17 FAQ’s ON TRANSFER OF EPF ACCOUNTS

[CSLalit Rajput]

Employees' Provident Fund Organization, India Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has issued 17 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONST related to Transfer of EPF accounts on its Twitter handle.

Q1. How do I know if I require a PF transfer?

Answers: If the member has more than one EPF member ID i.e. EPF account and the EPF account of these accounts have not been transferred to the latest EPF account, then member is required to get his PF transferred into his current EPF account.

Q2. What are the types and modes of EPF transfer?

Answer: There are five types of EPF transfer. Here is how the transfer process will work in each type.

1. Transfer of PF from one un-exempted establishment to another un-exempted establishment.

Mode of transfer: Online

2. Transfer of PF from exempted establishment to en-exempted establishment.

Mode of transfer: Online

3. Transfer of PF from un-exempted establishment to exempted establishment.

Mode of transfer: Online

4. Transfer of PF from exempted establishment to another exempted establishment.

Mode of transfer: Offline

5. Transfer of EPS only (for EPF exempt members) from un-exempted establishment to un-exempted establishment.

Mode of transfer: Online.

Q.3. What is the importance of UAN on online transfer of PF?

Answer: Universal Account Number (UAN) acts as an umbrella for the multiple member IDs allotted to an individual by different employers. UAN enables linking of multiple EPF accounts (member ID) allotted to a single member. UAN offers a bouquet of services like dynamically updated UAN card, updated PF passbook including all transfer-in details, facility to link previous members PF ID with present PF ID, monthly SMS regarding contribution in PF account and facility for auto-triggering transfer request on change of employment.

Q4. What all information needed at the time of applying online transfer?

For online PF transfer, please ensure following-

I. Employees should have activated his UAN at :

https://unifiedportalmem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/portal

II. Mobile number used for activation should also be active as OTP will be sent in this number.

III. Aadhaar number, Bank account of employee should have been seeded against the UAN.

IV. The date of exit for the previous employment must have been entered. If date of exit is missing badly kindly follow the process as given in this FAQ for updation of date of exit.

V. The employer should have approved the e-KYC.

VI. Only one transfer request against the previous member ID can be accepted.

VII. Personal details reflecting under the 'Member Profile' must be verified and confirmed before applying.

Q. 5. What is the process of online PF transfer?

Answer: Steps involved in process of online transfer are as below:

Step 1: Login to https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/  by using your credentials i.e. Universal Account Number (UAN) and password.

Step 2: After login, click on 'One Member - One EPF Account (Transfer Request)' under online services.

Step 3: Verify personal information and PF account for present employment.

Step 4: PF account details of previous employment would appear on clicking on 'Get details'.

Step 5: You have the option of choosing either your previous employer or current employer for attesting the claim form based on the availability of authorized signatory holding DSC. Choose either of the employers and provide member id/UAN.

Step 6: In the next step, click on 'Get OTP' to receive OTP to UAN registered mobile number and enter the OTP and click on submit.

Q 6. Whether date of exit for previous job/employment is mandatory for applying online transfer? What are the prerequisites for updation of date of exit?

Answe: Yes, updation of date of exit of previous job/employment is mandatory for applying online transfer. The date of exit can be updated only after two months of leaving a job. Also, the date of exit can be any date in the month in which the last contribution was made by the previous employer. The facility is based on Aadhaar-based one-time password (OTP). Thus, it can only be utilized by those who have activated their UAN and linked their UAN with a verified Aadhaar number and have a mobile linked to Aadhaar for receiving the OTP sent for verification.

Q. 7. What is the process of date of exit?

Answer:

i. Go to https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/  and login using your UAN and password.

ii. Click on tab 'manage' >> click 'mark exit'. Under the 'select employment ' drop-down, select the previous PF account number linked to your UAN.

iii. Enter the date and reason of exit.

iv. Then request for an OTP which will be sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

v. After you enter the OTP, submit the request. It may be noted that once the date of exit is updated, it cannot be changed.

Q.8. How do I know/check if my PF amount has been transferred from my previous member IDs to my current member ID?

Answer: The member can check this by viewing his passbook. The member must log in to his member unified portal. In the homepage, itself the member must go to view > passbook. Thereafter, the member must enter his UAN, password and captcha to login once again. After login the member can view the passbook of all his member IDs. If his PF has been transferred then the same will be shown as a credit entry in his latest passbook. Otherwise, all the passbooks of his previous member IDs will show some balance. In such a case the member is advised to submit online transfer claim.

