by EPF balance check is easy in 2026, and you do not always need internet or a password. You can check your provident fund balance with a missed call, an SMS, the UMANG app, DigiLocker or the EPFO member passbook portal. EPFO has also credited interest at 8.25% for FY 2025-26, so this is a good time to confirm that the interest has reached your account.
EPF Balance Check 2026: 5 Methods at a Glance
| Method | What you need | Internet? |
|---|---|---|
| Missed call | Call 9966044425 from UAN-registered mobile | No |
| SMS | “EPFOHO UAN ENG” to 7738299899 | No |
| UMANG app | UAN + OTP | Yes |
| EPFO passbook portal | UAN + password + OTP | Yes |
| DigiLocker | DigiLocker login + UAN | Yes |
Before You Start: Activate and Link Your UAN
All methods work only if your Universal Account Number (UAN) is active and linked with your Aadhaar, bank account and mobile number. Your employer’s HR team can give you the UAN, and you can activate it on the EPFO member portal. If your UAN was activated very recently, wait about 24 hours before checking the passbook.
Method 1: EPF Balance Check by Missed Call
- Call 9966044425 from your UAN-registered mobile number.
- The call disconnects automatically after two rings. It is free.
- Within a few minutes you get an SMS with your member ID, last contribution and total PF balance.
This works only if your UAN is linked with Aadhaar, bank and PAN (KYC seeded).
Method 2: EPF Balance Check by SMS
- Type EPFOHO UAN ENG, replacing “UAN” with your 12-digit UAN.
- Send it to 7738299899 from your registered mobile.
- You will receive your balance and last contribution by SMS.
Replace ENG with HIN, PUN, TAM or other language codes to get the reply in that language. Malayalam (MAL) is also supported.
Method 3: UMANG App
- Install UMANG and register with your mobile number.
- Search for EPFO and open View Passbook.
- Enter your UAN and the OTP.
- Select the member ID of your employer to see the passbook with employee share, employer share and pension contribution.
UMANG also lets you raise claims, track claim status and activate UAN.
Method 4: EPFO Member Passbook Portal
- Go to the official EPFO member passbook portal.
- Log in with UAN, password and captcha, then verify with OTP.
- Choose your member ID and click View Passbook.
- Download the passbook as PDF if needed.
Method 5: DigiLocker
Log in to DigiLocker, search for “EPFO”, open the provident fund passbook and enter your UAN with OTP. The passbook gets saved in your DigiLocker for later use.
EPF Interest Rate for FY 2025-26
EPFO kept the interest rate at 8.25% for FY 2025-26, the same as the previous two years, and the government ratified it in 2026. Interest is calculated monthly on the running balance but credited once a year. If your passbook does not show the credit yet, it may still be in process for your establishment.
Common Problems and Fixes
- No SMS after missed call: Your KYC (Aadhaar, bank, PAN) may not be linked. Complete KYC on the member portal.
- Passbook not opening: Exempted establishments (private PF trusts) keep their own records; ask your employer.
- Name or date of birth mismatch: File a joint declaration correction request online with your employer’s approval.
- Two UANs: Transfer the old account to the current UAN through the One Member One EPF Account option.
Related Guides
Keep your Aadhaar and PAN details correct, as most PF problems start there. See our guides to update Aadhaar online and apply for a PAN card. For workers without PF, the Atal Pension Yojana is a good retirement option.
EPF Balance Check on Mobile: Step-by-Step
The quickest EPF balance check from a smartphone is through the UMANG app or the passbook portal in a mobile browser. Keep your UAN and the Aadhaar-linked mobile handy for the OTP. If you only need the total balance, the missed call or SMS method is even faster and works on a basic phone.
Understanding Your EPF Passbook
When you do an EPF balance check on the passbook, you will see several columns. Here is what they mean:
- Employee share: 12% of your basic pay plus DA deducted from salary.
- Employer share (EPF): The part of the employer’s 12% that goes to your EPF account, usually 3.67% of wages.
- Pension (EPS): 8.33% of wages up to the ₹15,000 wage ceiling, i.e. up to ₹1,250 a month, goes to the Employees’ Pension Scheme. This is not part of the withdrawable EPF balance.
- Interest: Added once a year at the declared rate.
- Transfers and withdrawals: Shown as separate entries.
So, during an EPF balance check, do not be surprised if the employer share looks smaller than your own contribution; part of it goes to pension.
How to Activate UAN
- Get your UAN from your employer or salary slip.
