Quick answer
To check your EPF balance, log in to the EPFO member passbook portal at passbook.epfindia.gov.in/MemberPassBook/login, open the EPFO section of the UMANG app, give a missed call to 9966044425, or SMS EPFOHO UAN ENG to 7738299899 from your registered mobile.
To withdraw PF, log in to the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in and file an online claim under Online Services → Claim using Form 19 (final settlement), Form 10C (pension/EPS) or Form 31 (advance). Your UAN must be activated, Aadhaar-linked and KYC-verified.
Before you withdraw, it is worth projecting how much your fund will grow if you leave it invested. Use the EPF Calculator to estimate your retirement corpus and compare it against the lump sum you would take out today.
Step 1: Activate your UAN (UMANG Face-Authentication method)
As per the EPFO circular dated 30 July 2025 (effective 1 August 2025), the current way to generate and activate a Universal Account Number (UAN) is through the official UMANG app using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication (FaceRD). This is now the primary route for both new and existing members.
- Install the official UMANG app and the Aadhaar FaceRD app from your phone's app store. FaceRD is the engine that does the live face scan.
- Open UMANG, search for and select the EPFO service, then choose the option to activate or generate the UAN.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile to begin verification.
- Complete the live face scan when prompted – hold the phone at eye level in good light so FaceRD can match your face against your Aadhaar record.
- Set your password once verification succeeds. Your UAN is now activated and ready for the member portal, passbook portal and UMANG passbook.
Legacy / alternative path: Older members can still activate via the Member e-Sewa portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in using the Activate UAN link, where you enter your UAN/Aadhaar and member details and verify with an Aadhaar OTP. EPFO is steering members towards the UMANG Face-Auth method, so use the legacy route only if Face Authentication is unavailable to you.
Step 2: Check your EPF balance (four ways)
There are four official ways to see your balance, and all of them need an activated UAN. The two online methods (passbook portal and UMANG) need the UAN plus your login; the missed-call and SMS methods additionally need your mobile number registered with EPFO and at least one KYC (bank account, Aadhaar or PAN) seeded against your UAN.
| Method | How to use it | Needs UAN activated? |
|---|---|---|
| Passbook portal | Log in at passbook.epfindia.gov.in/MemberPassBook/login with your UAN and password, then download or view the passbook for each member ID. | Yes |
| UMANG app | Open UMANG → EPFO → View Passbook, then log in with your UAN and OTP to see the latest balance and entries. | Yes |
| Missed call | Give a missed call to 9966044425 from your registered mobile; the call disconnects automatically and you receive your balance by SMS. | Yes – plus registered mobile + seeded KYC |
| SMS | Send EPFOHO UAN ENG to 7738299899 from your registered mobile. Replace ENG with another language code (e.g. HIN) for a reply in that language. | Yes – plus registered mobile + seeded KYC |
- The passbook shows employee and employer contributions, the pension (EPS) share and interest credited – useful for confirming every month's deposit.
- The passbook portal updates a little after employer contributions are filed, so a very recent month may not appear immediately.
- If the missed call or SMS does not return a balance, your UAN may not be activated, your mobile may not be registered with EPFO, or no KYC is seeded – fix that in the member portal first.
Step 3: Withdraw PF online (Form 19, 10C, 31)
Online withdrawal claims are filed on the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal. The prerequisites are an Aadhaar-linked UAN, verified KYC (bank account with IFSC, PAN and Aadhaar) and a mobile number linked to Aadhaar for the final e-KYC OTP.
| Form | Use it for | When |
|---|---|---|
| Form 19 | Final settlement – withdraw the full EPF balance | After leaving service / at retirement |
| Form 10C | Pension (EPS) withdrawal benefit or scheme certificate | Less than 10 years of pensionable service |
| Form 31 | Advance / partial withdrawal from your EPF | While still employed, for permitted reasons (housing, medical, etc.) |
- Log in to the Member e-Sewa portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in with your UAN and password.
- Confirm your KYC under Manage → KYC: bank account, PAN and Aadhaar must all show as Verified. Update any outdated detail before proceeding.
- Go to Online Services → Claim (Form-31, 19 & 10C).
- Verify the last four digits of your bank account when prompted, then agree to the certificate of undertaking.
- Choose 'Proceed for Online Claim' and select the claim type – Form 19, 10C or 31 – that applies to you.
- Fill the remaining details (such as reason for advance for Form 31) and your full postal address.
- Click 'Get Aadhaar OTP', enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile, and submit the claim.
- Track the claim under Online Services → Track Claim Status; the settled amount is credited to your verified bank account.
Project the future value of the corpus before you withdraw it with the EPF Calculator – seeing the long-term number often changes the decision to take an advance.
Transfer instead of withdraw when you change jobs
When you switch employers, you can move your old EPF balance to the new account with an online transfer claim (Form 13) on the member portal, instead of withdrawing. For most people, transferring is the better choice.
- Your corpus keeps compounding at the EPF interest rate instead of being spent – small balances grow into meaningful retirement money over decades.
- Transferring preserves continuity of service, which protects the five-year tax-free rule (see below). Withdrawing and restarting resets that clock.
- It keeps your retirement savings in one place, so the final settlement is simpler when you actually retire.
- File the transfer under Online Services → One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request); it is usually approved by your previous or current employer.
Tax on PF withdrawal
Whether your withdrawal is taxed depends mainly on how long you have contributed continuously.
| Situation | Tax treatment |
|---|---|
| 5 or more years of continuous service | Withdrawal is fully tax-free; no TDS. |
| Less than 5 years, amount up to ₹50,000 | No TDS deducted (the amount may still be reportable in your return). |
| Less than 5 years, amount over ₹50,000 | Taxable; TDS applies (10% if PAN is furnished, 20% if not). |
The five years are continuous service, and time with a previous employer counts as long as you transferred the balance rather than withdrawing it. This is exactly why a Form 13 transfer can save tax later – withdrawing early both breaks compounding and can trigger TDS.
Common problems and fixes
- Face Authentication fails in UMANG: ensure good lighting, install the latest FaceRD app, and confirm your mobile is the one linked to Aadhaar.
- Missed call or SMS returns nothing: your UAN is not activated, your mobile is not registered with EPFO, or no KYC is seeded against your UAN – activate the UAN and seed KYC in the member portal.
- Online claim button is greyed out: a KYC detail (usually bank or PAN) is unverified, or your Aadhaar is not linked to the UAN.
- Aadhaar OTP not arriving: your Aadhaar-linked mobile differs from the one in the EPFO record – update it before filing the claim.
- Recent month missing from the passbook: employer contributions are filed with a short lag; the entry appears once EPFO processes it.
Always verify on the official portal
EPFO processes, form codes and service numbers change from time to time. Before you act, confirm the current steps on the official sources: the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in, the passbook portal at passbook.epfindia.gov.in, and the official UMANG app. This guide is for general information and is not financial or tax advice.