Q. 9. With the introduction of UAN and its subsequent linking with Aadhaar has made UAN unique for subscriber. It does not change with change of employment. Then why do I have to file transfer claim?

Answer: A member whose UAN is seeded and is fully KYC complaint must not file any transfer claim on change of employment. In such a case wherever an employee joins a new job and the first month's PF contribution is received then a transfer auto trigger is generated. Soon after, the member's past PF amount gets automatically transferred into his new account. This automatic transfer get through if not actively stopped by the member.

Q. 10. After submitting the transfer claim I am getting an option to download the printable Form 13. Do I need to print the same and submit it to the concerned field office?

Answer: No, if you have filed online transfer claim then there is no need to submit a physical copy.

Q. 11. How to track the status of online transfer claim?

Answer: The Member e-Sewa portal allows the member to track the status of the transfer claim submitted by going to 'Online services' tab and then to 'Track Claim status'. Once the claim is submitted the status shown is 'Pending with employer'. If the employer approves transfer request status of the form changes to - 'Accepted by the employer, Pending at field office.'

Q. 12. I have 2 different UANs with one member linked with each. How do I file online transfer claim in this case?

Answer:  In such a case there is no provision to file online transfer claim. However, a physical claim can be filed duly mentioning the previous and present employment details. The physical Form 13 (transfer claim) can be downloaded from https://epfindia.gov.in/site_docs/PDFs/Downloads_PDFs/Form13.pdf.

The same must be attested by the authorised signatory of either present or previous employer and submitted to the concerned field offices. In order to avail all the online services after the transfer-in effected the member is advised to do the KYC of his latest UAN. Thereafter on job change the member must disclose his KYC compliant UAN to his new employer so as to avoid duplicity of UAN number.

Q. 13. I used to work in an exempted establishment. Now I work in an un-exempted establishment. How can I file transfer claim?

Answer:  Employee is required to submit PF Transfer claim to the exempted trust which will enter the transfer details as Annexure K in unified portal. The employer will make the online payment against the Annexure K. After due approval by the PF office the past amount and service history gets reflected in his current member ID passbook.

Q14. What is Annexure K?

Answer:  Annexure K is a document which mentions the member details, his PF accumulations with interest, service history, date of joining and date of exit and employment details including past and present member ID. This document is required by the field office/trust to effect a transfer in.

Q15. I want to file a PF transfer claim but I do not know if my past employer was exempted or un-exempted. How do I find out?

Answer:  The member can view the status of any establishment by going to PF establishment search. The member must go to https://epfindia.gov.in/site_en/index.php.

Thereafter, go to Our services → For employers→ Establishment search (Under head services). Then the details of the establishment (name or PF code) can be entered to view the status of the establishment.

Q16. My PF amount got transferred from my previous member ID to present member ID. However, my pension amount has not been transferred, what to do?

Answer:  The pensionary benefits are dependent on the length of service and average of last wages drawn. It does not depend on the actual amount lying in the pension fund account. Hence, this amount is not transferring during change of employment and a mere transfer of service history makes the member eligible for pension-related benefits.

Q17. Why to transfer PF with change in job/employment?

Answer:  The provident fund monies are to provide for a source of income (social security) after retirement during old age. To create a sizable savings it is necessary to start saving early and accumulate the corpus by reducing intermittent withdrawals. Hence, it is advisable to transfer PF with each job change to reap full benefits of social security schemes.

1. PF transfer lets the past service transferred into the current member ID. If the total service is more than five years then TDS is not charged on PF withdrawal. Clubbing of past service may help the member is crossing the 5-year mark thus saving on TDS.

2. Transferring PF amount instead of withdrawing gives the member the benefit of compounding of funds. The compounding effect can be visualised in a way that if a member does not withdraw his PF money on change of job and gets it transferred to his new account. then the same money would get doubled in approximately 8 years, assuming EPFO continues to give atleast 8.5 per cent interest rate just like it has given in the past so many years.

3. A service of more than 10 years makes the member eligible for pensionary benefits. Transfer of PF accounts ensures that the past services does not get lapsed and continues to get added in the subsequent employment.

Source: EPFO Twitter Handle