PF Balance Check Online 2026: Check EPF Balance by UAN, Passbook, UMANG & SMS

Your Provident Fund is probably the largest long-term saving most salaried employees in India ever build, yet many people check it only when they change jobs or plan a withdrawal. A PF balance check online takes less than two minutes once your Universal Account Number (UAN) is active, and it tells you far more than a single number: it shows every monthly deposit from you and your employer, the interest credited to your account, and any withdrawals or transfers made over the years.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) offers four official ways to check your EPF balance: the member passbook portal, the UMANG app, an SMS service, and a missed-call service. This guide explains each method step by step, what you need before you start, how to read your passbook, and what to do when the balance looks wrong or the passbook is empty. All steps refer to the official EPFO portals, and you should always confirm the latest instructions on epfindia.gov.in before sharing any personal detail.

Contents

1. What Is UAN and What Is the EPF Passbook?
2. Before You Start: What You Need
3. Method 1: Check PF Balance on the EPFO Passbook Portal
4. Method 2: Check PF Balance on the UMANG App
5. Method 3: Check PF Balance by SMS
6. Method 4: Check PF Balance by Missed Call
7. How to Check PF Balance Without UAN
8. Understanding Your Passbook: Employee Share, Employer Share and Pension
9. What to Do If Your Balance Is Wrong or Your Passbook Is Empty
10. KYC Requirements for PF Balance Check
11. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is UAN and What Is the EPF Passbook?

UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is a 12-digit number allotted by the EPFO to every employee covered under the Employees’ Provident Fund scheme. Unlike your PF account number, which changes when you change employers, your UAN stays the same throughout your working life. Every PF account you hold with different employers — each identified by a separate Member ID — is linked to this single UAN. You can usually find your UAN on your salary slip, or you can ask your employer’s HR department for it.

Your UAN by itself is not enough to use online services. It must be activated, which means setting a password and linking your mobile number. EPFO now directs members to activate a new UAN through Aadhaar-based face authentication in the UMANG app. Once activated, the UAN becomes your single login for the EPFO member portal, the passbook portal, and EPFO services inside UMANG.

The EPF passbook is the online statement of your PF account. It is the most detailed record available to a member. For each Member ID linked to your UAN, the passbook lists the month-wise contributions made by you and your employer, the interest credited by EPFO, and every withdrawal, transfer, or settlement recorded against that account. The closing balance shown in the passbook is the total of your contributions, your employer’s contributions, and the interest credited so far, minus any withdrawals.

EPFO also offers a Passbook Lite view, introduced in September 2025, which shows a summary of your deposits, withdrawals, and total balance on the main EPFO member portal without opening the full passbook page. It is useful when you only want a quick total rather than the month-by-month detail.

Before You Start: What You Need

Before you try any of the methods below, make sure you have the following ready. Having them in place avoids most of the errors members run into.

• Your 12-digit UAN — printed on your salary slip or available from your HR department.
• An activated UAN with a password — if you have never activated your UAN, do it first through the UMANG app using Aadhaar face authentication.
• Your registered mobile number — the SMS and missed-call methods work only from the mobile number linked to your UAN, and the portal and app send a one-time password (OTP) to this number.
• KYC details seeded — your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account should be linked to your UAN. At least one KYC item, such as Aadhaar, PAN, or bank account, must be seeded for the missed-call service to work.
• A stable internet connection — needed for the passbook portal and the UMANG app, but not for SMS or missed call.

Never share your UAN password, OTP, Aadhaar number, PAN, or bank details with anyone who calls or messages you claiming to be from EPFO. EPFO never asks for these details over a phone call, WhatsApp message, or social media. If someone asks, it is a fraud attempt.

Method 1: Check PF Balance on the EPFO Passbook Portal

The passbook portal is the most detailed way to check your PF balance online, and it is the method most members should use first. It shows the complete transaction history for every Member ID linked to your UAN, and it lets you download the passbook as a PDF for your records.

Step-by-step: EPFO passbook portal

1. Open the official EPFO member passbook portal at passbook.epfindia.gov.in. Make sure the address in your browser is exactly this official domain before you enter any login detail.
2. Enter your 12-digit UAN, your password, and the captcha code shown on the screen, then click on the login button.
3. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number, if the portal asks for it, to complete the sign-in.
4. After logging in, you will see the list of Member IDs linked to your UAN — one for each employer you have worked with. Select the Member ID for the account you want to check.
5. Click on “View Passbook”. Your passbook will appear on the screen, showing your employee share, employer share, pension contribution, interest credited, and the total balance.
6. To keep a copy, use the download option on the portal to save the passbook as a PDF.

If you have worked with more than one employer, repeat the last two steps for each Member ID. The balances are separate for each account until you transfer an old balance into your current account, so checking only your latest employer can understate your total savings.

The passbook is usually updated within 24 hours of a contribution being received, so a deposit made this month may take a day or two to appear. Interest, on the other hand, is credited once a year, not every month, so do not expect the interest column to change between annual credits.

