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Universal Account Number (UAN)

Updated on: 16 Jan, 2024 05:49 PM

UAN, or Universal Account Number, is the unique number used to manage your PF account online. To get online access of the official EPFO portal, you need to generate and activate your UAN number. In this article, we will understand the basics and background of UAN, such as, what it is UAN number, what is its need, benefits, how to know your UAN number online, how to link Aadhar to UAN and PF, etc.

What is the UAN number?

UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is a 12-digit unique number provided by the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) to every employee who contributes to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) in India. The EPF is a savings scheme that is designed to provide financial security and stability to employees after their retirement.

UAN is issued by the Ministry of Employment and Labour which operates under the Government of India. For every Provident fund account at EPFO, a universal number is generated. With the help of this number, you can manage your Provident Funds (PF) accounts online.

The UAN number remains constant throughout the employee's career, even if he/she changes jobs. It is linked to the employee's EPF account and helps track and manage the employee's Provident Fund (PF) contributions and withdrawals.


Why was UAN introduced?

UAN came into existence because it got very difficult to keep track of all the different employee activities. EPFO aims to link the multiple Ids allocated to a single individual to a single member using a single UAN. The PF balance couldn’t be calculated properly, and it became even more difficult with payout issues. These issues further complicated things when the employee had to switch jobs. UAN was Introduced as a solution to all the stated problems With UAN, you can manage all your PF accounts associated with different IDs’ of different organizations under one number. UAN has eased off the process of transferring and withdrawing funds as well.


What are the benefits of a UAN number?

UAN has many advantages for employees. These are

  • Easy fund transfers: If you are changing jobs, all you need to do is to provide your new employer with your UAN details and KYC. Once this information is verified, your old PF will be transferred to your new PF.
  • Lesser employer involvement in PF withdrawals: With the advent of UAN, Once employee’s verification is completed by the new employer, old PF balance can be transferred to the new PF and thus resulting in reduced employer involvement.
  • SMS alerts: Employees can easily manage and check contributions made to their PF by the employers via SMS after registering on the UAN portal.
  • No more employer verification: If you are switching jobs, your new employer might not undertake the verification process if your UAN is already Aadhaar and KYC verified.
  • EPF Passbook: Employees can access their EPF passbook by sending an SMS through their registered mobile number in the format mentioned below:

EPFOHO UAN ENG to 7738299899


What are the different ways to know your UAN?

There are various methods to know your UAN. These are via

Employer:

You can request your employer for your Universal Account Number allotted to you by the EPFO Employees Provident Fund Organization. Some employers mention UAN numbers on salary slips; you can check them too.

UAN online portal either using member ID or PF number:

In any case, if your employer refuses to give you your UAN, you can check for your number from the UAN portal. Follow the steps mentioned below to retrieve your UAN number from the portal.

  1. Visit the UAN portal. A screen similar to the one mentioned under ‘Activate UAN via UAN member portal’ will appear
  2. On the right section of the screen, under ‘Important links’, you will see ‘Know your UAN status’. Select that option to proceed further. A screen similar to the one attached below should appear on your computer screens as well: Know Your UAN
  3. Fill in all the details mentioned in the form starting with ‘Enter member ID’. Under this, select your state and your EPFO office. Along with this, enter your other details like member ID, name, date of birth, mobile number, and email address. If you don’t know your member ID or PF number, you can refer to your salary slips. All the fields marked with an asterisk (*) need to be filled mandatorily.
  4. After completing the form, click on ‘Get authorization pin’. The authorization pin will be sent to your registered mobile number.
  5. Enter the PIN against the designated space and select the ‘Validate OTP and UAN’ option.
  6. You will receive your Universal Account Number on your registered mobile number.

How does UAN simplify the process of Withdrawal/Transfer of funds

Before the introduction of UAN, people didn’t utilize their PFs because whenever an employee changed his company, the process became very tedious. But after this service was rolled out, it made the process easier in many ways, which are mentioned below:

  • A PF account linked to UAN will invite lesser employer intervention.
  • You can manage your account online after giving your UAN details to your employer post the KYC verification
  • All PF accounts can be integrated and linked together to your UAN.
  • Withdrawals tend to get reduced once UAN makes linking all PFs easy.
  • You can register for monthly updates on your mobile for the deposits made by your employer to your PF account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q- Do we get a new UAN whenever we change jobs?