- Visit the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal and choose “Activate UAN”.
- Enter UAN, Aadhaar, name, date of birth and mobile number.
- Verify with the Aadhaar OTP and set a password.
- Log in after a few hours and complete KYC.
New employees can also generate and activate UAN using face authentication through the UMANG app, as introduced by EPFO.
KYC Documents to Link for Smooth EPF Balance Check
- Aadhaar (mandatory)
- PAN (important to avoid higher TDS on withdrawals)
- Bank account with IFSC
- Mobile number linked to Aadhaar
After you add bank and PAN details on the portal, the employer approves them digitally. Until approval, missed call and SMS services may not work properly.
Interest Credit Timeline
- Rate declared: EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees recommends the rate early in the year.
- Government approval: The Finance Ministry ratifies the rate; for FY 2025-26, the 8.25% rate was ratified in 2026.
- Credit to accounts: Interest is credited in batches after ratification. Your EPF balance check will show the interest line once your account is processed.
How EPF Interest Is Calculated
Interest is calculated on the monthly running balance, but credited once a year. For example, if you have ₹3 lakh at the start of the year and add ₹5,000 every month, interest is worked out on each month’s closing balance at 8.25%/12 and added together. Withdrawals during the year reduce the base for the following months. This is why your EPF balance check after the interest credit shows a figure slightly different from a simple percentage of your year-end balance.
EPF Balance Check Without UAN
If you do not know your UAN, look at your salary slip, ask HR, or use the “Know your UAN” option on the member portal with your Aadhaar-linked mobile. Once you have the UAN and it is KYC-linked, the missed call service on 9966044425 lets you do an EPF balance check without typing the UAN at all.
Transferring Old PF Accounts
When you change jobs, your UAN stays the same but a new member ID is created. Transfer your old PF balance to the new member ID through the “One Member – One EPF Account” option on the portal. After the transfer, a single EPF balance check shows your total savings, and your service is counted continuously for tax and pension purposes.
Withdrawing From EPF
You can withdraw partially for reasons such as medical treatment, marriage, education, house purchase or unemployment, subject to rules. Claims are filed online through the member portal or UMANG. Many advance claims are now settled automatically up to a higher limit, which means money can reach your bank within a few days. Always do an EPF balance check before filing a claim so you know how much is available.
EPF Balance Check: Languages Supported in SMS
The SMS service supports several Indian languages. Replace the last three letters in the message with the code for your language. Common codes include ENG (English), HIN (Hindi), MAL (Malayalam), TAM (Tamil), TEL (Telugu), KAN (Kannada), MAR (Marathi), GUJ (Gujarati), BEN (Bengali) and PUN (Punjabi). For example, send EPFOHO 100123456789 MAL to 7738299899 to get your balance in Malayalam.
Checking EPS Pension Contribution
Your pension contribution is shown in the passbook as a separate column. EPS helps you get a monthly pension after 58 years if you complete at least 10 years of service. You cannot withdraw EPS as a lump sum after 10 years of service, but you can get a scheme certificate when changing jobs. Keep track of EPS service years along with your regular balance.
What to Do if Employer Has Not Deposited PF
If your salary slip shows PF deduction but the passbook does not show the deposit for several months, first ask HR. If the issue continues, file a complaint on the EPFiGMS grievance portal with your UAN and the months missing. EPFO can take action against employers who deduct but do not deposit. Regular monthly checks help you spot such problems early.
Common Errors and Their Meaning
| Error | Meaning / fix |
|---|---|
| “UAN not activated” | Activate UAN on the member portal |
| “KYC not seeded” | Add Aadhaar, PAN, bank and get employer approval |
| “Passbook not available” | Exempted establishment or recent activation |
| “Mobile not registered” | Update mobile on member portal using Aadhaar OTP |
| No reply to SMS | Check format, wait, retry from registered number |
EPFO Helpline and Grievances
EPFO runs a toll-free helpline (1800-118-005) for member queries. For complaints, use the EPFiGMS portal, which gives a registration number to track the grievance. Regional offices also hold periodic “Nidhi Aapke Nikat” outreach camps where members can meet officials and solve problems directly.
Tips for Salaried Employees
- Do an EPF balance check every quarter, not just when changing jobs.
- Keep only one UAN for your whole career.
- Update your nominee details through e-nomination on the portal.
- Avoid withdrawing PF when changing jobs; transfer it instead to keep compounding.
- Consider Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) to save more at the same rate.
