Employee Provident Fund (EPF): EPFO Login, Schemes, Interest Rate & Services 2026

The Employees' Provident Organisation or EPFO is a statutory body that manages the EPF retirement savings scheme in India, thus enabling salaried employees to build a secure retirement savings corpus through timely employee-employer contributions. As of 2026, the EPFO provides services to over 7 crore members and 147 offices, while offering an EPF interest rate of 8.25% on deposits. 

Latest Update: EPFO 3.0

The EPFO launches EPFO 3.0 which allows members to withdraw PF balance instantly through UPI and ATMs. The auto-settlement limit has also been increased to Rs. 5 lakh from the existing Rs. 1 lakh. Other major EPFO 3.0 updates include no employer approval and EPFO tie-up with 32 banks to facilitate easy withdrawals. 

What is EPFO? 

The Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is a statutory body the Ministry of Labour and Employement, Government of India and is responsible to administering social security schemes for salaried employees. It was established under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 to manage retirement savings through structured contributions.

EPFO is governed by the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), which is a tripartite body comprising representatives from the government, employers, and employees. The CBT oversees policy formation, fund management, policy decisions, and interest rate declarations. It also ensures transparency, accountability, and efficient delivery of provident fund, pension, and insurance benefits.

EPFO Schemes

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) administers three core social security schemes that provide retirement savings, pension income, and life insurance coverage to employees collectively.

1. EPF Scheme 1952 - Contributions & Benefits

The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 1952 is a retirement savings scheme where both employer and employee contribute 12% of the employee’s basic salary plus dearness allowance. The accumulated corpus earns an annual interest of 8.25% and is available to the employee as a lump sum at retirement or upon meeting withdrawal conditions. The EPFO also allows partial withdrawals for specific needs such as housing, education, or medical emergencies.

2. EPS 1995 - Pension, Eligibility & Monthly Income

The Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 provides a fixed pension income upon retirement. A portion equalling to 8.33% of the employer's EPF contribution is diverted to EPS. Employees become eligible for pension after completing 10 years of service and reaching 58 years of age. However, early pension can be claimed at a reduce rate from the age of 50 years. 

3. EDLI Scheme 1976 - Insurance Coverage

The Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme, 1976 offers life insurance coverage to EPF members. In case of the employee’s death during service, a lump sum benefit is paid to the nominee, and death after resignation or retirement does not qualify. The maximum insurance benefit under EDLI is Rs. 7 lakh, with no contribution required from the employee. However, the minimum assured sum is Rs. 2.5 lakh.

4. Comparison table: EPF vs EPS vs EDLI

EPFO Login - How to Access the Member Portal

The initial step to access the EPFO portal is to activate the Universal Account Number (UAN), which can be easily done on the portal itself.

Employees can access their EPF account online through the EPFO Unified Member Portal to check balance, download passbook, file claims, and update KYC details.

1. Steps to Login to EPFO Member Portal

Step 1: Visit the EPFO Unified Member Portal.

Step 2: Enter your UAN (Universal Account Number) and password.

Step 3: Complete the captcha verification.

Step 4: Click on Sign In.

Step 5: Verify login using OTP sent to your registered mobile number (if prompted).

2. Forgot Password - How to Reset EPFO Login

Step 1: Go to the EPFO Member Portal login page.

Step 2: Click on “Forgot Password”.

Step 3: Enter your UAN and captcha code.

Step 4: Verify your identity using OTP sent to your registered mobile number.

Step 5: Set a new password and confirm.

Step 6: Log in again using your updated credentials.

Note: Members should make sure that their UAN is activated and linked to their Aadhaar and mobile number to avoid login issues. 

What is EPF?

EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) is a government-backed retirement savings scheme where both the employer and employee contribute a fixed percentage of the employee’s basic salary to the EPF account. The contributions earn interest over time, helping employees build a retirement corpus. The accumulated amount, including both contributions and interest can be withdrawn upon retirement or under certain conditions.

EPF Interest Rate 2025-26

The EPF interest rate is 8.25% for FY 2025-26. The interest is credited annually at the end of the financial year, but is calculated monthly on the closing balance of the EPF account. Use ClearTax's EPF Calculator to know your EPF interest. 

Note: EPF interest rate are reviewed and declared annually by the EPFO.

The EPF interest rate is calculated monthly on the running balance but credited annually at the end of the financial year. The calculation is based on compound interest approach on the closing balance of each month, thus ensuring steady compounding and making EPF a reliable long-term retirement savings instrument. 

