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EPFO
5 min. Read
|Nov 10, 2025 5:07 PM

EPFO Simplifies Merging Multiple PF Accounts into One UAN

Sahiba Sharma
By Sahiba Sharma
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For millions of Indian professionals, job mobility often leads to a common administrative headache: managing multiple EPFO accounts.

While the Universal Account Number (UAN) is intended to be a single, permanent identifier throughout an employee’s career, clerical errors or the employee’s failure to disclose the existing UAN can often result in multiple PF Member IDs or even duplicate UANs.

To simplify retirement planning and ensure uninterrupted interest accrual, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has streamlined the process, allowing members to consolidate their entire retirement corpus under a single, active UAN using the “One Member – One EPF Account” facility on its online portal.

This move is crucial, as having old, non-contributing accounts can lead to them becoming ‘inoperative,’ halting the interest earnings on those funds.

EPFO Account Merger: Prerequisites for a Seamless Consolidation

Before initiating the merger request, subscribers must ensure they meet certain essential prerequisites for a smooth, digital experience:

  1. Active UAN: You must activate the Universal Account Number intended to be the primary, active account on the EPFO Member Portal.
  2. Complete e-KYC: The member must seed and verify their Know Your Customer (KYC) details—specifically the Aadhaar and Permanent Account Number (PAN)—against the active UAN.
  3. Updated Bank Details: The employer must update and verify the current bank account details, including the IFSC code, on the EPFO portal.
  4. Date of Exit (DOE): The previous employer must have correctly updated the ‘Date of Exit’ for all previous employments in the EPFO database. The EPFO cannot process the online transfer request without a DOE (Date of Exit).

Step-by-Step Guide: The Online Merger Process by EPFO

The most common method for merging multiple PF accounts into one UAN is through the EPFO’s Unified Member Portal.

1. Log In to the Member Portal:

  • Visit the official EPFO Unified Member Portal and log in using your active UAN, password, and the Captcha code.

2. Access the Transfer Request:

  • Navigate to the ‘Online Services‘ tab on the top menu bar.
  • Select the option ‘One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request).’

3. Verify Personal and Employment Details:

  • The system will display your personal details, which should be thoroughly verified against your Aadhaar data.
  • In Part A of the application, you must fill in the details of the previous PF account that you wish to merge. You can retrieve these details by entering your old PF Account Number (Member ID).

4. Attestation and OTP Authorization:

  • In Part C, you will choose whether your Present Employer or your Previous Employer should attest to the transfer claim. Selecting the present employer is usually recommended for faster processing.
  • Click the ‘Get OTP’ button. An OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with your UAN.
  • Enter the OTP and click ‘Submit’ to finalize the request.

5. Submission and Tracking:

  • A tracking ID will be generated upon submission. The system will also generate the requisite Form 13 (Transfer Request Form).
  • While the process is online, we generally advise you to download and print the signed copy of Form 13 and submit it to your chosen employer (current or previous) within 10 days so they can approve the request digitally.
  • You can monitor the status of the transfer under the ‘Online Services’ tab by clicking on ‘Track Claim Status.’

Resolving Duplicate UAN Issues

The EPFO provides a specific route for consolidation in cases where it has inadvertently allotted an employee two different UANs.

The employee should contact the EPFO to have the EPFO deactivate the older UAN.

  • The Email Route: Send an email to uanepf@epfindia.gov.in clearly stating your current and previous UANs, your name, and contact details.
  • Deactivation: EPFO will verify the details, block the previous UAN, and link the old PF Member IDs to the active UAN.
  • Fund Transfer: Once the EPFO deactivates the old UAN and links the accounts, the member can use the standard online process described above to transfer the funds from the previous Member ID (which is now under the active UAN) into the current PF account.

The Benefits of Unification and Timeline

Consolidating your multiple PF accounts offers significant advantages.

It ensures that you track your entire retirement savings under one profile, eliminating the complexity of managing multiple passbooks.

Most importantly, a unified account ensures uninterrupted interest earnings on your entire corpus.

Furthermore, it maintains a continuous service record, which is crucial for making the PF withdrawal tax-free after five years of total service.

The entire process, from submitting the request to the final transfer of funds into the active account, typically takes 10 to 20 working days.

This timeline is contingent on the prompt verification and approval by the chosen employer and the respective EPFO field office.

Members are strongly advised to actively track their claim status until they complete the transfer.

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