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
Hi.. I raised a request for an inoperative account as per the steps mentioned in the article. But even after 10 days I have not received any call from PF helpdesk nor they have updated the status of my request. Also the helpdesk number is not reachable. What is the expected timeline for a request to get closed or is there any other way to get in touch with them ? pl suggest.
Dear Nikky.. I guess there is no official Turn-around time to process the requests.
You may submit your grievance to epfo..click here..
Thanks Sreekanth.
Hi Sreekanth,
I don't know that my previous have created the Pf account for me or not, How could i know does i have epfo account or not without asking the previous employer??
Dear Raj ..Kindly check your previous payslips and find out if your ex-employer have been deduction EPF amounts.
If yes, you can use Inoperative helpdesk and find out your EPF ac details and can take appropriate action..
Can we submit on line PF form for withdrawal of PF amount in In-operative account.
Dear Taware ..Online withdrawals can be done only when Aadhaar has been seeded to UAN and verified, which may not be the case with In-operative account.
Kindly read : How to withdraw EPF online?
Clicking on "Existing user" shows error message :(
The requested URL /DashboardHelpdeskNew/index.jsp was not found on this server.
I really appreciate all your efforts to consolidate all this information at one place. This site is awesome.
I am not sure if I would be getting the amount now, as I had worked with my previous employer for a period of 8 months in 2006. However, if I have to visit the previous employer in person, that might not be possible. Is there a way we can get this processed online? I know the above article mentions getting the inoperative PFs online only after it is verified with the employer. My current employer has a private trust, not sure if I should be concerned about this.
Dear Mahavir ..As suggested in the above article, try using inoperative held desk.
One more option can be - You can transfer old EPF a/c monies to new one.
Read : How to consolidate multiple EPF accounts?
Thanks you Sree for this , so helping article with detailed SOP. Appreciate your efforts.
Dear Sir,
My Name is Dattatray Ramrao Kadam, I was working in Welmade Locking system Pvt. Ltd. (PUPUN0031105000) period 01st February 2008 to 24th August 2008 but i haven't PF Account No. so please help me for PF No.
& tell me if i want withdrew the amount. please tell me what is procedure.
Thanks & Regards,
Dattatray Kadam
Mob. 7588523805
Dera DATTATRAY ..You can submit your request for withdrawal through inoperative EPF helpdesk. Kindly provide whatever information you have in the request..
I had submitted a request for my inoperative account about 2 weeks back & got a reference number after successfully registering for the claim. When i go to check the status of my claim it doesn't open the page. Now i have checked it in multiple browsers on different days & still get the "server not found" display. Not sure how to proceed further.
Abhijit
Dear Abhijit..There can be a tech issue with EPFO portal. You may try after few days.
Also, you submit your grievance online..click here ..
I tried using inoperative help desk but it took them two months to get back to me. They told me to apply withdrawal from ex-emp. Then i visited ex emp and got signed on form 19, 10c. I personnely visited relevant epf office, mumbai and submitted the forms two months ago. Still no update on claim. I again visited pf office 2 weeks ago since they never pick calls. All they said will be done by next week and still no update. Such a pathetic service and waste of time. grivielence guys also take so many days to respond. Anyway just shared my experience for readers. I think for in operative account better connect to ex-emp or relevant epf office. I guess no direct transfer without filling forms. My question: will i get interest since there is no official notification yet?
Dear Mukesh,
May be, you could have requested your ex-employer to get the forms processed..
Yes, I believe that there is no official notification on 'interest payment for dormant PF accounts'..so I am not sure on this..
Hi,
I had quit "X" company in 2010 and am still to withdraw my EPF amount.This account has been been marked"Inoperative".So I went through with the requisite process today described here to make it operative.My question is to withdraw the relevant amount, should I contact my previous employer or the PF amount transfer can be initiated through the government run EPF portal without my previous employer's help.I am assuming that I will get the proper response from EPFO Inoperative Account Help Desk.
Dear RAUNAK ..Are you employed and contributing to EPF scheme now?
Yes, you may get a reply from EPFO help-desk with necessary steps to be taken..
I am currently self-employed.I am also not contributing to the EPF scheme.So I can withdraw the amount through the EPFO website and the help-desk will guide with the necessary steps.This is what you are implying.
Dear RAUNAK ..Yes, they may give you the required steps.
Mostly, you may have to contact your ex-employer and route withdrawal application through them.
Ok..thanks.will do the same..I hope the withdrawal procedure is smooth