EPFO warning: Not sharing your UAN with a new employer will land you in trouble

If you do not furnish your UAN, your past EPF account becomes dormant.

Your Universal Account Number (UAN) is a unique number provided to you for your Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Your employer utilizes this number to credit your PF contribution, update your balances, and ensure smooth transfers. If you fail to provide this number to your new employer, your contribution won't end up in your EPF account and can go uncredited.

What happens without your UAN

If you do not furnish your UAN, your past EPF account becomes dormant. This means that your PF contributions—or your new employer’s—are not reaching your PF account any more. You could face issues like discontinuity of contribution, postponed withdrawal—in cases where you are planning to withdraw your PF—and hassles in tracking your savings. In the worst-case scenarios, the new employer will assume you are employed but not contributing to your PF account, thereby leading to discrepancies in your accounts.

Transfer hassles and delays

When you provide your UAN, your EPF contribution also gets automatically transferred from the old to the new account. If you skip this step, you will have to do manual transfers—normally through online submission of a transfer form. This will end up wasting your time and also entails loss of interest for the time where you missed your contributions.

Risk of EPFO warnings or rejections

Skipping this step may also raise a red flag on the EPFO database. Your new employer could get into trouble for contributing in a manner that is not consistent with your active profile. EPFO closely monitors compliance, and any mismatches can trigger inquiries that can stall salary settlements or even cause employer audits.

Ensure smooth EPF continuity

To avoid any complications, login to EPFO member portal and verify that all your UAN particulars are correct. Pass it on to HR immediately during onboarding. Ask them to verify your previous PF account number so contribution is automatically linked. That little bit of effort today spares you paperwork and hassle tomorrow.

Final thought

Your UAN can be just an extra number on your employment records, but it's so much more. It's the key to protecting and growing your retirement funds. Don't wait—withholding or delay can put your money on hold, add administrative hassles, and even trigger compliance issues for your employer or you.

FAQs

Do I need to create a different UAN for each job?

No. Your UAN is not something you update with each new job. You carry it with you throughout your professional life, though you change jobs numerous times.

Can I make contributions without revealing the UAN?

Technically no. The employer cannot track contributions if you don't reveal your UAN, and EPF savings remain uncredited.

What is the situation in case of mismatch of old EPF account details?

Verify and update your KYC information on the EPF portal prior to submitting your UAN—this prevents rejection or delay upon account transfer.