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
Pls help
I worked in Two companies in India & not withdraw the PF Amount from there. As per your article I open the EPFO web site but it doesn't show the link of inoperative account. Please advise what I should do to claim/transfer the amount from these inoperative accounts.
Regards
Dear Siddhartha,
Do you have UAN linked to these (or atlest one) EPF accounts?
Hi Srikant
In 2010 I was working only two months in one small company where my pf is deducted my pf account number is mh/47058/176, do this account will still maintain in government pf database in 2020, I did not have withdrawn the pf as of now
Please suggest
SIr, Before 2002 I wan an employee of a charitable trust at mumbai. That time the Trust have given me my PF account number i.e. MH/40829/40. now today in 2020 how can I see my PF status, new UAN number or how can I withdraw from it. Please guide me.... Thanks in advance.
Hi Srikant
I have worked in small company in 2010 I have worked only for two months there , my pf account number mh/47058/176, does the data would be available in government database now in 2020, pls reply this on urgently.
Dear Rajkumar,
If you are employed and currently contributing to EPF scheme, you can get the funds of your old EPF a/c to the latest one..
Hello Srikanth -
Still this helpdesk link is working to claim from Inoperative A/c?
I PF account is ended 2014 (DOE EPF). I traveled to US for work. There is no contribution into my account after that. I quit my job in India. I am able to login to unified portal with UAN number.
Can I request claim for withdrawl through online?
What will be your suggetions to withdraw my money?
Dear Vinod,
I guess 'inoperative provision' is not available now.
Yes, you can try withdrawing the funds through EPF member portal.
Is your KYC (Aadhaar/PAN) linked and verified in UAN portal??
Kindly read :
* Online EPF Claim submission : Process Flow & Eligibility Conditions
* EPF Interest Income & Withdrawals | Tax Implications | Is EPF Interest taxable?
* Interest on Inoperative EPF accounts | Will I get interest on my Dormant EPF account?
Thanks
Hi Shreekanth
I have been working since 2007 July and I've never withdrawn my PF. I changed my organization and had retained it. A new account under same UAN is now being used for my PF.
When I generate my passbook I see the updates are only from 31st April 2008. It is strange and confusing, why 2007 PF deductions aren't included.
Dear Archana,
Suggest you to submit a grievance request on this to the EPFO vis this link..
Hi Sreekanth,
My employer created 3 pf accounts for me in single UAN for 3 years of service. Now when i raise partial withdrawl claim, they were rejected mentioning Multiple PF id were present and Name not matched against PAN and UAN.
DOE is updated for only one pf account and due to that i cannot apply for final settlement claim online. When i try transfer online, it says "previous and present establishment details cannot be same" error.
As per suggestion from PF office from multiple grievances i sent offline transfer claim forms with attestation because i don't have any contact details of my employer as i quit my job in December 2017. Now that offline claim was rejected mentioning no attestation to the forms, But they were actually attested. Am not sure how to proceed in this situation. Kindly guide me on settlement of PF amount.
Also, the inoperative epf account link is not available in epf official website now.
Thanks
Bhaskar.
Dear Bhaskar,
If possible, you may try visiting the concerned EPF regional office in person and sort out this issue.
Are you currently employed and contributing to EPF scheme?
Hi sreekanth,
Thanks for the reply.
I am not currently employed in any company. I quit on December 2017. I am trying different options to withdraw since one year. But no luck.
The problem is I worked in a sub branch in Andhra Pradesh and it was closed . The base branch of that company is in New Delhi. Also, the pf office is in Delhi. Hence difficult to visit and sort out issue.
Thanks
Bhaskar.
Dear Bhaskar,
You may try submitting a grievance request (if not yet) to the EPFO via this link..
Hi sreekanth,
Thanks for the reply. I have raised multiple grievance for the same and I got reply to finally send the transfer claims in offline mode . But offline mode without employer, we need to attest the claims forms.
When I enquire gazette attestation is difficult to get on claim forms. No one is ready to sign as they say it's a hand written form. Only the photo copy documents of govt proof like Aadhar, PAN card they will attest. Kindly suggest on where to get gazette attestation for claim forms.
