What is EPF | How to Check EPF Balance | PF Withdrawal | EPF Claim Status and EPF Passbook Login

EPF - an emergency corpus for employees.

As an employee or employer working in a corporate set-up, what is EPF exactly must be brought up to the knowledge of employer and employees both. 

And that’s what we will discuss in this blog.

EPF is an acronym for Employees’ Provident Fund, that came into existence under the promulgation of the Employees’ Provident Funds Ordinance on 15th November 1951. Although, later on, it was replaced by the Employees Provident Funds Act, 1952. 

It is the main scheme under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, (the mentioned act now referred to by this name) which is managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). 

EPF is applicable to all firms or companies possessing 20 or more employees, however, organizations/ employees that are exempted from applying for EPF are -

• Organization possessing less than 20 employees
• Employees “pay” above Rs 15,000 per month, at the time of joining

Conversely, EPF registration is a mandatory requirement for employees whose “pay” is below Rs 15,000 per month, yet, if an employee earning “pay” above the prescribed limit can also become eligible for EPF registration after obtaining permission from Assistant PF Commissioner and other concerned authorities. 

Since, we are aware of what is EPF, who is eligible to become its member, and who is exempted, next we will discuss the benefits of EPF registration. 

What Are the Benefits of EPF Registration | PF Registration Benefits

EPF registration is not a mere investment like an FD, but it offers an abundance of benefits to an employee, some of these are -

1. Legal benefits

As discussed above, it is mandatory for every organization to file an EPF registration if an organization possesses above 20 employees. However, if an organization fails to do so, legal action can be taken against it, it could be debarment and imposition of a fine. 

Thus, to avoid any such legal action, an EPF registration is mandatory for those who are eligible to file the same. 

2. Tax benefits

In accordance with Section 80C, employees who are contributing to the EPF scheme can avail of tax benefits such as exemption in tax payments.

Moreover, you can earn a handsome interest rate, even if an account is dormant for three consecutive years. While if an employee continues to provide service in an organization for 5 years, PF withdrawal will be tax-free. 

3. Insurance benefits

Under the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme (insurance cover provided by EPFO), certain benefits are being promised to the employees. One such benefit of EPF registration is receiving a lump sum amount to the nominee, in case of the death of the insured person. 

Benefits like these will provide a sense of care to your employees, thus it can turn in your favor as when employees think management cares about them, they will invest more time and effort in completing tasks. 

4. A Source of Lifetime Pension

Under the Employees’ Pension Scheme,1995, ten years of contributory membership provides a lifetime pension to an employee. Further, both employer and employees contribute to the employees’ provident funds, out of which some percentage is diverted towards the Employment Pension Scheme.

5. The Received Amount Will be 20x

As per the revised scheme, the return will be 20 times of the deposits or wages made in the employees’ provident funds account. For instance, as the wages ceiling increased to Rs 15,000 from Rs 6,500, the maximum benefit amount will be Rs 3 lakh, and an extra benefit amount of 20% is also paid.

These are the five major benefits of an EPF registration for employees. 

As the phrase says, “a satisfied employee is an asset to an organization,” and giving a sense of care to the employees could help in achieving the organizational goals. 

And in this blog, we will be discussing how to check EPF balance, how to check EPF balance, how to download EPF passbook and other related topics to EPF. 

Before getting started with the above-mentioned topics, let’s have a look at the EPF registration process.

A Systematic EPF Registration Process | Employer Registration, DSC Registration, and OLERE Form | UAN Login

You can refer to a brief process of EPF registration in the below-given image -

The detailed registration process is discussed below since EPF registration is done in three different stages -

Online EPF Registration Process For Employer Registration (UAN login)

• For employer’s registration, visit the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). 
• Under “Our Services,” select “For Employees.” Then choose the “Online Registration of Establishment (OLRE Portal)” this will redirect you to the homepage for employer registration.
• On the employer registration homepage, choose “Register.” As you select this option, you must fill in the required information in the form, such as name, Employer’s PAN, Address, State, etc.
• As you complete the Employer Registration Form, you must enter the captcha and click on the option “Get PIN.”
• Further, you will receive the PIN on your mentioned mobile number. Enter the PIN and for the declaration, choose the option “I agree” with the above statement.
• Finally, submit your application. 
• After applying, you will receive a link on your mentioned email that will be activated to allow the application submission for Online Registration of Establishment.

