Obtaining a Universal Account Number (UAN) is an important step for employees under the EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) scheme in India. Here’s how you can obtain a UAN:
If You’re Employed:
- Through Your Employer:
- Typically, it’s the responsibility of your employer to obtain a UAN for you.
- When you join a new company, provide them with your PF details (if you already have one) and other necessary documents.
- Your employer will then register you with the EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation) and obtain a UAN for you.
- Once the UAN is generated, your employer should provide it to you.
If You’re a First-Time Employee:
- New EPF Account:
- If you’re a first-time employee and do not have a PF account, your employer will create one for you and obtain a UAN in the process.
- Provide your employer with necessary documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, bank account details, and others as required.
If You Already Have a UAN:
- Provide Existing UAN to New Employer:
- If you already have a UAN from a previous job, inform your new employer about it.
- This helps in linking your new PF account with the existing UAN, ensuring all your PF accounts are under one umbrella.
Self-Registration (In Some Cases):
- Through EPFO Portal:
- Although it’s less common, if needed, employees can also try registering for a UAN through the EPFO portal.
- Visit the EPFO website and look for the option to register or generate a new UAN.
- Follow the instructions, providing details such as your PAN, Aadhaar, and contact details.
After Obtaining UAN:
- Activation of UAN:
- Once you receive your UAN, you need to activate it on the EPFO portal.
- Go to the EPFO website, select the ‘Activate UAN’ option, and enter your UAN, mobile number, and PF member ID.
- After activation, you can access various services on the portal, like downloading your EPF passbook, updating KYC, etc.
- Updating KYC:
- It’s important to update your KYC details on the EPFO portal. This includes linking your Aadhaar, PAN, bank account details, etc., to your UAN.
- Check UAN Status:
- If you’re unsure whether you have a UAN, you can check your UAN status on the EPFO portal using your PF number/member ID.
Remember, the UAN is meant to be a lifelong account number, and you should keep it confidential. Always inform your employer about your existing UAN when changing jobs to ensure that your PF contributions are linked and accumulated correctly under a single account.