No, UAN remains the same throughout your lifetime. If EPFO has already allotted the UAN number to you, all you need to do is provide your new employer with the UAN. The employer will issue you a new identity which will later be linked to your UAN.


Q- What information does a UAN card consist of?

On the front side of the UAN card, a photograph is affixed along with your KYC details if your employer has verified it. On the back side, you will find your five latest member Ids along with EPF helpdesk contact details.


Q- How to transfer your old PF accounts and connect them with your UAN?

After you have linked your new EPF account with your UAN, you can transfer your old PF accounts online and track the status of your transfer.


Q- What steps should you undertake if you have been allotted two UANs?

If, due to any confusion, you have been allotted two UANs, you need to contact the EPF helpdesk and provide them with both UAN numbers and other supporting information. EPF will conduct a thorough verification and will, deactivate the previous UAN, and will keep the current UAN active


Q- What steps should be taken if any wrong information has been printed on the EPF card?

If any information needs to be updated on your EPF card, you can either go to your organization with the supporting documents or you can contact the EPF helpdesk to understand the process for updating personal information on the card.


Q- What all facilities can EPFO members avail?

EPFO members are entitled to a list of facilities. They are:

  • Previous job ids can be tracked and checked
  • The passbook for the PF account can be downloaded
  • KYC details can be submitted
  • Personal details can be updated

Q- How to create a strong password for UAN?

It is always advisable to create a strong password for your UAN account. You can do so during the ‘UAN activation process.’ Try creating a password between 8-25 characters, it should include special characters and use alphanumeric combinations.


Q- What could be the issue if the user cannot see Passbook or if Passbook is not available?

If the user is working in an Exempted Establishment i.e an establishment where the PF is managed by the company itself, then the passbook will not be shown in the UAN portal. In such a case, the user may contact the establishment for acquiring the PF statement.


Q- Whom to contact if you have any queries related to the UAN portal?

If you have any queries or concerns regarding the UAN portal, you can either call or email the helpdesk. Drop an email at [email protected], and you can call on 18001-18005.


Q- How long does EPF take to update personal information?

EPF might take up to a month to update the personal information once you have submitted all the information along with supporting documents.


Q- Can I view or download my passbook using UAN?

Yes, you can view and download your passbook with the help of UAN.

  • Step 1 : Log in to the member portal by using your UAN and the password you created.
  • Step 2 : Click on the ‘Download’ tab, and from the drop-down list select the Download Passbook option.
  • Step 3 : A link will be displayed, clicking on which the user can download the passbook in pdf format.

Q- What is considered KYC documents?

After making a successful login on the EPFO portal through UAN, you will see the list of the following documents under the manage -> KYC option:

  • Bank Details (including IFSC)
  • PAN
  • Aadhar
  • Passport (expiry date to be mentioned)
  • Driving License (expiry date to be mentioned)
  • Election Card
  • Ration Card
  • National population register

Only the document number and name as per the document are required to be entered manually. No document update is required. Entering the details of all the above-mentioned documents is not needed; only bank details, PAN, and aadhaar being the minimum requirement shall suffice.


Q- How to include a photograph on the UAN Card?

You need to log in to the EPFO employee portal, go to the view tab and click on the profile to upload a picture. To upload the picture following specifications should be adhered

  • The image should be in jpg, jpeg, or png format.
  • Should be taken from a digital camera.
  • It should be in dimensions of 3.5cm * 4.5cm.
  • Face should be visible prominently i.e., at least 80% face visibility.

Q- Can a scanned KYC document be uploaded?

The scanned copy of KYC documents cannot be updated on the online EPFO UAN portal. Only the document number, name, ifsc in case of bank details and expiry date in case of passport and driving license is required to be entered manually.


Q- What are the benefits of updating KYC details?

There are numerous benefits of updating the KYC details bythe employee, such as:

  • PAN updation will ensure the deduction of TDS at reduced rates.
  • Get an SMS update on the EPF activities.
  • Online withdrawal requests could be placed.
  • The withdrawal and transfers can be made in an easier and faster way.
  • Updation of bank details for smooth processing of claims.

CA Abhishek Soni
CA Abhishek Soni

Abhishek Soni is a Chartered Accountant by profession & entrepreneur by passion. He is the co-founder & CEO of Tax2Win.in. Tax2win is amongst the top 25 emerging startups of Asia and authorized ERI by the Income Tax Department. In the past, he worked in EY and comes with wide industry experience from telecom, retail to manufacturing to entertainment where he has handled various national and international assignments.