Employee Provident Fund (EPF) – How to check EPF balance online?

Introduction

Any employee who contributes to an EPF account can check the amount online; they do not need to wait for the company to share the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) statement at the end of the year to know the balance. So here is the article on “How to check EPF balance online?”, But first let’s concentrate on “What is EPF (Employee Provident Fund)?” And than we will move onto “How to check EPF balance online?”

PDF (Employee Provident Fund)

The EPFO  (Employee Provident Fund Organization) oversees the EPF Scheme. Employees and employers both contribute 12% of their base salary and Dearness Allowance (DA) to the EPF. The current annual interest rate on EPF deposits is 8.10%.

Government motive behind EPF Scheme

• To address the changing needs for comprehensive social security in an open, contact-less, anonymous, and paperless manner.
• To ensure Nirbadh Scheme services with multi-locational and auto claim settlement processes for EPFO catastrophe proofing.
• To make life easier for members and retirees and to make doing business easier for employers by leveraging the Government of India’s ICT platforms to reach millions.

Benefits of an EPF Scheme

• It facilitates long-term financial planning.
• Employees’ paychecks are regularly deducted, allowing them to save a large amount of money over time.
• It may be able to provide financial assistance to an employee in the event of an emergency.
• It contributes to retirement savings and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.

4 ways to check EPF Balance Online

• By sending an SMS
• PF balance check through a Missed Call
• Using EPFO Portal
• Using EPFO / UMANG App

A process on “How to check EPF Balance Online?”

Check your EPF balance by ensuring that your employer has activated your Universal Account Number (UAN). All employees who participate in the EPF plan are assigned a UAN, which is a unique identification number. Regardless of the companies they work for, all employees should have only one UAN during their working lives. UAN is crucial because the entire EPF service process is now conducted online. It is simple to access your PF account services, such as monitoring EPF balance, withdrawing, and applying for an EPF loan, thanks to UAN.

• Using EPFO Portal

1. Navigate to the EPFO website. Navigate to the ‘Our Services’ tab and select “For Employees” from the drop-down menu.
2. Now, under “Services,” select the ‘Member passbook’ option.
3. A login page will be displayed. After your UAN has been activated, enter your UAN number and password.
4. Select the ‘Member ID’ option and then click the ‘View Password [Old: Full]’ button.
5. Your PF information will be shown on the screen.
6. By selecting the ‘Download Passbook’ option, you can print this passbook and check your EPF balance.

• Using UMANG / EPF Application

1. Install the UMANG app from the Google Play Store or the App Store.
2. Select the “EPFO” option from the “All Services” tab.
3. Click ‘View Passbook’ under ‘Employee Centric Service.’

• By sending an SMS

Once your UAN has been linked to your KYC information, proceed as follows:

1. Send a text message to 7738299899.
2. The message will be formatted as ‘EPFOHO UAN ENG’.

In the SMS, you must specify your chosen language of communication. If you want to receive updates in English, enter the first three letters of the word English, i.e. “EPFOHO UAN ENG”.

Enter “EPFOHO UAN HIN” if you want to receive message updates in Hindi. This service is offered in the following languages: English, Gujarati, Punjabi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Bengali.

• PF balance check through a Missed Call

You can find out your EPF balance by dialling the permitted phone number from your registered mobile number. This feature is only available after your UAN has been integrated with your KYC information. If you are unable to do so, you might seek assistance from your employer.

Once the UAN has been linked to your KYC information, proceed as follows:

1. Make a missed call from your registered mobile phone to 011-22901406.
2. Following a missed call, you will receive an SMS containing your PF information.

Conclusion

Investing in EPF (Employee Provident Fund), often known as PF, allows you to save for retirement and make the most of your working years by combining payments from you and your employer. Knowing the balance of your Provident Fund account is critical for effective retirement planning. Understanding the balance will show you how your savings compare to your goals and whether you need to make further investments.