In a move that brings significant relief to millions of workers across the country, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced major reforms to simplify and expedite the transfer of Provident Fund (PF) accounts. These changes aim to enhance the overall ease of living for over 1.25 crore EPFO members and address long-standing challenges faced during job transitions and UAN generation.
Earlier, transferring PF accumulations from one job to another involved a time-consuming process that required approvals from both the source and destination EPFO offices. However, with the rollout of a revamped Form 13 functionality, EPFO has now eliminated the need for destination office approval. Once the transfer is approved at the originating office, the member’s previous PF account will automatically be merged into the current one, enabling faster and more seamless account management.
This upgraded process also introduces a clear distinction between taxable and non-taxable PF components, helping ensure more accurate TDS calculations. By speeding up PF transfers, EPFO estimates that approximately ₹90,000 crore in member funds will be transferred more efficiently each year, marking a substantial improvement in operational efficiency and member satisfaction.
In another member-centric reform, EPFO has introduced a facility that allows employers to generate Universal Account Numbers (UANs) in bulk without the immediate requirement of Aadhaar seeding. This decision aims to resolve various grievances related to the proper accounting of past accumulations, particularly in cases where companies have surrendered their exempted status or are settling old dues following legal or recovery proceedings.
To support this, a new software functionality has been deployed, enabling EPFO field offices to generate UANs and credit past accumulations based on existing member records. While these newly created UANs will initially remain in a frozen state for safety, they will be activated once Aadhaar details are seeded, ensuring both security and compliance.
These progressive steps by EPFO reflect a sincere commitment to improving the lives of its members, reducing red tape, and making the system more transparent and efficient. By listening to the concerns of workers and employers alike, the organisation continues to move toward a more responsive and people-friendly future.