EPF Contribution Details

The EPF contributions can be broken down into two parts. The employee contributes 12% and the employer contribute 13% of the basic salary and dearness allowance monthly to the employee's EPF account. The employee's contribution of 12%, entirely goes to the EPF account. However, the employer's contribution of 13% is further divided as follows:

Illustration

Let us first understand the EPF calculation with an example. Mr A has a salary structure in which his monthly basic pay is Rs. 14,000 and he does not receive dearness allowance as he is not a government employee. Now the PF contribution for employer and employee is as follows:

Employer's contribution amount = 14000 * 13% = Rs.1,820

Employee's Contribution amount = 14000* 12% = Rs. 1,680

EPF Eligibility

1. Who Must Enrol in EPF?

As per the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, EPF registration is mandatory for:

• Establishments with 20 or more employees 
• Employees earning up to Rs. 15,000 per month (basic + DA) at the time of joining

Once registered, the employee must continue o be a member even if the salary exceeds Rs. 15,000. Both employer and employee must contribute as per the EPF rules. 

2. Voluntary EPF Coverage

EPF coverage can also extend beyond mandatory limits:

• Employees earning above Rs. 15,000 per month can voluntarily opt in with employer consent
• Organisations with fewer than 20 employees can register for EPF voluntarily
• Once approved, all EPF provisions, including contributions and compliance, become applicable

Voluntary EPF participation helps employees build a larger retirement corpus while benefiting from compounding interest and tax advantages.

EPFO Services

The following are few of the many services offered by the EPFO to it's members:

1. Universal Account Number

EPFO introduced UAN, which acts as an umbrella for multiple member IDs allotted to an individual by different employers. UAN is a unique 12-digit number assigned to an employee by EPFO. UAN enables the linking of multiple EPF accounts (member IDs) allotted to a single member. Employees are required to activate their UAN at the UAN portal to avail various online services offered by EPFO.

The UAN portal offers a bouquet of services, such as dynamically updated UAN card, updated EPF passbook (including all transfer details), facility to link previous member IDs with the present ID, SMS regarding the credit of contributions in the PF account, and a facility for auto-triggering transfer request on change of employment.  

2. Online EPF Transfer

While the EPF transfer was possible online earlier under ‘Online Transfer Claim Portal’, with the introduction of UAN, the process of transfer is revised and shifted under the ‘Unified Portal’. This has made EPF transfer from one account to another easy, paper-free, and also hassle-free. Refer to our article on the online EPF transfer process for more information.

3. Online PF Withdrawal

An employee is allowed to withdraw PF amount if he/she is not employed for 60 days post resigning the previous employment. EPFO has enabled online EPF withdrawal with a simple procedure for UANs linked with Aadhar. Refer to our article on online EPF withdrawal.

4. PF Payments Online

It is mandatory for all establishments to make EPF payments online. EPFO has a tie-up arrangement with some banks to collect EPFO dues and the participating banks are SBI, PNB, Indian Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank. Refer to our article on PF payment online for more details.

5. Centralised Software for Generation of Certificate of Coverage for International Workers

EPFO has launched an online form through its centralised software to generate the Certificate of Coverage (CoC) to EPF members working in countries having Social Security Agreements with India.

6. SMS Service/Alerts and Missed Call Service

The SMS service and missed call service were launched to give better access to the EPF account to the EPF members who have activated their UAN. Members can access details of KYC status, last contribution, total EPF balance by sending an SMS in the format ‘EPFOHO UAN’ followed by the first three characters of their preferred language to 7738299899.

Members can also obtain details by giving a missed call to 011-22901406. SMS alerts are also sent to the members intimating remittance, withdrawals, interest credit, etc. Also, SMS is sent to the employers for non-deposit of dues.

7. Passbook and Claim Status

Members can view their passbook and check their claim status online. Members can also update/modify basic KYC details online.

EPF Claim Status

Once a member decides to withdraw their EPF funds, they can log in to the EPFO portal and submit an online request. The member can also track the status of their EPFO claim online through the same portal. 

Alternatively, employees can check the claim status by giving a missed call to 011-22901406 from their registered mobile numbers. The SMS facility or the UMANG app can also be used for checking the EPFO claim status.

To check the PF status, the member needs to provide the following information:

• Employment details
• Extension code (if required)
• Employer's EPF regional office
• Universal Account Number (UAN) 

Read our blog to know the detailed procedure of EPF withdrawal.