EPF Registration Process For DSC Registration

After completion of Employer Registration, you have a username and password, which is essential to procure for the DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) registration,

• Visit the Employer Registration homepage, and to log in, enter your username and password.
• As the next page opens, choose the “Digital Certificate.” Again, select the “Register Certificate” and enter your details.
• Here, the name of the employer and mobile number will automatically appear from the Employer’s registered data. However, you can edit the name, but not the mobile number.
• As you press “Next,” you are required to choose the type of a certificate according to the DSC you comprise.
• If you select the “Sign with USB Token,” a pop-up will appear on your screen. Here, you have to choose the option “Run.”
• Now, select the “USB Token Certificate” to obtain the DSC details. Further, make sure the DSC USB Token has been inserted into the USB port appropriately.
• Select the certificate and enter your PIN details of the DSC, and press “OK.”
• Review the digital signature details on the screen, including Active DSC registration with a successful registration message.
• At last, you are now eligible to apply for PG Code. Consequently, select the fill application form option.

Note- The same registered username can not be authorized to be used by another user.

Online EPF Registration For OLRE Form

• To fill the OLRE form, affix all the required documents such as address proof, PAN of the establishment, date of establishment of the firm/company/establishment, etc.
• If the firm is established as a factory, the employer must provide the details of the factory, manager, or occupier.
• Further, you have to select the fundamental (primary) business activity from the drop-down menu.

1. In the case of a factory, industries are listed in Schedule I. 
2. In the case of a Non-factory Establishment, you will see the list of classes of establishments notified.

• Next, select license details from the drop-down menu,

1. Fill in the details of each license available for an establishment while filling out the application.
2. If any license type is not available, select the “Others” (in case of mandatory fields).
3. If the license is chosen as an address proof, you must check the box against which said license should be selected.
4. Providing at least one license is mandatory.

• If you comprise any license under the Cooperative Society Act, then an additional field concerning whether it is working with the assistance of Power Will appears. 
• If the employer comprises the ESIC, the employer needs to mention it. If not, then it would be treated as the employer not including the ESIC code while filling the application.
• Further, select the type of ownership. 
• After this, fill in the details concerning the owner under the owner’s details particulars (Employer according to Section 2(e) and for Form 5A).
• For Form 5A, you are required to submit the details concerning “Lessee” if the establishment is on rent.
• Submit the employment details, including the number of employees, number of excluded employees, and the date on which employment strength exceeds.
• Filling in the bank details is optional.
• If your establishment consists of branches, fill in the details of the same.
• After filling in all the details, click on the preview. 
• Print the page before saving the details, as once you save the information after review, editing is not allowed.
• Finally, you are required to affix all the documents as needed.
• After affixing the documents, click on “I agree all the uploaded documents are verified at our end” and submit the Form.
• As you submit the form, verify all the details and if you are satisfied with the same, enter the captcha and click to generate the PIN.
• Lastly, enter the received PIN and click on the declaration, and press “Submit.”
• After submission, a confirmation message will be sent to you, and download the PDF for reference.

NOTE- On filling/affixing inaccurate information or detail, the candidate will be responsible for it, and action will be taken against the candidate according to the Act’s provisions.

From the process of EPF registration, one can understand how comprehensive it is to meet compliance requirements of the same. If you are looking for a reliable consultant to take care of each aspect of the EPF registration process - you have got us!

No worries, because you can reach out to us to meet your corporate compliance needs with a snap of the fingers. Also, what could be better than the assistance of an experienced and reliable consultant - JR Compliance. 

Later in this blog, we will discuss our role in EPF registration. 

For now, with the knowledge of how to complete EPF registration, let’s move to how to withdraw pension under contribution in EPF.

How to Withdraw Pension Under Contribution in EPF | How to Withdraw PF?

It is to be noted that, if an employee is initiating a PF withdrawal, you need to merge all your PF accounts. Also, you can only withdraw PF if the service duration is below 10 years. However, if you are withdrawing PF funds after the duration of 10 years, the employee will be eligible to receive pension benefits after retirement.

Finally, let’s discuss how to withdraw PF funds, so, PF withdrawal can be done through two different processes or methods as recognized by EPFO -

1. EPF Withdrawal With Aadhar Card | UAN Login

• Universal Account Number (UAN login) will be activated. 
• Required details such as Aadhar card number, bank details, and other information need to be provided.
• Form 11 will be submitted to the employer.
• A composite Claim Form (Aadhar) will be submitted to the concerned office along with a canceled cheque. 

