The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has around Rs.27,000 crore lying in inoperative accounts. There are chances that a small portion of this unclaimed money is yours. Many employees feel that the EPF account transfer is a cumbersome process and is a painful experience. It is often observed that we just ignore to transfer the funds to the existing EPF account.
EPFO do not pay interest on the EPF account, where no contributions (no activity) have been received for 36 or more months continuously. EPFO considers this type of account as an ‘Inoperative EPF Account.’ It is a daunting task to trace an inoperative EPF account and also we hardly get any help or support from EPFO.
In this post, let us understand – How to trace an inoperative EPF account? How to trace an old Employee Provident Fund a/c? What is EPFO’s online inoperative EPF account help-desk? What is the procedure to submit an online request?
Now, things are changing for the better at EPFO. It’s a good time to remember your long forgotten EPF account. And to make your job of staking a claim easier, an EPFO inoperative account online helpdesk has been launched recently.
The helpdesk works on the basis of how much and how accurate is the information that you can provide about your old / dormant EPF account(s). So, the more you provide, the better it is.
After submitting the request to the helpdesk, your query will be forwarded to the concerned EPFO’s Field Officer (Regional office). This happens if you have provided your old company’s code (Establishment code). If you have not provided the establishment code, your query is routed to the centralized EPFO helpdesk. They will call you to get more details and then your query will be forwarded to the concerned field officer to trace the old & inoperative EPF account.
Related Latest Article : Why should you Withdraw Old EPF Account Balance? | In-operative EPF A/c Timeline
How can I check the status of my request on EPF Inoperative Account Helpdesk online portal?
EPFO helpdesk portal has a facility to track the status of your request(s), based on the reference number.
Once your account is traced by the EPFO’s field officer, you will be notified through an SMS. You need to either withdraw the monies (by submitting Form 9) or transfer your old EPF account to your current EPF account.
If you are currently employed and have activated your Universal Account Number (UAN), link the old EPF account with your current EPF Account. Once the linking is complete, you can transfer the EPF funds online.
Trace and track your old EPF accounts. Even if the amount of your claim is small, reclaim it NOW. Kindly share your views on EPF inoperative EPF account help-desk facility. Cheers!
Latest Update (30-March-2016) : The Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has decided to provide Interest on Inoperative Accounts from 1st April, 2016.
Latest News (31-Oct-2016) : ‘Rate of Interest on Inoperative EPF accounts’ – EPFO to pay 8.8% as interest on Inoperative EPF (Employee Provident Fund) accounts. In case of EPF, if there is no contribution paid during the last 36 months, then that account is classified as “inoperative”. The inoperative accounts are not being paid interest since 2011. Around Rs 42,000 crore is lying in “inoperative accounts” across the country. About 9.70 crore employees will benefit from this proposed notification. Henceforth, the concept of Inoperative accounts will cease to exist. (Source : PTI & Union Labour Ministry)
Latest update (16-Nov-2017) : If an employee who is a member of EPF scheme, quits or retires from his employment and continues holding the accumulated PF balance, he/she has to pay tax on interest from the date of unemployment. So, the interest on EPF is tax-exempt only when the member is employed and the Interest credited to an employee provident fund (EPF) account after an individual ceases to be in employment is taxable in his/her hands in the year of credit. Interest that has been accrued post employment is taxable. This is as per the recent order by Income tax appellate Tribunal.
(Source: Times of India & Moneycontrol)
Continue Reading : ‘How to search, find and reclaim monies lying in inoperative Bank Accounts?’
(Reference : EPFO User Manual. Photo Credit : rediff.com)
This post was last modified on July 10, 2023 6:30 pm
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View Comments
I have applied for claim transfer as my old epf account to new epf account around 10 days ago.
Yesterday i.e (20-05-2016) i got the following message on my mobile
----***------
MemberID: DLCPM00416************-154
PF CLAIMID DLCPM16***********
settled Amount Rs
2245Rs sent to a/c no 300717521***
(IFSC code:SBIN00059**)-EPFO
----***------
the above mentioned a/c no does not belong to me than i checked the status on epf transfer cliam portal then i got following information
----***------
STATUS for Member ID: DLCPM0041654000000****
Claim ID : DLCPM16***********
Status : Claim Form 13 for Transfer to New Account Number: AGAINST Old Member Account No
(DLCPM00416************) has been approved. Payment is under process.