If gazette attestation on claim forms is not possible to get, i don't understand why the hell do the EPF department asking for it?
Normal attestation like officers from APSPDCL they rejected as it is not green ink attestation.
You can understand the frustration of employees to get back their own money from government. Since 1.5 year i am trying, and all trials we're invain. Online they reject, offline they reject, mentioning all different reasons. After all, it's my money.
Don't know what labour ministry is doing with all the pf money from ppl like me, who got vexed of trying...
Thanks,
Bhaskar.
Dear Bhaskar,
Is your ex-employer in business? Are they still in operation?
If yes, why can't you try approaching them?
I m still perplexed as to why they had created multiple EPF accounts??
Kindly check if a Bank manager (where you have savings bank account) can sign the forms?? I have noticed that they accept this..
Hi sreekanth,
My employer subranch in Andhra Pradesh is closed. No contact available to connect with main branch at Delhi and AP. Delhi main branch is operational till January 2019. After that no contributions seen to employees. But employer status is active and not surrendered pf registration to Epfo yet.
When we enquire about employer organization in grievance got these details.
I have bank account at BOI bank of India. The manager of BOI sign is acceptable?kindly reply.
Thanks
BHASKAR.
Dear Bhaskar,
Yes, it should be acceptable to the EPFO..
But, can try for online PF claim right??
Hi sreekanth,
Will try the BOi manager sign. Thanks.
Online transfer claim when raising is giving error - present and previous establishments cannot be same. When I try partial withdraw online, Epfo rejecting the claims mentioning multiple PF accounts were present with same DOJ .
Final settelemment option not available online because DOE not updated for all the pf accounts. Only one pf account has DOE updated.
Thanks
Bhaskar.
Dear Bhaskar,
Somehow, you need to get in touch with your head-office (delhi) and sort this DoE issue.
Else, may have to visit in person to the concerned EPFO regional office..
Hi Sreekanth,
After sending offline transfer claim documents offline mode with manager attestation as suggested by you, i didnt get update all these months. When i raise grievance asking update on transfer claim status,they mentioned that they rejected the transfer claim because of dame DOJ, DOE in both accounts. They told to submit Joint declaration form to update DOJ and DOE.
As mentioned earlier, I have worked in one company for 2 years and employer created 2 pf accounts for me.
eg: 06/2015 till 11/2017 is my total exp.
PF account 1 - ABC - from 06/2015 to 08/2016 and 10/2016, 12/2016 contributions.
PA account 2 - XYZ - from 09/2016, 11/2016 and 01/2017 till 11/2017 contributions.
There is a collision in contributions from 09/2016 to 12/2016.
1. In this above example how to update DOE of first account and DOJ of second account. Kindly suggest.
Also, i feel that Dual experience problem will come at the time of withdrawl/transfer if i update based on contribution date. Please clarify.
2. PF Office replied in grievance to submit joint declaration form to update my DOJ and DOE in PF accounts. employer is shutdown and not able to provide signature and authorization, how can i send Joint declaration form to PF office? Please clarify. Thanks.
Thanks
Bhaskar
Dear Bhaskar,
Also, note that EPFO UAN member portal now has the provision to update DoE by yourself..
Dear Bhaskar,
You need to kindly contact your ex-employer(s) and get this sorted out.
If your employer is not in business, you may have to visit the concerned EPF regional office and clear this issue.
What are the forms requires for offline inoperative accounts for final settlement. Kindly share those documents
Dear Fayaz,
You need to enclose copies of your PAN card, Aadhaar, Form 15g (if required & eligible)..Mention your UAN number and EPF account number on all the documents long with the Claim form.
Dear Shrikantji
I have applied in September 2018.
But have not received any response.
And now the links are not working.
Can you pl. guide me?
Thanks in advance
Nitin
Dear Nitin,
If possible, you may try visiting the concerned EPFO regional office (or) route the claim through your ex-employer.
You may also submit your grievance to the EPFO via this link
Inoperative a/c option can't b found in EPFO site, I could not find it, how it was earlier. What am I missing here, is this removed or moved to some other link.