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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Hi,
I was working earlier for an Organisation and resigned in the year Jan 2010. Since then am Self employed and have not had withdrawn my fund from PF. I donot have any UAN now though. So will i be able to withdraw the funds?. Have registered my case both ath the Inoperative account as well as the Greviance redressal - but have had no response.
The EPFO is in Bangalore. Let me know what options are available with me.
Dear Roopa,
When did you submit the requests? Because most of the blog readers who have submitted the requests using in-operative help desk did get response from the EPFO.
You may visit the nearest EPFO regional office in person and apply for withdrawal.
Kindly read:
Latest EPF withdrawal rules.
How to generate UAN online?
The request was submitted on the 14th March 2016. Let me however apply for my UAN and am also panning to visit the Local EPFO office.
i was working in a private firm
with EPF
now i am a goverment employ
with CPF
can merg these two and how
please help
Dear sufin..I believe that it is not allowed (but i am not sure).
Hi,
My contribution to PF was stopped in Oct 2013, as I got job overseas.
Since 3 years my PF account is inoperative.
Now if I withdraw the same, will I receive only employee contribution + Interest OR full amount?
Thanks
Murthy
Dear Sreenivasa..There is some confusion (no clarity) on this..Suggest you to submit your request through the inoperative helpdesk and find out if you can withdraw full PF balance or not. Request you to update here about the status so that it can be useful to other blog reader too. Thank you!
Awesome article! Thanks a ton for writing this blog and sharing this information.
I have left my current job and no longer working. My PF account was last credited on July '13. Hence, I would assume that it will become inoperative by June '16. However, I have another inoperative account earlier from other company which I worked earlier. If I transfer the money from that inoperative account to my existing one, will this credit be treated as contribution and further accrue interest for next 3 years? I do no wish to remove the money from this account.
Dear Manja,
Kindly read: Latest EPF withdrawal rules 2016.
Thanks. However, this new rule will conflict with the conditions of the inoperative account. If a person resigns then the 60% of the PF amount will be there without any interest. Is there any update on the inoperative accounts. I feel that they should remove this rules of inoperative account after 36 month. Kindly share your opinion
Dear Manja,
A person can withdraw his share + interest thereon and not the employer share.
As of now, no clarity on inoperative accounts.
But, one of our blog readers has contacted his Regional PF commissioner and enquired about 'in-operative a/c', he has been informed that 'need not wait till 58 and can be withdrawn fully'. I am not endorsing this but its an update.
You can read this comment at this link...
Sreekath, Is there any update / clarity on the inoperative account? If the new changes of holding the employer contribution in PF until 58 years, then Govt' should provide interest
Dear Manja..As of now, NO.
But looks like the EPFO is accepting full PF balance withdrawals on in-operative accounts (as of now). This has been shared by one of our blog readers.
how to get my pf amount back i forget my pf account number plz suggest me hw to get my money back....
Dear Ravi..You can provide all the possible details that you have while submitting the request. EPFO will get back to you and may let you know your old EPF a/c number.
dear sir, the details are the establishment is TD POWER SYSTEMS PVT LTD located in dabaspet bangalore rural district.. i worked thr from 7-12-2009 to 4-5-2012 my pan card number is AYUPR9941B and my date of birth is 13-06-1985 plz help me sir......
Hi
I did registered in inoperative help desk and its working fine. I am waiting for there reply. How fast this system works ? I have a 7 yrs old inoperative account. I have UAN number for my new account. But my earlier company is a defaulter and it is already closed. I tried withdrawal several times but not succeeded. Hope this help desk will help me to resolve my problem. Thanks for this blog. very helpful for us. My questions to u is
1. How fast this system works ?
2. Can I withdraw that money even though I have my new UAN number as I am working with some other company right now but I have already resigned from here also. My last working day will be March 30. I am not joining anyware after that. Now my plan is I want to withdraw both PF accounts in next few months.
Dear Prabhu,
1 - I am not sure about the time-line. Based on my experience and blog readers comments, while submitting the request if one provides most of the required details, you may mostly get SMS from EPFO within 7 days.
2 - As you are currently employed, it is better to transfer / link your old EPF a/c to your UAN and then apply for full PF balance withdrawal sometime in June.
Dear Sreekanth
I have already linked it to my existing UAN account. My question is when i link it to my existing account ( UAN ) what exactly happens ? will it show balance of my old account ? even though it is inoperative account. can i able to see the amount from my download pass book page ? What is the difference between linking the accounts to UAN and transferring the funds to one UAN. please clarify
Dear Prabhu,
Once you link old member-id (old epf a/c) to your UAN, the money from the older account will get transferred to the new account. But for old accounts (opened before the allotment of UAN), you still need to apply for funds transfer either in digital (in UAN portal) or physical form.
I WAS WORKING WITH A COMPANY 7-8 YEARS BACK AND THAT COMPANY SHUT DOWN THEIR ALL OF SUDDEN WITHOUT GIVING ANY PRIOR NOTICE AND WE ALSO NOT GOT OUR SALARY AND PF NOW THROUGH ONE OF MY FRIEND I GOT TO KNOW THAT I MIGHT GET MY PF IF I LOGGED MY DETAIL TO EPFO HELP DESK. I HAVE DONE THE SAME AND NOW I REQUEST TO EPFO KINDLY HELP ME TO GET MY PF. I HAVE PROVIDED ALL THE DETAILS AND IO HAVE GOT MY REFERENCE NO. I WILL BE THANKFUL IF I GET THE SAME.
ALTHOUGH VERY HELPFUL SITE.
REGARDS
AMIT SHARMA
Dear Amit..You will receive your funds :) Do let me know if you need any help/info.
This article was much helpful. Thank you so much. I have raised a request now. They have informed that they will be contacting in some days time. Will it be possible for me to withdraw the amount from my previous PF account. If so how long can it take to get transferred to my bank account. Please advise.
Dear merrin..Are you currently employed? If so, transfer the old EPF monies to you new EPF a/c. Else you can apply for withdrawal. Generally the transfer can happen within 30 days.
Thank you Sreekanth.
Hello.
I am informed that with regards to PF funds, interests would not accrue to the same upon 3 years of accumulation (i.e., no withdrawals).
I wish to know if the same principle applies for accumulations in case of PF Trusts as well.
If possible, please provide the legal source ( either under the EPF Act/Scheme or a judgement/case-law) to support your answer.
Thank you.
Dear Dinesh,
I believe that your understanding is wrong. The EPF subscriber would get the interest amount on all the contributions.
It is only when one stops contributing to EPF scheme, the interest would still be given for 36 months on the accumulated balance. After which the EPF a/c would be treated as an inoperative one.
I understand, Sir.
I wish to know if a private EPF Trust owned by a company has the right to stop giving interests when the account becomes inoperative.
Dear Dinesh,
The PF Trust may frame their own rules and regulations for maintenance of PF accounts but such rules and regulations are supposed to be based on relevant PF rules. Yes, they do have the rights not to pay interest on inoperative accounts.