The Employee Provident Fund, or EPF scheme, is a government-backed scheme that was launched in India in 1952. Designed for salaried individuals in the organised sector, the scheme aims to provide a lump sum amount to workers as their retirement savings. Here, both the employee and the employer make monthly contributions of 12% of the employee’s wage towards their EPF contribution to add up to the savings. But wait, what if you want to check your EPF balance? Or do you simply want to scroll and have a look at your contribution? Well, here comes the EPF passbook. Your contributions, balance, transactions, and more, you can access everything using this EPF passbook.
Now comes the next question: can you download it? The answer is yes. How, you ask? Well, read on as we explore EPF passbook in detail, its meaning, benefits, step-by-step process for EPF passbook download, and much more.
What is the EPF Passbook?
Before going any further, let's start with the basics. What is an EPF passbook? As mentioned, your EPF passbook is your go-to guide to access your complete EPF account details. Here, you may view your EPF balance, specific contributions made by the employer and the employee, monthly contributions, and much more.
However, it is important to note that EPF passbook download is only possible once you have completed the UAN registration on the official portal of EPFO. Once done, post six hours after your registration, your passbook is activated and you may download the same.
Steps to Download EPFO Passbook Online
Now that you know what the EPF passbook is, let's move forward. Let's come to one of the most frequently asked questions: how to download the EPFO passbook online. Well, here is a step-by-step guide to help you download your EPF passbook.
Step 1: Consider visiting the official EPFO website. Now, scroll and click on the ‘For employees’ section. Under the same, choose ‘our services’.
Step 2: Now, scroll to the member passbook’ and click on the same.
Step 3: Consider logging in using your UAN details, like UAN and password, and choose ‘login’. Now, you will be able to see all your UAN-linked IDs
Step 4: Consider choosing the EPF account, you wish to download the passbook for. You may do so by choosing ‘select member ID’ and then going to ‘view passbook’.
Step 5: Now, you may access and view your EPF passbook in PDF format. Complete the process by clicking on ‘download passbook’ for successful EPFO passbook download.
However, it is important to remember that the EPF passbook is accessible only when you have completed your UAN registration. Post 6 hours of your registration process, you may avail the passbook facility.
How to Access EPFO Member Passbook Via the UMANG App?
In addition to the EPFO passbook download on the official website, you can also access the same using your UNANG app. Let's see how.
UMANG app download
Consider installing the UMAG app using the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Complete your registration
Once you've installed the app, comes the most important part: your registration. Complete your registration by providing your contact details, and OTP for cross-verification.
Login to the App
Once you've completed your registration, now you can log in using your OTP and mobile number.
Scroll to the passbook section
Now, scroll to the ‘all services’ tab and consider clicking on the ‘EPFO’ option.
Access and download your passbook
Next, consider choosing ‘Employee Centric Services’ and choose ‘View passbook’. Now, enter the UAN and other essential details, and download your passbook.
How Can You Access Your UAN Passbook Online?
Now that you're reading about the EPF passbook download, let's quickly have a look at the UAN passbook as well. Here is a step-by-step guide on how you may access your UAN passbook in just a few steps.
Visit the official portal
Consider visiting the official website of EPFO and choosing the ‘UAN passbook’. Proceed further and consider logging in by providing your UAN and password and filling in the correct captcha.
Explore passbook option
Once you've successfully logged in, scroll straight to the option called ‘passbook’ and choose your UAN-linked EPFO account.
Access your passbook
Now, you may view the UAN passbook and download the same for future records.
Who is Eligible to Access to View e-Passbook Online?
As mentioned, by accessing your EPF passbook, you may check important details related to your EPF account. However, it is important to understand if you're eligible to do so. The eligibility criteria to access the Epf passbook online are simple. You simply need to be an active EPF member. Also, you should be officially registered and have an activated UAN on the official portal of EPFO to view your EPF passbook.
Alternatively, here is a list of entities who cannot access their EPF passbook online.
Settled members
Members who have completely withdrawn their balance post-retirement.
Inactive members
Individuals whose EPF accounts have turned inoperative because of non-contribution and other concerns.
Exempted establishment members
Individuals working in establishments that have their own and separate EPF trusts.
Features Available on the EPFO Member Passbook Portal
If you've read until here, you already know how to download your EPF passbook from the official portal and the UMANG app. This will help you understand your account details. But what are the other features available on the EPFO member passbook portal? Well, it offers a variety of services. Have a look yourself.
Your passbook’s summary.
Option to access and EPF passbook download.
Allows you to view your EPF claims and their status.
Allows you to check your KYC status and complete your EPF profile.
Allows you to use EPS or pension calculators. You may also access EPF or EDLI calculators.
EPF Passbook Information
Here is a detailed list of what you get to see in your EPF e-passbook.
The ID of the member
Member’s name and DOB
Name of the employer
Contribution of the employee
Contribution of the employer
Employee withdrawals if any
Contribution dates
Date and printing time of the passbook
The total balance in your account
How is the EPF Passbook Updated?
You might already know this; however, if you don't, just be aware that your EPF passbook is regularly updated. The same is done to ensure it showcases your updated transactions. Generally, this update happens every six hours from your contribution’s time. However, it is also important to understand with your passbook. You can see a transaction’s month and year and not the date. Make sure to wait for your passbook update to check the latest transactions.
What is Pension Contribution in the EPF Passbook?