Real Example: Checking PF After a Job Change
Arun worked for four years at a Kochi IT company and then joined a firm in Bengaluru. His new salary slip showed the same UAN. When he did an EPF balance check through the missed call, the SMS showed only the new member ID with a small balance. He logged in to the passbook portal and saw two member IDs. He filed a transfer request for the old account through “One Member – One EPF Account”. About a month later, his EPF balance check showed the combined amount with interest, and his service period was counted from his first job.
E-Nomination: Why It Matters
Adding a nominee online makes it easy for your family to claim PF, pension and EDLI insurance in case of death. Log in to the member portal, choose e-nomination, add family members with Aadhaar and bank details, and e-sign using Aadhaar OTP. It takes only a few minutes and protects your family.
EDLI Insurance Benefit
EPF members are also covered under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance scheme. If a member dies during service, the nominee gets an insurance payment based on the member’s salary and PF balance, within the minimum and maximum limits set by EPFO. Employees do not pay any premium for this cover; the employer pays a small charge.
Tax on EPF
EPF contributions qualify for deduction under Section 80C in the old tax regime. Interest is tax-free in most cases, but interest on employee contributions above ₹2.5 lakh a year (₹5 lakh where the employer does not contribute) is taxable. Withdrawals before five years of continuous service may attract tax and TDS, especially if PAN is not linked.
EPF Balance Check: Quick Recap
To recap, an EPF balance check can be done in five ways: missed call to 9966044425, SMS to 7738299899, UMANG, the EPFO passbook portal and DigiLocker. Make sure your UAN is active and KYC is complete, check your passbook every few months, transfer old accounts when you change jobs, and add an e-nominee. A regular EPF balance check keeps your retirement savings on track.
EPF vs PPF vs NPS
| Feature | EPF | PPF | NPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who | Salaried employees in covered establishments | Any resident individual | Any citizen 18–70 |
| Return | 8.25% (FY 2025-26) | 7.1% (Oct–Dec 2026) | Market-linked |
| Employer contribution | Yes | No | Optional |
| Lock-in | Till retirement (partial withdrawals allowed) | 15 years | Till 60 (partial withdrawals allowed) |
For most salaried people, EPF is the base of retirement savings because of the employer’s matching contribution and the high, stable rate. PPF and NPS can be added for extra savings and tax planning. See current small savings rates in our post office interest rates guide.
Gulf Returnees and PF
Many Keralites work abroad for some years and then return. If you had a PF account before going abroad, your UAN stays valid. When you join an Indian employer again, give the same UAN to HR so the new member ID links to it. If you have stayed out of covered employment for a long time, check whether your old account still earns interest under current rules, and consider transferring it to your new account.
For Employers and HR Teams
HR teams should deposit PF by the 15th of the following month, approve employee KYC requests promptly and help new joiners activate UAN. Prompt action reduces complaints and helps employees see contributions on time.
Pension After Retirement: Quick Overview
At 58, members with at least 10 years of eligible service can claim a monthly pension from EPS. The amount depends on pensionable salary and service years, with a minimum pension set by the government. Members who leave before 10 years can withdraw the EPS amount or take a scheme certificate to carry service forward. Plan these choices early, because they affect your income after retirement.
Keep Records Safe
Download a PDF of your passbook every year and store it in a cloud folder. These records help when you file tax returns, apply for loans, or follow up on missing contributions with a former employer. They also make it easier for your family if they ever need to file a claim.
Small Habit, Big Benefit
Set a reminder on the first Sunday of every quarter to check your PF. It takes less than a minute with a missed call, and it helps you catch missing deposits, wrong KYC or duplicate accounts long before they become serious problems at the time of withdrawal or retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the missed call number for EPF balance check?
Give a missed call to 9966044425 from your UAN-registered mobile number.
How do I check PF balance by SMS?
Send EPFOHO UAN ENG to 7738299899, replacing UAN with your 12-digit UAN.
Can I check EPF balance without UAN?
The missed call service works with your registered mobile if your UAN is KYC-linked. Otherwise, get your UAN from your employer or the EPFO member portal.
What is the EPF interest rate for 2025-26?
EPFO has fixed 8.25% for FY 2025-26.
Why is my EPF passbook not updated?
Your employer may not have deposited the contribution yet, or your establishment may be exempted. New UANs also take about 24 hours to show the passbook.
Disclaimer: Service numbers and portals are as per EPFO in 2026. Use only official EPFO channels and never share your OTP.