* * Data available since last six months. * *
* * DELHINORTH data availaible from 20-11-2015. Last updated on 20-05-2016 at 10:15 am * *
* * Approval Details on PPO and Scheme Certificates will be made available soon.. * *
----***------
i am enable to understand that what happening which A/C , he transfered my money , but i have applied only transfer my old epf account to new account.
so kindly tell me about it.
Thanks
Mohmmad Arif Ansari
Dear Mohmmad,
Kindly do not share sensitive information life your EPF a/c number, Bank a/c number etc on public forums.
Rs 2245 is the PF withdrawal amount. is that member id yours?
The second message is about EPF a/c transfer.
May I know what is the expected amount of PPF & EPS ?
You may also submit your grievance to EPFO, click here..
Dear Sreekanth
Not i didn't applied for withdraw amount, i did only transfer old epf account to New epf account.
and this Bank A/C is not mine.
yes both is my My member id once is allotted by old company and another is allotted by new company.
Dear Mohmmad..That's strange! As suggested kindly submit your grievance to EPFO. Even I am not sure about this!
Dear Sreekanth.
OK... i submitted my grievance ...thanks to you very much for your help and your valuable time.
i have stopped working since one year. My epf is marked as inoperative. I read that only after 36 months epf acct gets marked as inoperative. Why is my epf account marked inoperative after one year of no contribution.
Dear shubha..That's strange. Kindly submit your grievance with EPFO, click here..
Hi,
My husband had worked with AOL during 2004 for three months. During his tenure, the PF account number mentioned in his payslip was zero, and he hadn't notice it then. Now when applying for a new job, the new company wants to know his PF account number of AOL. How do we track this PF number? AOL is now no more operating in India as it has been merged with another company. We would need your help very badly and urgently on how to track his AOL PF account number.
Thanks!
Bonnie
Dear Bonnie..Suggest you to kindly provide the information that you have while submitting the request through in-operative helpdesk and I believe that EPFO will get back to you with PF a/c and additional details.
Hello Sreekanth,
I have worked with an organisation for 13 months( Dec '09- Jan'11)before going abroad. Now i do not have a bank account in India, so will it be possible for me to transfer ma PF account money to my NRI account?
Dear Kamal..I think it is possible to get the PF monies to NRI account. You may kindly check this with EPFO too.
Submit your request through helpdesk.
Hi, I am baldev .i have worked with three four companies from 2004 onwards but still now never withdrawn by pf account.two companies i do not have pf number.My last company i have pf no of west bengal the latter the account was transfered to jharkhand.presently i have UAN no with my current company.Can it possiable for me to get account details of all old accounts,please guide.
Regards
Dear Baldev,
Yes, you may kindly submit your request through helpdesk by providing all the possible/available information. Once you get your old PF a/c details from the EPFO, you can submit Transfer request to your new EPF a/c.
I am unable to generate PIN for the inoperative account. pls help . is there any other way ?
I am unable to generate PIN for the inoperative account. pls help . is there any other way ?
Hi Shreekanth
I had been working in IGB Technology Pvt Ltd form 1st July2009-23March2010. I have on
PF no - HR/GGN/30425/15 which is mentioned on my relieving letter but when i visited to PF office in Gurgaon, came to know that PF no is belongs to my other colleague. Kindly suggest me what i should do now.
Harpreet
Dear Harpreet,
Is it possible to approach the employer?
When did you apply for the withdrawal? Was it through the employer or by yourself.
Is the EPF a/c number same on your payslip/any other document?
HI THIS IS SRIKANTH
I DONT KNOW MY EPF NO AND UAN
I WANT TO KNOW MY PF AND UAN NO HOW ?
Dear SRIKANTH,
You can check with your employer or check your Payslip. (or) are you referring to old PF a/c?
You can find out your UAN number through uan helpdesk.
Yes Sreekanth,
Im currently with EPF scheme with different employer. Pl Guide how to get the amount from that previous employer.
Dear Dinesh,
You can get the old Pf a/c monies transferred to your new EPF a/c. Kindly go through the links shared in my previous comment.