Now, when you view the EPF passbook, you might be able to see a variety of details related to your account. One such detail is pension contribution. Wondering what is it? Well, let's see.
The pension contribution in your EPF passbook reflects the monthly contributions that are made towards the Employee Pension Scheme or EPS. Later on, this provides you with a pension post-retirement. Also, when it comes to pension contributions, always remember that both the employer and employee contribute 12% of the employee’s wage to the EPFO account. Additionally, from this 12% by the employer, a small section, i.e., 8.33%, is allocated to the EPS and the remaining amount is sent to the EPF.
This helps create a lump sum retirement corpus for the employees. You may see this contribution in your EPF passbook.
How to Check Tax Liability on EPF Balance?
Wondering if your EPF contributions are taxable? Well, to sum it up simply, in case your EPF contributions go above ₹2.5 lakh in a financial year, then the earned interest might be taxable for the additional amount. In case you've submitted your PAN, you'll have to pay a tax rate of 10%. Alternatively, in case where you've not submitted your PAN, a tax rate of 20% might be charged.
Also, you may easily check your tax liability on your EPF balance on the official portal for EPF members. Here is how you do it.
Consider logging in to the official EPFO portal. You may use your UAN and password for the same.
Now, consider clicking on the ‘passbook' section. Now, choose the member ID to access the tax details of your EPF account.
Tap on the ‘view taxable data' option. This will help you view your expected taxable balance on a monthly basis.
Can You Check the EPF Claim Status Using the EPF Passbook Portal
You may also view your EPF claim and its status using your portal for your EPF passbook. Wondering how to do it? Well, let's see.
Consider logging in to the official EPF member passbook portal. Use UAN and password for the same.
Now scroll and click on the “claims” option.
Now, you'll be able to access a dashboard.
Here, you may see your total claims including your settled or approved claims, rejected claims, and pending claims.
Additional Read : How to Track PF Claim Status
How to Check Your Service History through the EPF Passbook Portal
Your EPF passbook portal can also come in handy to check the service history. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Step 1: Consider logging in to the official EPF member portal using your UAN and password.
Step 2: Now, consider searching and scrolling for the ‘service history’ section. Now choose the same.
Step 3: Now, you'll be able to see your service history details, such as information about the employer, non-contributory period, total experience years, and starting and ending details for each company.
Using the EDLI, EPF and EPS Calculators Using the e-Passbook Portal
As mentioned, the portal for e-passbook also offers a variety of calculators for EPS, EPF, and EDLI. Here's how you may access them and easily calculate your contributions.
Consider using your UAN and password for logging in the e-passbook portal.
Now, go straight to the ‘calculator’ tab and click on the same.
Here, you may choose a particular calculator you may want to try. The available options include pension or EPS calculator, EPF calculator, and EDLI calculator.
Other Methods to View Balance of Your EPF Account
Until now, you've read about various services available at the EPF member portal and the detailed process of EPF passbook download using the portal and UMANG app. But is there any other method that you may use to view your EPF account balance? The answer is yes.
In addition to the official portal and UMANG, you may also access your account balance using SMS and missed calls services. Let's see how.
Checking EPF account balance via SMS
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to check your balance using SMS services:
Consider using your registered mobile number to send an SMS to ‘7738299899’.
Consider typing ‘EPFOHO UAN” and hit send on the above-mentioned number.
English is the default language to avail this service.
However, the service is also available in other languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi, Kannada, Tamil, and Bengali.
However, to avail of the service in any language apart from English, make sure to type the first 3 characters of your preferred language. For instance, to avail of services in Hindi, type ‘EPFOHO UAN HIN’ and send it to ‘7738299899’.
Checking EPF account balance via missed call
Here are the steps to view your account balance using missed call services.
Consider calling from your registered mobile number and giving a missed call on ‘9966044425’.
Once done, you'll get an SMS with your EPF details.
However, it is important to understand that to ensure these services via a missed call your UAN must be activated. In addition to that, your number must be UAN-registered along with the missed call feature. Also, the UAN has to be linked with other documents like Aadhaar, PAN, and your bank account.
Advantages of the EPFO e-Passbook
Downloading your EPFO e-book can help you gain access to a variety of information. Here are some advantages of the e-passbook.
Easily Accessible
One of the most prominent benefits of your e-passbook is that it is easily accessible. Using the same, you can gain access to your EPF details anytime and anywhere you want, offering enhanced convenience.
Provides access to real-time information
With an e-passbook, you get access to real-time and updated information about your account. You may check balances, transactions, and whatnot.
View your historical information
Your e-passbook also helps you track historical data like your previous employment records, EPF contributions, and so on.
Time-saving
With the EPFO e-passbook, you get access to your account details online. Therefore, you need not visit offices, go through the rigorous paperwork, and other such efforts. This saves time and effort and helps you have information at your fingertips.
Helps with financial planning
Using your detailed records, you may also direct your financial planning and make better decisions as per your contributions.
Conclusion
Your EPFO passbook is an important tool that can come in handy for a variety of purposes. From checking your account balance and transactions to services history and tax liability, you can avail a wide range of services using the same. Further, the handy information can also prove beneficial in financial planning and making informed choices. The best part is you can easily download your e-passbook without much hassle. From the official portal to SMS, the UMANG app, and missed calls, there are different ways to download your e-passbook. You may choose any of these that seems more convenient to you. Always check your updated details and keep your financial planning in check with EPF passbook downloads and updations.
