Here are some of the very important things you should know about the Employee Provident Fund e-passbook facility.
1. One Mobile number
One mobile number can be used for one registration only. However you can change this mobile number later if you want , so incase your mobile number changes, no worries.
2. One EPF account per establishment
You will be able to view only one EPF account details per establishment, means if you have two EPF accounts under Maharashtra (suppose you had a job in Mumbai and Pune) , then you will not be able to view both of them, In that case you will need to first transfer one EPF to another. However you can view your EPF account details which is under different establishments like say one in Karnataka , Maharashtra and Delhi (suppose you had 3 jobs)
3. Total 10 EPF accounts can be viewed
A total of 10 EPF account details can be viewed under different establishments. I think its very fair logic, because in all probabilities, a person will not have more than 10 EPF accounts in several establishment, if he has, no one can help him anyways
4. Inoperative & Settled EPF accounts details not available
If someone’s EPF account is inoperative (it happens if you leave the job and for 3 yrs there is no activity in your EPF account, even the interest will not be credited to that account), or the account is settled (you withdrew the amount already) , then your details will not be available. Tip – You can file a RTI application for your EPF queries and get them answered.
5. Details on request if you left the job before Mar 2012
If you have left your job before Mar 2012, then your EPF account may not be seeing any credit in past few months, in that case he will not be able to see the Employee provident fund details immediately, but it can be requested on the website (you will see a link) and that will be uploaded in few days.
6. Available only if employer has uploaded Electronic Challan Cum Return of May 2012 onwards
This facility is available only to those whose employers have uploaded the Electronic Challan cum return for May 2012 onwards, Electronic Challan is a way of submitting the employee’s contribution to EPFO online, which is recently introduced by EPF organisation .
7. No need to remember user id and password
There is no user id and password, all you need is your mobile number, document name and document number, which we all remember anyways. At the time of downloading your EPF Balance passbook, you will need to generate the PIN online which will be sent to your phone, this will reduce the chances of fraud
8. Private EPF trusts not eligible
Those employees who have their EPF with private PF trusts (or called as establishments exempted under the EPF Scheme) will not enjoy the benefit of this e-passbook facility, hence they will not be able to check their employee provident fund balance online using this.
9. Use multiple id’s to register
You can add several documents like Driving license, passport, ration card etc in the same account, this way you dont need to remember just one document id and its number, you can login using any of those which you are carrying at that time.
10. Details and Entries in the EPF passbook
Month and date wise transactions made in member’s account will be displayed in the pass book from the year for which the annual accounts were updated for the establishment for the first time since computerisation of the concerned field office. For example if the first annual accounts of member’s establishment were updated for the year 2008-09 by the concerned field office after its computerisation, the pass book will display the opening balance for year 2008-09 and all transactions thereafter.
11. Error while Downloading the passbook
While downloading your EPF passbook, you might see an error saying “YOU HAVE ENTERED INVALID MEMBERS ID OR NAME”.
Please check whether you have entered the correct code & account number and/or name. In case yes, the name may not be matching as per the record in epfo. In such case the member has to contact the concerned epfo office. At times some entries from EPF passbook might be missing, in which case, the member should check first with the employer whether the returns for the month/year related to the missing entry has been submitted by him to the concerned epfo office. In case yes then he/she can contact the concerned epfo office regarding the missing details.
12. Not getting the PIN on your mobile ?
Ideally you should get the PIN on your mobile as soon as you click on “Get PIN” , but if you dont get it fast, it means the lines are busy and you should wait for more time and re-try !