A PF deduction appears on your salary slip every month, but how do you know it has actually reached your provident fund account? And why does your balance sometimes appear lower than the amount you expected?
You can check your EPF balance using the official EPFO passbook website, the UMANG app, a missed call or an SMS. The passbook gives a transaction-by-transaction record; the missed-call and SMS facilities give a quick balance update without signing in.
There's one important difference: without UAN login does not mean without a UAN. The phone-based services still use the UAN linked to your registered mobile number. If you're unable to find your UAN, use the EPFO member portal's Know Your UAN facility or ask your employer.
EPF balance enquiry at a glance
Missed-call number
9966044425
Dial from your UAN-registered mobile
SMS number
7738299899
Send EPFOHO UAN for English
FY 2025–26 EPF interest
8.25%
Approved rate; individual passbook credits may appear later
Use only official EPFO or UMANG services. Checking your balance does not require sharing an OTP, UAN password, Aadhaar number or bank details with someone on the phone. EPFO warns members against requests for such information or payment.
Four official ways to check your EPF balance
| Method | Login required? | Best for | What you receive |
|---|---|---|---|
Yes, UAN and password | Checking detailed contributions and interest | Member-ID-wise statement | |
Mobile verification / app authentication | Viewing passbook on a smartphone | EPF passbook in app | |
Missed call 9966044425 | No password | Quick balance enquiry | SMS with available PF balance and last contribution |
SMS 7738299899 | No password | Balance by text message | SMS with balance and contribution details |
For a missing deposit, audit or salary deduction dispute, use the full EPFO passbook rather than relying only on an SMS total. It shows the member ID and available transaction history needed for reconciliation.
Method 1: EPF balance check through the EPFO passbook portal
The EPFO passbook is generally the most useful option when you need to check whether each month's contribution has been posted.
How to view and download the EPF passbook
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Open the official portal
Visit https://passbook.epfindia.gov.in/MemberPassBook/login rather than an unofficial result or third-party app.
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Sign in securely
Enter your Universal Account Number (UAN), password and the captcha shown.
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Select the member ID
If you've worked for more than one employer, check the relevant member ID under your UAN.
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Read the entries
Review employee contributions, employer EPF contributions, EPS-related information where displayed, withdrawals, transfers and interest.
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Save your statement
Download or retain the available passbook record for reconciliation or a grievance.
Example: You worked at Company A until March and joined Company B in April. Your latest member ID may show only Company B's contributions. Check Company A's member ID too; its balance may remain separate until a transfer is completed. A smaller amount in the new member ID doesn't automatically mean the old money disappeared.
If the passbook page is temporarily unavailable, retry through the official portal or UMANG. A service interruption is not evidence that your contributions have been lost.
Method 2: Check PF balance in the UMANG app
UMANG is a government digital-services app that includes EPFO employee services. It may be more convenient if you're using a phone and don't want to download your statement on a desktop.
- Install or open the genuine UMANG application or visit UMANG's official website .
- Search for EPFO, then open Employee Centric Services.
- Select View Passbook (screen names may vary slightly with app updates).
- Complete the required UAN/mobile authentication or OTP verification.
- Choose the relevant account and review the available balance details.
If you have recently activated a UAN, check that the mobile number linked to it is usable. EPFO also provides UAN activation through UMANG using Aadhaar-based face authentication where applicable. See the official member portal Official ↗ for the current instructions.
Method 3: Check your PF balance by missed call — no UAN password needed
This method is useful when you need a quick figure and cannot sign in to the passbook portal.
Missed-call PF balance enquiry
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Check your registered mobile
Use the phone number linked to your activated UAN.
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Confirm the necessary KYC
EPFO's missed-call instructions require at least one of bank account, Aadhaar or PAN to be seeded with the UAN.
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Dial 9966044425
Place a missed call from the registered mobile; the call disconnects automatically.
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Read the response
EPFO sends the balance and most recent contribution details by SMS, when the account and mobile records match.
The missed-call service is free from EPFO. If you do not receive a reply, do not keep calling random numbers advertised as EPFO support. First check whether your registered mobile, UAN activation and KYC information are up to date.
Official reference: EPFO missed-call instructions Official ↗.
Method 4: Check your EPF balance by SMS
Open your phone's message app and send the following from your UAN-registered mobile number:
To: 7738299899
Message: EPFOHO UANEnglish is the default. To request Hindi, for example, send:
EPFOHO UAN HINOther supported codes include MAR for Marathi, BEN for Bengali, TAM for Tamil, TEL for Telugu and KAN for Kannada. The letters UAN in this message are literal text: you do not need to replace them with your 12-digit UAN number.