Method 2: Check PF Balance on the UMANG App

UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is the Government of India’s app for citizen services, and EPFO services are available inside it. This is the best option if you want to check your PF balance from your phone without opening a browser.

Step-by-step: UMANG app

1. Download the UMANG app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and open it.
2. Register or log in with your mobile number and the OTP sent to you.
3. On the home screen, go to Services, then look under Social Security for EPFO, or search for “EPFO” inside the app.
4. Under Employee Centric Services, select “View Passbook”.
5. Enter your UAN and the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
6. Select your Member ID. Your passbook and balance will be shown on the screen, and you can download it from the app if needed.

The UMANG app is also where new UAN activation now happens. If your UAN is not yet activated, look for the UAN activation option under EPFO services in the app and complete it with Aadhaar face authentication, using the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar. A temporary password is sent to your mobile after activation; change it after your first login.

Method 3: Check PF Balance by SMS

If you do not have internet access, or you only want a quick balance figure without opening the passbook, EPFO’s SMS service gives you the latest available balance by text message. This method works only from the mobile number registered with your UAN.

Step-by-step: SMS

1. Open the messaging app on the phone whose number is registered with your UAN.
2. Type the message in this format: EPFOHO UAN ENG — replace “UAN” with your own 12-digit UAN number, and keep “ENG” for English.
3. Send the SMS to 7738299899.
4. You will receive an SMS back with your latest PF balance and contribution details.

You can receive the reply in other languages by changing the last three letters of the message. For example, use HIN for Hindi, PUN for Punjabi, GUJ for Gujarati, MAR for Marathi, KAN for Kannada, TEL for Telugu, TAM for Tamil, MAL for Malayalam, or BEN for Bengali. The language code goes at the end of the same message, so a Hindi reply would be “EPFOHO UAN HIN” with your UAN in place of the word UAN.

Note that the SMS reply gives you a balance summary, not the full month-wise passbook. For the complete statement, use the passbook portal or the UMANG app. Also note that standard SMS charges from your mobile operator may apply.

Method 4: Check PF Balance by Missed Call

The missed-call service is the fastest way to get your PF balance when you have no internet connection. It costs nothing — the call disconnects automatically — and EPFO replies with an SMS containing your balance.

Step-by-step: missed call

1. From the mobile number registered with your UAN, dial 9966044425.
2. Let the phone ring. The call will disconnect automatically after a couple of rings — this is normal, and you do not need to stay on the line or speak to anyone.
3. Within a short while, you will receive an SMS with your latest PF balance and contribution details.

For this service to work, your UAN must be activated, and at least one KYC detail — bank account, Aadhaar, or PAN — must be seeded against your UAN. If you do not receive the SMS, first check that you called from the registered number and that your KYC is complete, then try the passbook portal to see whether your account details are in order.

How to Check PF Balance Without UAN

Strictly speaking, the passbook portal and the UMANG app both need your UAN to log in, so there is no way to open the full passbook without it. But you are not stuck if you do not know your UAN. The SMS and missed-call methods also use the UAN in the message, yet you can recover the number itself in a few ways.

First, check your salary slip — the UAN is usually printed on it. If it is not there, ask your employer’s HR or payroll team; they have it on record. If neither works, use the “Know Your UAN” option on the EPFO unified member portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in. You will need your registered mobile number for OTP verification, plus basic details such as your PF Member ID, Aadhaar, or PAN. After verification, your UAN is sent to your registered mobile number.

Once you have the UAN, activate it if it is not already active, and then use any of the four methods above. If you do not have a registered mobile number at all, the passbook portal can still be used with your UAN and password, since it does not depend on the phone for the balance itself — but recovering a forgotten UAN or resetting a password will be much harder, so update your mobile number on the portal as soon as you can.

Understanding Your Passbook: Employee Share, Employer Share and Pension

When you open your passbook, you will see three main columns. Understanding them helps you check whether your employer is depositing the correct amount every month.

Employee share

This is the contribution deducted from your own salary every month — 12 percent of your basic salary plus dearness allowance, for most employees. It is your money, deposited into your EPF account by your employer along with their share.

Employer share

Your employer also contributes 12 percent of your basic salary plus dearness allowance. But this 12 percent is split: 8.33 percent of it (subject to a wage ceiling) goes to the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), and the remaining 3.67 percent goes into your EPF account. That is why the employer share shown in your EPF passbook is smaller than your own share, even though the headline contribution rate is the same.

Pension contribution (EPS)

The pension column shows the part of your employer’s contribution that went to the pension fund rather than your EPF account. This money does not add to the EPF balance you see in the passbook, but it builds your pension entitlement. If you want to understand how that pension is calculated and what the current status of the EPS pension increase is, read our guide on the EPS pension increase and how to check your pension online.

