What Is EPF and Why Check Your Balance?
The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement savings scheme mandatory for employees in India earning up to ₹15,000 per month (though most employers extend it to all salaried staff). Each month, 12% of your basic salary is deducted and deposited into your EPF account, with your employer contributing an equal amount (of which 8.33% goes to EPS pension, and the rest to EPF). Checking your EPF balance regularly helps you verify that your employer is depositing contributions on time and track your retirement corpus growth.
Prerequisites Before You Check
- UAN (Universal Account Number) — a 12-digit number assigned to every EPF member. Get it from your salary slip, employer HR, or the EPFO member portal.
- Activated UAN — must be activated once on the EPFO portal using your PAN or Aadhaar.
- Mobile number linked to UAN — required for OTP-based logins and SMS/missed call methods.
- Aadhaar linked to UAN — required for full portal access and online withdrawals.
Method 1: EPFO Member Portal (Passbook)
This gives you the most detailed view — full transaction history and interest credited.
- Go to passbook.epfindia.gov.in in your browser.
- Enter your UAN and password, then complete the CAPTCHA and click Login.
- Click on View Passbook.
- Select your Member ID (if you have worked at multiple employers, each appears separately).
- Your EPF passbook loads showing all credits, employer contributions, and interest entries.
- Click Download to save a PDF copy.
Note: The EPFO portal can be slow during peak hours. Try early morning for best results. If you have forgotten your password, use the Forgot Password option and verify via Aadhaar OTP.
Method 2: UMANG App
UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is a government app that provides access to EPFO and hundreds of other services.
- Download the UMANG app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Register or log in using your mobile number.
- Search for EPFO in the search bar or find it under the Employee Services section.
- Select Employee Centric Services and then View Passbook.
- Enter your UAN and verify with an OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
- Your EPF balance and passbook entries are displayed.
Method 3: Missed Call (Quickest Method)
Give a missed call from your registered mobile number to 9966044425. The call disconnects automatically and within a few seconds you receive an SMS with your EPF balance details including the last contribution date and current balance.
This method works only if your mobile number is linked and activated against your UAN.
Method 4: SMS
Send an SMS from your registered mobile number to 7738299899 in the following format:
EPFOHO UAN ENG
Replace “ENG” with the first three letters of your preferred language (HIN for Hindi, MAR for Marathi, TAM for Tamil, etc.). You will receive an SMS with your balance details within minutes.
What the EPF Passbook Shows
- Employee contribution: 12% of basic salary deducted each month
- Employer contribution: Amount deposited by employer (net of EPS)
- Interest credited: EPFO credits interest annually (current rate: 8.25% for FY 2023-24)
- Opening and closing balance for each financial year
Why Is My EPF Balance Lower Than Expected?
- Employer delay: Employers are required to deposit contributions by the 15th of every month. If they are late, the passbook will not reflect the latest month’s contribution.
- Interest posting lag: Interest is credited once per year (typically after March) — your balance will look lower until interest is posted.
- EPS deduction: Of the employer’s 12%, 8.33% goes to EPS (pension scheme) which is separate from EPF — this reduces the EPF corpus component.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check EPF balance without a UAN?
No. The UAN is mandatory for all digital balance-check methods. Contact your employer’s HR to obtain your UAN if you do not have it.
How do I activate my UAN?
Visit the EPFO member portal (unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in), click “Activate UAN”, and verify using your PAN or Aadhaar along with your date of birth and mobile number.
How do I link Aadhaar to UAN?
Log in to the EPFO member portal, go to Manage > KYC, and add your Aadhaar number. Your employer must then approve the KYC. Alternatively, visit your nearest EPFO office for in-person linking.
Once you have a clear picture of your EPF savings, consider diversifying your long-term savings. Read our guide on how to invest your savings in gold and learn about Sovereign Gold Bonds for long-term saving.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. For specific queries about your EPF account, contact your employer’s HR or the EPFO helpline at 1800-118-005.