The SMS facility does not require a passbook password. Your UAN must be activated and linked to the mobile number from which you send the request. Operator SMS charges may depend on your mobile plan.
Official reference: EPFO short-code SMS guide Official ↗.
Can you check PF balance without a UAN?
This phrase can mean two different things:
- You know your UAN but don't want to log in: use the registered-mobile missed-call or SMS services.
- You don't know your UAN at all: first retrieve it. The EPFO member portal Official ↗ offers Know Your UAN. Your employer may also provide it on your salary slip or in the payroll records.
A random PF member ID or PAN number is not a substitute for the UAN-registered mobile when using EPFO's SMS or missed-call enquiry service. If the employer maintains PF with an exempted establishment trust, obtain its trust statement from the employer as explained below.
How to understand your EPF passbook entries
The amount you see on your salary slip is only one part of your provident fund accounting. Most covered employees contribute a prescribed percentage of eligible wages, while the employer's contribution may be divided between EPF and the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), subject to eligibility and applicable limits.
| Entry | What it represents | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
Employee share | Employee contribution deducted from eligible wages | Matches salary slip and credited month |
Employer EPF share | Employer's contribution credited to EPF | May be less than the employer's total PF-related contribution |
EPS contribution | Pension-scheme portion of the employer contribution, if applicable | It is not part of the EPF withdrawal balance |
Interest | Interest credited for the relevant financial year | Rate and credit date; may not appear immediately at year-end |
Transfer-in | Balance moved from a previous PF member ID | Old and new member IDs and service records |
Withdrawal/advance | Amount debited against a settled claim | Claim number, amount and settlement date |
Worked example: why 12% + 12% doesn't always appear as EPF money
Assume an employee contributes ₹1,800 and the employer contributes ₹1,800 for a month under the typical 12% structure on ₹15,000 of eligible wages. If the employee is covered by EPS and ₹1,250 of the employer contribution is allocated to pension, the employer's remaining EPF share would be ₹550.
| Illustrative monthly record | Amount |
|---|---|
| Employee EPF contribution | ₹1,800 |
| Employer EPF contribution | ₹550 |
| Employer contribution allocated to EPS | ₹1,250 |
| Total credited to EPF before interest | ₹2,350 |
This is a hypothetical EPS-eligible example, not a universal calculation. Actual splits depend on your coverage, eligible wages, pension status and applicable scheme rules. Don't treat the absence of the EPS amount from your EPF balance as a missing employer deposit.
EPF interest rate for FY 2025–26: 8.25%
On 2 March 2026, EPFO's Central Board of Trustees recommended an interest rate of 8.25% for FY 2025–26. The rate was subsequently approved and notified, with EPFO instructed to credit interest to member accounts. The same rate had applied in FY 2024–25.
A key practical detail: the interest rate being approved does not mean every member's passbook displays the credit on the same day. Posting can occur after the government decision and processing by EPFO. A missing interest line should be examined separately from an employer's missing monthly contribution.
Do not assume the FY 2026–27 interest rate is also 8.25% merely because FY 2025–26 was. The next year's rate must be declared under the applicable process.
Sources: Ministry of Labour's EPFO announcement and Government broadcaster report of the July 2026 notification .
Why does your EPF balance look lower than expected?
A low or outdated balance does not always mean there is a problem. Identify which part of the record differs from your expectation before raising a complaint.
| What you notice | Possible reason | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
Last month's contribution is missing | Employer has yet to file/pay, or posting is delayed | Match payroll records, ask HR for ECR/payment confirmation, and recheck |
Interest for the year isn't showing | Annual credit hasn't posted to your account | Check the declared rate and revisit the passbook; follow up if prolonged |
Balance decreased after a job change | New member ID doesn't include the previous balance yet | Check the old member ID and transfer claim status |
Employer share seems too small | Some employer contribution was allocated to EPS | Compare EPF and pension portions instead of adding them all to EPF |
No EPFO passbook is available | Employer may operate an exempted PF trust | Request the official trust ledger/statement from the employer |
SMS gives no result | Wrong mobile, inactive UAN or missing KYC linkage | Update UAN/mobile details and retry |
Claimed withdrawal not received | Claim settled, bank credit delayed or payment failed | Check claim status and bank details, then raise an EPFO grievance |
What if your employer deducted PF but did not deposit it?
Compare three documents for the same wage month: the salary slip, the EPFO member passbook, and the employer's evidence of contribution filing and payment. A timing difference can arise when the ECR has been submitted or paid but the member ledger is not yet updated.
