The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) manages India’s provident fund and pension schemes, helping millions of salaried employees save for their retirement. Under the EPF scheme, both employees and employers contribute a fixed amount every month, and the accumulated amount is provided to employees after retirement or as per applicable withdrawal rules.
Employees can easily check their EPF account balance, contribution details, and claim status through multiple methods, including the EPFO website, UMANG app, and SMS service.
What is EPF and Who Can Open an EPF Account?
The EPF scheme is available for eligible salaried employees. Employees with a basic salary and dearness allowance (DA) of up to ₹15,000 per month are generally covered under the mandatory EPF scheme.
Employees whose basic salary and DA exceed ₹15,000 can also choose the Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) option to increase their retirement savings.
Currently, EPF and VPF contributions provide an interest rate of 8.25%, helping employees grow their retirement corpus over time.
EPF Tax Benefits for Employees
EPF also provides tax benefits under certain conditions.
Under the old tax regime, employee contributions of up to ₹1.5 lakh per financial year are eligible for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
Employer contributions up to 12% of salary (within the applicable limit) are eligible for tax benefits under both old and new tax regimes.
The interest earned on employee contributions is also tax-free up to the specified limit of ₹2.5 lakh per year. These benefits make EPF one of the most popular retirement savings options among salaried employees.
How to Check EPF Balance Online
EPFO members can check their provident fund balance and other account details through different methods. Users can access their EPF information using the official EPFO portal, UMANG application, or SMS facility.
Check EPF Balance Through SMS
EPFO members can check their PF balance instantly through SMS.
To check your balance, send:
EPFOHO UAN
from your registered mobile number to:
7738299899
After sending the SMS, you will receive your latest PF contribution details and available balance information.
The SMS service is available in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Check EPF Balance Through UMANG App
The UMANG app allows users to access various government services, including EPFO services.
Follow these steps:
- Download the UMANG app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Log in using your registered mobile number.
- Search for EPFO services.
- Select the Employee Centric Services option.
- Choose the required service and enter your UAN details.
- Verify your account using OTP.
- After successful login, you can view your EPF account details and claim-related information.
Check EPF Balance Through EPFO Website
Employees can also check their PF details through the official EPFO website.
Steps to check EPF details:
- Visit the official EPFO portal.
- Click on the Services section.
- Select For Employees from the available options.
- Choose the option related to PF account services.
- Enter your UAN, password, and captcha details.
- After login, you can view your PF balance, contribution history, and other account details.
EPFO’s New E-PRAAPTI Portal: What Members Need to Know
EPFO is also planning to introduce a new digital platform called E-PRAAPTI to help members recover details related to old and inactive EPF accounts.
The portal aims to simplify the process of accessing accounts that have become inactive or where members may have difficulty locating their previous EPF details.
E-PRAAPTI stands for Employee Provident Fund Aadhaar-Based Access Portal for Tracking Inoperative Accounts.
The platform is expected to reduce paperwork, improve transparency, and make it easier for EPF members to track and recover funds from old accounts.
In the initial phase, the portal will work through member ID-based access. Later, EPFO plans to expand its features to help members who may not remember their old account details.
How E-PRAAPTI Portal Will Help EPF Members
The new portal can provide several benefits to EPFO members, including:
- Easier access to old and inactive EPF accounts.
- Reduced paperwork and manual processes.
- Faster tracking of account-related information.
- Better transparency in EPF services.
- Improved access to retirement savings.
With these digital initiatives, EPFO aims to make provident fund services more convenient, secure, and accessible for employees across India.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. EPF rules, interest rates, and tax benefits may change according to government notifications. Users should verify the latest information from official sources or consult financial experts before making any financial decisions.
