if your total income is below the taxable limit
• Withdrawal after 5 years of service is completely tax-free

2. Can I withdraw PF while still employed?

Yes, you can make advance/partial withdrawals under specific conditions like medical emergency, marriage, education, or home purchase. You cannot make a full withdrawal while employed.

3. How long does PF withdrawal take?

Online claims typically take 10–20 days to process. If your Aadhaar is verified and KYC is complete, auto-settlement claims can be processed in as little as 3–10 days.

4. What if my employer has not approved my KYC or claim?

Contact your employer's HR department first. If they are unresponsive, you can raise a grievance at https://epfigms.gov.in/ or call the EPFO helpline: 1800-118-005 (toll-free).

5. Can I withdraw PF if I don't have UAN?

No. UAN is mandatory for all online services. If your employer hasn't provided your UAN, contact them. You can also check your UAN on your salary slip or request it from EPFO via the helpline.

6. What happens to my PF if I don't withdraw after leaving a job?

Your PF continues to earn interest for 3 years after you stop contributing. After that, the account becomes inoperative — it stops earning interest but the money stays. You can still claim it anytime by filing Form 19.

7. Is there a limit on how many times I can make advance withdrawal?

There is no strict limit on the number of advance withdrawals, but each withdrawal must meet the specific eligibility criteria (purpose, years of service, etc.) set by EPFO.

Last updated: February 2026. Always verify details on the EPFO official website as rules may change.