EPFO Reforms to Benefit Over 1.25 Crore Members; ₹90,000 Crore PF Transfers to Be Simplified with Revamped Form 13

In a move aimed at enhancing member convenience and promoting “Ease of Living”, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced a significant simplification in the transfer of Provident Fund (PF) accounts. As of January this year, EPFO has revamped the Form 13 functionality, removing the need for employer approval in most cases when an employee changes jobs.

Previously, transferring PF accumulations required the involvement of 2 EPF offices — the Source Office and the Destination Office. The new process eliminates the mandatory approval at the Destination Office. Once a transfer claim is approved at the Source Office, the PF amount will be automatically and instantly credited to the member’s new account at the Destination Office.

Additionally, the revamped system now bifurcates taxable and non-taxable components of PF accumulations, enabling accurate calculation of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on taxable PF interest.

This reform is expected to benefit more than 1.25 crore members and facilitate the transfer of around ₹90,000 crores annually by significantly speeding up the transfer process.

Introduction of Bulk UAN Generation without Aadhaar Seeding

In a parallel initiative designed to further the “Ease of Doing Business”, EPFO has launched a facility enabling employers to generate Universal Account Numbers (UANs) in bulk without the prior requirement of Aadhaar seeding.

This change addresses a critical challenge — the accounting of past accumulations remitted by Exempted PF Trusts after the surrender or cancellation of their exemption, and in other cases involving remittances following quasi-judicial or recovery proceedings. EPFO has now relaxed the Aadhaar requirement for generating UANs and crediting past accumulations for such members.

A dedicated software functionality has been deployed and made available to Field Offices, allowing bulk generation of UANs based on member IDs and other available information. Importantly, to ensure the security of member funds, all UANs generated through this route will remain in a frozen state. They will only be activated once Aadhaar seeding is completed.

Read More: UAN Member Portal: EPFO Member Portal Registration. 

Conclusion

These initiatives are expected to dramatically improve EPFO’s service delivery by reducing grievances related to PF transfer delays and improper accounting of past contributions. Furthermore, streamlining validations for the auto-settlement of eligible claims will provide greater efficiency and transparency in EPFO operations.

By introducing these member-centric reforms, EPFO continues to align with its commitment to simplifying processes and enhancing the experience for millions of its members.

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