If a contribution remains missing, ask the employer for the wage-month ECR/payment details and a written explanation. Keep the relevant salary slips. If the issue is unresolved, raise a grievance through EPFiGMS and attach the evidence, quoting the UAN, establishment information and relevant months. Avoid publishing personal PF details in public comments.
Changed jobs? Check all your PF accounts and transfer status
A UAN can have more than one member ID, corresponding to different employments. Not every historical balance is immediately merged when you join a new organisation.
Check each member ID and note the closing balance at the previous employer. If you submitted a transfer, inspect the transfer claim's status rather than assuming a missing entry is lost money. For a transfer initiated through the portal, see EPFO's official transfer guidance Official ↗.
For funds maintained with an exempted trust, transfer processing can involve trust-side action before the new member record is updated. An employer or EPFO may need additional information when multiple UANs or unmatched service records exist.
What if your company maintains an exempted PF trust?
Some establishments operate recognised, exempted provident fund trusts. In such cases the EPFO member passbook may not show the trust-held EPF balance, although the employee remains part of the relevant provident fund framework and pension information may be handled through EPFO.
Ask HR or the trust administrator for the contribution statement, opening balance, interest and withdrawals. If you change employers, check whether the trust has completed the required transfer and provided the supporting transfer documentation.
EPFO's member information booklet Official ↗ specifically explains that exempted-establishment members should contact their establishment for PF statements.
EPF balance showing wrong details: a practical troubleshooting checklist
- ○ Use the official portal, and verify the UAN and member ID.
- ○ Match salary-slip PF deductions with passbook contributions for the same wage months.
- ○ Check old member IDs for untransferred balances.
- ○ Separate EPS pension allocation from EPF savings.
- ○ Check the date through which interest has actually been credited.
- ○ Confirm that your mobile number and KYC are linked to the correct UAN.
- ○ Ask HR for contribution-payment evidence if a month is missing.
- ○ Raise an EPFiGMS grievance if the issue cannot be resolved with records.
Save your passbook before and after a correction. A clear chronology of the error, communication and corrected entries is more useful than simply reporting that the balance is wrong.
How to raise an EPFO grievance when the balance is not updated
- Visit the official EPFiGMS portal .
- Select the grievance-registration option and identify yourself using the available member credentials.
- State the specific problem: missing employer contribution, unposted transfer, incorrect member details or interest not reflected.
- Mention the relevant wage month(s), member ID, employer name and amounts. Attach salary slips or account statements where the portal allows.
- Save the registration number, monitor the response and provide further information if requested.
A grievance is not an automatic order to credit a disputed amount. EPFO may need to examine employer filings, payments and trust records before it can resolve the issue.
Is it safe to use third-party PF balance apps and websites?
For balance enquiries, the safest route is the official EPFO website or UMANG. Be suspicious of services offering to reveal a balance if you share your UAN password, OTP, Aadhaar credentials or banking details. The EPFO passbook login itself warns that EPFO does not telephone members asking them to deposit money or share personal details.
Do not confuse a balance enquiry with a PF withdrawal application. Checking your EPF balance should not require a payment to an agent.
What should you do after checking your EPF balance?
If all entries match, save the latest statement and review it periodically alongside your payslip. If you changed jobs, check whether your old member ID has been transferred. If you're planning a withdrawal, first examine your claim eligibility and current bank KYC; a balance shown on the passbook is not necessarily the amount you can withdraw immediately.
You can also use TaxQue's EPF calculator for an estimate of long-term accumulation and our salary calculator to understand PF deductions. For employers who need help maintaining compliant monthly records, see PF registration and PF return filing.
Final takeaway: Use the EPFO passbook or UMANG when you need details, and the missed-call or SMS facilities when you simply need a quick balance enquiry. If something looks wrong, reconcile the member ID, month and contribution type before assuming that the funds are missing.
Check EPF Passbook on Official EPFO Portal
Explore TaxQue PF Compliance Services
Official references and last-checked sources
- EPFO official passbook and enquiry numbers Official ↗
- EPFO missed-call instructions Official ↗
- EPFO SMS instructions and language codes Official ↗
- EPFO member UAN portal Official ↗
- EPFO employee information booklet and UMANG Official ↗
- EPFO 2025–26 interest-rate recommendation, Government of India
- EPF interest notification update, public broadcaster
- EPFiGMS grievance portal
Content checked: 19 October 2026. Verify the live service flow and any new government notifications before publication or financial action.
