EPF subscribers with multiple accounts can transfer funds through the EPFO portal or Umang app to maintain continuous services and tax benefits. According to reports from Mint, the process involves visiting the EPFO's official portal, navigating to online services, and selecting the 'One Member-One EPF Account (Transfer Request)' option. Members must fill in their UAN number and select the establishment they want to transfer funds from, then submit and verify with OTP before tracking status through the 'Track Claim Status' option. In 2026, the vast majority of EPF claims are filed digitally through the EPFO Member Portal and Umang app for faster processing and transparency. As per Zee News, employees can log in to the EPFO member portal to check their employment history by navigating to 'View' and clicking on 'Service History' to see the list of PF member IDs linked to past and current employers.
EPF accounts become inoperative after three consecutive years without contributions following retirement or reaching age 55, whichever is later, or after moving abroad. As reported by Mint, retired members can continue earning interest until age 58, after which accounts become inoperative. The EPFO currently manages 31.83 lakh inoperative accounts worth ₹10,181 crore as of March 31, 2025, excluding international workers. Members between 55-58 years who are not retired can recover their accounts by ensuring monthly contributions from current employers are directed to existing EPF accounts, either online or offline. The recovery process involves linking UAN to active mobile number, updating KYC details including Aadhaar, bank account and PAN, or visiting nearest EPFO branch for claim filing.
Subscribers with two or more EPF accounts can resolve duplicate issues through two primary approaches. As reported by Mint, the first method involves emailing uanepf@epfindia.gov.in with both UANs, allowing EPFO to verify and block the older account before filing a transfer claim to move funds to the active account. Alternatively, subscribers can request transfer through their employer, where EPFO's system will deactivate the old UAN and link the old Member ID to the active account automatically during routine checks. In 2026, even minor discrepancies can trigger automated rejection of EPF claims, making proper UAN management crucial for successful transfers. As per Zee News, employees can transfer funds by providing the previous member ID or old UAN to fetch the previous account's details, choosing the desired account, clicking on 'Get OTP', entering the OTP sent to registered mobile number, and monitoring transfer status through 'Track Claim Status' with processing usually taking 10 to 15 working days.
For FY26, the Centre ratified EPFO's suggestion of 8.25% interest rate for both EPF and VPF, with interest credits completed on 15 July 2026. As reported by Mint, salaried individuals are eligible to open EPF accounts when basic pay and dearness allowance are up to ₹15,000, with voluntary provident fund (VPF) available for those with basic pay exceeding ₹15,000 per month. In 2026, taxability of EPF withdrawal is primarily determined by tenure of service, with full tax exemption offered only after completing five years of continuous service. Linking your PAN (Permanent Account Number) to your UAN is essential for managing Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on premature withdrawals exceeding ₹50,000.
