Changed Jobs? Don't Forget This Task! Here's How to Merge Your Old PF Accounts into the New One, Complete It Right from Home..

When you change jobs, it is common to end up with multiple Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) accounts linked to a single UAN. Although your Unique Universal Account Number (UAN) remains constant throughout your entire career, each new employer may create a separate PF account under it.

These accounts do not merge automatically; employees must submit a request to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to transfer the balance from their old accounts to their current active account. Consolidating your PF accounts ensures that all your retirement savings remain in one place. This also helps avoid issues such as dormant accounts, delays in withdrawals, or difficulties in tracking contributions.

The EPF is a government-sponsored savings scheme designed to provide financial security to salaried employees after retirement. Under this scheme, administered by the EPFO, both the employee and the employer contribute 12% of the employee's basic salary and Dearness Allowance (DA) to the EPF. For the financial year 2025-26, the EPF interest rate is set at 8.25% per annum, applicable to all contributions made between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. This interest is calculated monthly on the closing balance of the EPF account but is credited annually at the end of the financial year. The interest earned on these deposits is generally tax-exempt.

The Process of Merging PF Accounts
In recent years, the transfer process has become significantly simpler, as the EPFO ​​now allows members to submit online transfer requests through its Member Portal, provided their UAN is active and linked to their Aadhaar.

**Step 1:** Visit the official EPFO ​​website and sign in using your UAN and password. If you have forgotten your password, click on the 'Reset' option.

**Step 2:** Under the 'Online Services' tab, select the 'One Member – One EPF Account' link. This will take you to a new window where your personal details and the EPF account details of your current employer—into which the funds will be transferred—will be displayed.

Step 3: Fill in the necessary details, including your registered mobile number and UAN.

Step 4: Click on ‘Generate OTP’. Once you receive the One-Time Password on your registered mobile number, enter it on the portal for verification.

Step 5: A new window will open where you will need to enter the details of your previous EPF accounts that you wish to merge.

Step 6: Finally, before clicking ‘Submit’, check the declaration box.
Subsequently, your current employer must approve the merger request submitted on the portal. Once they grant their approval, the EPFO ​​will process the request and merge your previous EPF accounts with your current account.

What to do if you have two UANs?
Employees also have the option to merge their EPF accounts via email. This applies only to individuals who possess two UANs. In such cases, you can request the EPFO ​​to deactivate your previous UAN. To do this, simply send an email to uanepf@epfindia.gov.in, providing your current and previous UANs, along with other necessary details. Once the EPFO ​​verifies and accepts the request, the previous UAN will be blocked, while the current UAN will remain active. Following this, the employee must submit a new claim on the EPFO ​​portal to transfer the funds into their current UAN.

Can you withdraw EPF funds via UPI?
Although the facility for employees to withdraw EPF funds via UPI is not currently available, it may soon become a reality. The Union Labour Ministry is reportedly developing a system that will enable 80 million Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) members to withdraw their funds directly using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Reports indicate that the project is targeted for launch by April 2026. Its objective is to facilitate faster access to funds, simplify the withdrawal process, and significantly enhance service efficiency.

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