UAN (Universal Account Number)

What is UAN (Universal Account Number)?

Universal Account Number (UAN) is a unique 12-digit identification number allotted by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to every employee who contributes to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF). The UAN acts as an umbrella for multiple Member Identification Numbers (Member IDs) allotted to an individual by different employers throughout their career.

Key Features:

• The UAN stays constant throughout an employee’s professional life, regardless of changes in jobs.
• Every time an employee joins a new organization, a new Member ID is created and linked to the existing UAN.
• It helps employees track and manage all their PF accounts in one place.
• UAN is linked with Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, making PF transfers, withdrawals, and balance checks simpler and easier online.
• Employees can activate their UAN on the EPFO portal to access their PF passbook and related services.

Example

Riya has worked with three different companies over the years. Each employer allotted her a different PF account number (Member ID). However, all these accounts are linked to the same UAN. By using her UAN, Riya can view the total balance across these accounts and easily transfer funds from old to new PF accounts when she changes jobs.

Why UAN Matters?

UAN simplifies Provident Fund management by unifying multiple accounts. It empowers employees with better control and transparency over their retirement savings and eases compliance for employers.

Tip: Always provide your existing UAN to your new employer to ensure uninterrupted linkages and seamless PF management.