Your EPF passbook is the running record of every contribution your employer has deposited against your PF member ID, along with yearly interest, transfers and withdrawals. It is the first thing to check before you plan a withdrawal, a transfer or a tax return.
This guide is written by an independent site, not by EPFO. It walks through the UAN passbook login, explains each column in plain words, shows how to save a PDF copy and lists the usual reasons an entry looks wrong.
Quick facts
Passbook portal
Quick view
Passbook Lite inside the Unified Member PortalYou need
Activated UAN, password, captchaAvailable after
About 6 hours after first registrationShows
Only entries reconciled by the EPFO field officeNot for
Members of exempted establishments (private PF trusts)Mobile option
View Passbook in the government UMANG app
What the EPF passbook shows and who needs it
Every PF member ID linked to your UAN has its own passbook. If you have worked for three employers and never merged the accounts, you will see three member IDs in the drop down, each with its own pages. The member passbook lists monthly deposits, the opening balance for each year, interest credited at the end of the year, transfers in and out, and any advance or settlement paid.
You need it when you plan a withdrawal (to know the eligible amount), when you change jobs (to confirm the old balance moved), when your employer may have skipped deposits, and when you file income tax and need the interest figures. For a quick total only, the EPF balance check methods such as missed call and SMS are faster.
Before you try the UAN passbook login
- UAN activated. The passbook portal accepts only members registered on the Unified Member Portal. If you have never set a password, start with UAN activation.
- Wait about 6 hours. A new registration or a new password reaches the passbook portal roughly 6 hours later, so an error on the same day is normal.
- Password working. If the portal says invalid credentials, use password reset on the member portal, then wait again.
- Not an exempted trust. If your employer runs its own PF trust, the EPFO passbook will not show that period. Ask the trust for its annual statement.
EPFO passbook login, one screen at a time
- Open passbook.epfindia.gov.in in your browser. Check the address carefully; it must end in epfindia.gov.in.
- Type your 12 digit UAN and the member portal password.
- Enter the captcha exactly as shown, then complete an OTP to your registered mobile if the screen asks for one.
- On the next page, pick a member ID from the list. Each ID stands for one job.
- Choose View Passbook. Some screens offer an old and a new format; both carry the same entries.
- Scroll by financial year using the year tabs. The latest year is usually on top.
If you only want a summary, log in to the UAN login page of the member portal and open Passbook Lite under the View menu. It shows contributions, withdrawals and balance without the separate PF passbook online portal.
Reading every column of the member passbook
| Column | What it means |
|---|---|
| Wage month | The salary month the deposit belongs to, for example a deposit made in May for April wages shows April. |
| Transaction date | The date EPFO recorded the money, which can be a few weeks after the wage month. |
| Particulars | A short description such as Cont. For Due Month, Int. Updated upto, Claim settled or Transfer in. |
| EPF wages | The wage on which the 12 percent employee share was worked out. |
| EPS wages | The wage used for pension, normally capped at the statutory wage ceiling. |
| Employee share | Your own 12 percent deduction, plus any voluntary contribution. |
| Employer share | The part of the employer contribution that stays in EPF after the pension portion. |
| Pension contribution | The employer amount sent to the Employees' Pension Scheme. It does not add to your EPF balance; it builds pension service instead. See EPS pension. |
At the bottom of each year you will usually find totals for the two EPF shares and the pension column, plus an interest line once the rate for that year has been declared and credited.
A worked example of one monthly entry
Basic pay plus dearness allowance: Rs 20,000 a month. The EPS wage ceiling applies at Rs 15,000.
- Employee share: 12 percent of 20,000 = Rs 2,400
- Pension contribution: 8.33 percent of 15,000 = Rs 1,250
- Employer share in EPF: 2,400 minus 1,250 = Rs 1,150
So the passbook row reads EPF wages 20,000, EPS wages 15,000, employee 2,400, employer 1,150, pension 1,250. Your EPF balance grows by 3,550 that month before interest.
If your employer pays on a wage below the ceiling, the pension column will be 8.33 percent of the actual wage and the employer EPF share shrinks to 3.67 percent.
PF passbook download as PDF
On the passbook screen, choose Download Passbook for the selected member ID and year. The file is a PDF that you can keep for loan applications, visa paperwork or tax records. Repeat for each year and each member ID you need.
- Save the file under a clear name such as the member ID and year.
- Do not send the PDF to anyone who calls or messages claiming to fix your PF. It shows your UAN, name and employer.
- If the download button does nothing on a phone, rotate the screen or use a desktop browser. Pop up blockers can stop the file.
After a transfer through Form 13, you can also download the Annexure K transfer certificate from the member portal. It confirms the balance and service that moved to the new account. Our PF transfer guide covers the rest.
Why entries or interest are missing
| What you see | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Recent months absent | Employer has not filed the monthly return, or the field office has not reconciled it yet. | Wait a few weeks after the due date, then ask payroll for the challan date. Persistent gaps go to a grievance. |
| Whole job missing | That member ID is not linked to your UAN, or it sits with an exempted trust. | Check service history in the member portal. Ask the old employer to link the ID or contact the trust. |
| No interest for the year | The rate for that year is credited only after it is declared and processed, often months after the year ends. | Check again later. Interest is calculated monthly on the running balance and credited once a year. |
| Old balance shows zero after a job change | A transfer moved it to the new member ID. | Open the new member ID and look for a Transfer in line. |
| Login works, passbook says no record | Registration done less than 6 hours ago. | Try again the next day. |
If deposits were deducted from salary but never reached the passbook, you can raise a complaint on epfigms.gov.in. The helpline and grievance page explains what to include.
Passbook on the UMANG app and other views
The government UMANG app has an EPFO section with View Passbook. Sign in with your mobile, select EPFO, then Employee Centric Services and View Passbook, and confirm with an OTP sent to the UAN registered mobile. The app shows the same entries as the e passbook on the website, just in a smaller layout. Some members also see a separate taxable data view when interest on contributions above the tax free limit applies.
No genuine EPFO service asks you to share your OTP, password or Aadhaar number with a caller. EPFO also never calls members to deposit money. Agents who promise to release PF for a fee are not needed; every step on this page is free.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the EPF passbook login say invalid UAN or password?
The passbook portal copies credentials from the member portal about 6 hours after any change. If you just activated your UAN or reset the password, wait and try again. If it still fails the next day, reset the password on the member portal.
Can I see my PF passbook without a UAN login?
No. The passbook needs an activated UAN and password. Without a login you can still get the total balance by missed call or SMS from your registered mobile, as our balance guide describes.
Why is the interest not shown in my passbook for last year?
Interest appears only after the rate for that year is declared and EPFO finishes crediting it to all accounts. Until then the year closes with contributions only. Nothing is lost; interest is calculated on your monthly balances.
What is the pension contribution column in the passbook?
It is the share of your employer contribution that goes to the pension scheme. It is shown for information and is not part of your withdrawable EPF balance. It counts towards pension service and, in some cases, a withdrawal benefit through Form 10C.
My passbook shows two member IDs. Is that a problem?
Each job gets a new member ID under the same UAN. It is normal, but older balances should be transferred so that service counts continuously and tax rules work in your favour. Check the PF transfer page.
Is the passbook downloaded from the portal valid as proof?
It is the record EPFO itself generates, and most lenders and embassies accept it. Some may ask for the employer's statement as well. Keep the PDF as downloaded without editing it.