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
Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) is not just about meeting deadlines—it’s about choosing the…
Retirement planning in India is often misunderstood. Many people think any long-term savings or investment…
You’ve probably seen the same property quoted at different prices. One person says ₹60 lakh,…
Buying insurance is easy. Getting your claim settled—that’s where the real test begins. For any…
Gifting immovable property—like land, plots, or houses—is super common in India. Families often do it…
Most people believe that investing alone is enough to create wealth. But in reality, many…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
Hi Sreekanth,
Can we check online how much amount is there in my inoperative PF account.
Dear Harish..I don't think there is any online provision to track dormant account balance.
Once can transfer in-operative a/c balance to an existing EPF account.
My EPF account status is inoperative account. I saw the latest news says below, With this will all accounts will be operative after April 2017, as interest is paid or they will be still remain inoperative?
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.
Dear Pavan ..Yes, EPFO has said that they will pay interest even on Inoperative accounts, but there is no official notification yet on this.
Hi I have In operative account,I am following everything what you have said above.But Iam not receiving OTP so i am unable to procee further
Dear Pritesh ..Can be tech issue..You may submit your grievance at this link..
Dear Sreekanth Reddy,
That's great to hear from your comments where there is a possibility of getting my PF claimed,It's been more than years i tried many measures to claim my PF. However, I Couldn't find the way to do so. When recently i check two of my old companies PF accounts they were into inoperative account. I scanned around the google no hope and no traces about the companies.I logged into EPFO and seek help from Help desk that doesn't help either. From my very recent company i claimed my PF, Hopefully the company created my UAN number,Having that number i merged both the old pf accounts to that UAN still that dint help either. Now desperately need your advice........
Thanks in advance
Dear Ramkumar,
Kindly read this article, can be useful to you : How to consolidate multiple EPF accounts?
Thanks for your prompt response, But have done these steps still no hope.. I have tried merge my PF to the UAN number two months, Everyday I logged in to check but no action taken yet...
Just ask idea triggered, shall I post it on grievance...
Dear Ramkumar,
I believe that there are some technical challenges being faced by the EPFO, they are upgrading their system infrastructure i guess..
Yes, you may try posting your grievance, @ click here..
That's sounds great,Thanks much very appreciated your immediate response.. Good day bye
Hi Sreekanth...
Valid information... Thank you for sharing the same... I've worked with three organizations in India from July 2006 to January 2010 and moved to Dubai with a new assignment. I've neither linked my three EPF accounts nor withdrawn any amount so far. Kindly advise how I can track these funds and link them together before placing a withdrawal request
Thanks,
Nisanth N Menon
Dear Nisanth,
Kindly read : 'One Employee & one EPF account online' facility..
Thanks for details information. I have file my request for In-operative Account. Now, cant check status as DashboardHelpdeskNew is down.
It is 9th Jan 2017 and the website to track the request is still down.
Use this URL
and click login at the top right corner of the screen
HI Sir,
I worked in a XXX in 2010 for 9 months, than after i absconding the company, i have a PF no at that time.
Plesae tel me sir how can i do the further.
Thanks,
SS
Dear Silambarasan ..Are you employed and contributing to EPF scheme now?
You can submit whatever details you have through in-operative help desk.
Dear Sir
One our employee is using inoperative account and change his father name last month back till date not get any replay????
Shall we submit any hard copy of forms are its clear in portal only kindly advice
thank you for your reply. i am not working any ware i started small business from our home town.
I have PF number only how can i check my pf amount and withdrawal procedure.
I am from chennai but my PF account Bangalore "BG-BNG-0006941-000-000" whether i fill and submit the withdrawal form.
Dear Silambarasan,
Suggest you to submit your withdrawal request through above helpdesk portal.
If this is not possible, you can submit the withdrawal forms through your ex-employer.
i am absconding the company how can i submit forms through ex-employer.
Please tel me other options if any
also please tel me I am from chennai but my PF account Bangalore “BG-BNG-0006941-000-000” whether i fill and submit the withdrawal form.
Dear Silambarasan,
You may have to visit the PF office in person and submit the documents.
Suggest you to submit an affidavit (self declaration) stating about the closure of the company and also that you are unemployed now.
Enclose, pan card copy, bank cheque leaf cancelled one, form 15 g (if applicable) along with the withdrawal forms.
You can get the documents notarized by a gazetted officer.
Hi Sreekanth,
Reaching out to you because you seem to be actively responding to questions related to this article. I appreciate that approach since I have seen plenty of pseudo experts who publish an article but are unresponsive or unable to answer questions.
As you would be aware, as per 11/11/2016 notification of labor ministry, only PF accounts of persons "retired from service after attaining age of 55 or who migrated abroad permanently" will now be considered inoperative.
Unfortunately, the EPFO helpdesk portal you posted in this article is NOT helpful to those who belong to one of those two categories - people who migrated abroad permanently, because it doesn't have a provision to accept foreign mobile phone numbers.
Please advice how people who migrated abroad permanently can avail online services of EPFO helpdesk?
Looking forward to a quick response.
Thanks in advance.
Sreekanth,
What is the solution for this scenario? I too face this problem, since I'm permanently settled outside India.
Hi..Kindly try reaching them at these contact numbers...Click here..
HI Sir,
I worked in a PNB bank in 2012 for six months, than after i resigned , i have a PF no at that time.
After that i never worked , But in 2015 i joined a new private company and got a new PF account and UAN also.
Now, My query is can i get or transfer my old PF amount (year 20012) to my new PF account without employer's communication ( because it will take a lot of my time ) .
What is the process so that i can get the old company PF amount (year 2012).
Thanks
Dear Kul,
You have to communicate with your ex-employer and get this done.
You may also route this transfer request through one-Employee-one-EPF account facility. EPFO can help you to get this done quickly.
Error page is thrown on clicking "Existing User Click here to view status". I've already registered and have the reference id. But couldn't check the status as the page is down for long time.