2. EPF Withdrawal Without Aadhar Card | UAN Login Without Aadhar Card

• Two replicas of 15 G or 15 H forms will be submitted.
• If the duration of service is below 5 years, submit the PAN details.
• Provide details of UAN (UAN login), however, if not available, the PF account number will be submitted.
• A Composite Claim Form (non-Aadhar) will be submitted along with a canceled cheque. 

The above-mentioned are two processes you can follow to initiate an EPF withdrawal, all you would need is the availability of documents at the time of the withdrawal.

Before moving forward to how to download EPF passbook, we would like to clarify one thing, which is the meaning of the Composite Claim Form.

A Composite Claim Form is launched by EPFO as a consolidated settlement of claim form to initiate an EPF withdrawal. Filing the Composite Claim Form is as important as providing required information or documents.

Since how to withdraw EPF pension under EPF is clear, let’s move to how to download EPF passbook.

How to Download EPF Passbook | EPF Passbook Login |  EPF Claim Status

To download the EPF passbook or to check the EPF claim status, follow the below steps -

• Visit the PF portal for EPF passbook login and for EPF claim status.
• Provide the Universal Account Number and password.
• Passbook will be available after 6 hours of registration on the Unified Member Portal.

With these three steps, one can seamlessly download the EPF passbook and EPF claim status, however, it is to be noted that this procedure is only applicable to the members who are registered under the Unified Member Portal. 

While if you want to know the brief about what an EPF passbook will include, then the answer is easy, it will include entries that are reconciled at EPFO offices. 

So, there you go, with how to download EPF passbook and how to check EPF claim status, let’s move to our next topic which is how to check EPF balance. 

How to Check EPF Balance | How to Check EPF Balance Online | PF Balance Check

The process to check EPF balance is the same as how to download EPF passbook, although, it might include a few more steps, which we will discuss here -

• Visit the PF portal for EPF passbook login and for EPF claim status.
• Provide the Universal Account Number and password.
• Passbook will be available after 6 hours of registration on the Unified Member Portal.
• Once the passbook is available, your EPF balance will be visible on the same. 

You can also use the Umang app for PF balance check, which will allow you to perform activities such as checking EPF claim status, raising EPF claim, including tracking the claim status. 

As a matter of fact, understanding how to check EPF balance is seamless, including how to withdraw pension under the contribution of EPF - a major problem lies in EPF registration because an employer has to keep several things in mind.

Thus, the fundamental purpose of creating a blog is to make the life of an employer or employee uncomplicated by providing solutions to every concern. 

Moreover, to make EPF registration effortless, we - JR Compliance has come up with an integrated approach, to provide the utmost convenience to our clients. For a better understanding of our role in EPF registration, refer to the next section -

How Will We Make EPF Registration Seamless?

• Our EPF registration consultant will assist you throughout the online EPF registration process to avoid inaccuracy.
• We will assist you in documentation to ensure the appropriate submission of documents because, as mentioned, the submission of inaccurate information can result in an action against the applicant under provisions of the Act.
• Our EPF registration consultants guarantee to provide you with complete assistance in fulfilling eligibility criteria as prescribed. 
• We guarantee to ensure proper follow-ups and acknowledgment by directly coordinating with officials.
• To maintain realistic expectations, we will provide you with complete clarity regarding the registration process. 
• We will provide the most satisfactory solution to all your concerns regarding EPF online registration.

Facing issues in withdrawing the EPF fund? 

Looking for someone to assist you in downloading the EPF passbook? 

No problem, we have got you covered!

For us, our client satisfaction is of utmost priority and we are working to provide the best to our clients, that’s why we extend our support to you, even after EPF registration.

Be it assistance during the registration process or after registration - we guarantee to provide you with the best.

Therefore, our experts will be available to you whenever required during and after registration to ensure that you get uninterrupted services. 

Conclusion

Hope your all questions are answered, from how to file an EPF registration to how to download EPF passbook, and how to check EPF balance and EPF claim status - we have tried to cover each question that might occur in the mind of an employee and employees. 

Although being a professional we understood that an EPF registration could be comprehensive for a layman, that’s why you need a professional to take care of your compliance requirements.

We - JR Compliance has been providing compliance services since 2013, to globally recognized brands such as Softbank, Troy, PD Cables, Newline, and more. And as our motto - born to comply, we are serving the best to our clients because you make us who we are right now. 

 Get in touch with our experts for a free consultation, right now. Be it BIS certification, DPCC registration, EPR authorization, including corporate compliance services such as Pvt ltd registration, LLP registration, and more - consider it done.