EPF Forms

For every activity in EPFO account, right from account opening, transfer, withdrawal and final settlement, there are various forms using which the appropriate compliance or facility can be availed. Below is a list containing various PF forms:

EPF Benefits

Here are the advantages of the EPF scheme:

1. Saving for the future: The EPF scheme enables individuals to save money for the long term.
2. Convenient deductions: Instead of making a large, one-time investment, deductions are made from the employee's monthly salary. This allows for significant savings over an extended period.
3. Financial support in emergencies: The EPF scheme can provide employees with financial assistance during unexpected situations.
4. Retirement savings: By participating in the EPF scheme, individuals can accumulate funds for their retirement, ensuring a comfortable lifestyle in later years.

EPF Taxation & Exemptions

The EPF contributions made by both the employee and employer have various tax benefits. The employee contribution towards EPF can be claimed as a deduction up to Rs. 1.5 lakh under Section 80C in the old tax regime only. The employer's contribution of up to 12% of the basic salary is exempt from tax under both the new and old tax regimes. However, the employer's contribution exceeding Rs. 7.5 lakh is taxable. 

The interest accumulated on the employee's contribution up to Rs. 2.5 lakh is tax-free. However, the interest on contributions above Rs. 2.5 lakh is taxable. Similarly, contributions by the employee over and above Rs. 2.5 lakh is also taxable and not exempt. The interest on the employer's contribution is completely tax-free. Read our EPF Interest Taxation page for more information. 

EPFO New Rules 2025-26

The EPFO is aiming to bring in various updated to make EPFO services faster, more digital and accessible while expanding benefits for members.

1. EPFO 3.0 - ATM Withdrawals & UPI Integration

Under EPFO 3.0, member can access faster EPF withdrawals through proposed features such as UPI integration and ATM based withdrawals. This will allow instant access to EPF funds, reducing dependency on traditional claim processing timelines. EPFO 3.0 also does not require employer approval and allows withdrawals through Aadhaar authentication and has increased the auto-settlement limit to Rs. 5 lakh from the previous Rs. 1 lakh. 

2. EPFO Enrolment Scheme 2025

The EPFO Enrolment Scheme 2025 is a time-bound initiative designed to bring more workers into the formal social security net. It encourages employers to register eligible employees and ensures wider EPF coverage, improving long-term retirement security.

3. Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication

EPFO has introduced Aadhaar-based face authentication to simplify identity verification. This enables members to complete KYC, submit claims, and access services securely without OTP dependency, improving ease of use and reducing fraud risks.

4. Higher Pension on Higher Wages

Following recent policy changes, eligible employees can opt for higher pension under EPS by contributing on actual salary (above the Rs. 15,000 cap). This allows members to receive a significantly higher monthly pension, subject to eligibility criteria, joint option submission, and EPFO approval.

EPFO Grievance

To assist employees in registering grievances, the EPFO has dedicated a section on their member portal where individuals can fill out a grievance registration form and file complaints. Common grievances faced by employees include issues related to withdrawals, PF settlements, account transfers, pension settlements, and more. If you are new to the EPFO's member portal and wish to register an EPF grievance, follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the EPFO grievance portal.

Step 2: Click on the "Register grievance" option located on the top bar.

Step 3: Once clicked, the grievance registration form will be displayed.

Step 4: Fill in the registration form by providing the following details:

• Select your status (Employer, employee, EPS pensioner).
• Enter your PF account number.
• Specify the location of your regional EPF office.
• Enter the name and address of your establishment.
• Provide your personal details, including name, address, pin code, country, phone number, and email ID.
• Select the appropriate grievance category from the dropdown menu, such as transfer or withdrawal-related issues, pension settlement, etc

Step 5: Upload your grievance letter, enter the captcha, and submit your grievance registration.

By following these steps, you can register your EPF grievance effectively through the EPFO's member portal.

EPFO KYC

To update KYC details on the e-Sewa portal of the EPFO website, employees can follow these steps:

Step 1: Log in to the EPFO e-Sewa portal.

Step 2: Click the ‘Manage KYC’ option.

Step 3: Select the type of document you wish to update on the portal, such as PAN, Aadhaar, Ration Card, etc.

Step 4: Update the document number and member name as per the document.

Step 5: If applicable, update the expiry date of the document.

Step 6: Save and submit the changes.

Step 7: The employer will review the submitted details and provide approval.

Step 8: Once approved, the employee will receive an SMS confirming the employer's approval.

By following these steps, employees can easily update their KYC details on the e-Sewa portal of the EPFO website.