Interest

EPFO credits interest on your EPF balance once a year, after the end of the financial year. The rate is declared by the government each year, so it changes from year to year. Because interest is annual, your passbook balance grows in two steps each month — your fresh contributions — plus one larger jump when the annual interest is credited. Do not expect a monthly interest entry. The exact interest rate for the current year should always be checked on the official EPFO website, since it is announced annually and older articles may quote an outdated figure.

Total balance

Your total EPF balance is the sum of your employee share, the employer’s EPF share, and the interest credited so far, minus any withdrawals or transfers out. Remember that if you have worked with several employers and have not transferred your old balances, your total retirement saving is spread across several Member IDs. Add the closing balances of all of them to know your real total.

What to Do If Your Balance Is Wrong or Your Passbook Is Empty

A wrong or missing balance is worrying, but it usually has a fixable cause. Work through the most common reasons in order before filing a complaint.

Your employer has not deposited the contribution yet. Employers deposit PF contributions after the salary month ends, and the passbook updates within about 24 hours of EPFO receiving the money. If a recent month is missing, wait a few days and check again. If a contribution is still missing after two months, contact your HR or payroll team first, and ask for the challan or payment reference for that month.

Your UAN was activated very recently. If you registered or activated your UAN less than 6 hours ago, the passbook may not be available yet. Wait 24 hours after activation and try again.

You work for an exempted establishment. Some companies manage PF through their own private PF trust instead of EPFO. If you see a message like “Passbook not available for this Member ID”, you are likely in this category. Your balance is held by your employer’s trust, not by EPFO, so check your salary slips, your company’s internal employee portal, or your HR department for the balance.

Your KYC or personal details do not match. If the name on your Aadhaar does not match the name on your PF account, KYC verification fails and online services can be blocked. A mismatch is corrected through a Joint Declaration Form submitted with your employer’s help.

Your mobile number has changed. The SMS and missed-call services only work from the number linked to your UAN. If you changed your number, update it in your profile on the EPFO member portal so that OTPs and balance messages reach you.

If none of these explains the problem, raise a grievance on the EPFiGMS portal (the EPFO grievance system) or visit your nearest EPFO office with your UAN, Member ID, and salary slips. Keep a copy of your passbook PDF and your salary slips as evidence when you complain.

KYC Requirements for PF Balance Check

KYC — Know Your Customer — means linking your identity documents to your UAN so that EPFO can verify you. For a PF balance check, the practical requirements are simple: your Aadhaar should be linked for identity verification, your PAN should be linked so that withdrawals do not attract a higher rate of tax deduction, and your bank account should be linked so that claims and settlements can be paid to you.

To update KYC, log in to the EPFO unified member portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in with your UAN and password, go to Manage, then KYC, and add your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account details. Save the details and submit them; your employer then approves the verification. Until KYC is seeded, some services — especially the missed-call service, which needs at least one KYC item — may not work, and withdrawals and transfers will be blocked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my PF balance online without a UAN?
No. The passbook portal and the UMANG app both need your UAN to log in. If you do not know your UAN, recover it through the “Know Your UAN” option on the EPFO member portal using your registered mobile number and your Member ID, Aadhaar, or PAN, and then use any of the methods in this guide.

What is the missed-call number for PF balance check?
Give a missed call to 9966044425 from the mobile number registered with your UAN. The call disconnects automatically and EPFO sends an SMS with your latest balance. Your UAN must be activated and seeded with at least one KYC detail, such as Aadhaar, PAN, or bank account.

What is the SMS number and format for PF balance check?
Send the SMS “EPFOHO UAN ENG” to 7738299899 from your registered mobile number, replacing “UAN” with your own 12-digit UAN. Change ENG to another language code, such as HIN for Hindi, if you want the reply in that language.

Can I check my PF balance using Aadhaar only?
No. You cannot check your EPF balance using only your Aadhaar number. You must provide your UAN. Aadhaar is used to activate the UAN and to complete KYC, but the balance check itself runs on the UAN.

Can I check the PF balance of my previous employer?
Yes. All PF accounts linked to your UAN are shown when you log in to the passbook portal. Select the Member ID of your previous employer to see that account’s passbook and balance. If you have not transferred the old balance, it stays in the old account until you move it.

When is the EPF balance updated in the passbook?
Your passbook is updated within about 24 hours of EPFO receiving a contribution. Interest, however, is credited only once a year, after the financial year ends. If a contribution is still missing after two days, check with your HR department.

Why is my passbook empty or showing “Passbook not available”?
The usual reasons are that your UAN was activated very recently (wait 24 hours), that you work for an exempted establishment whose PF is managed by a company trust, or that your KYC is incomplete. Check these in order, and contact your HR team if the problem continues.

Can I check my PF balance on the UMANG app?
Yes. Open the UMANG app, go to Services, then Social Security, then EPFO, and under Employee Centric Services select “View Passbook”. Enter your UAN and the OTP sent to your registered mobile number to see your balance.

Is it safe to check my PF balance online?
Yes, if you use only the official EPFO portals — passbook.epfindia.gov.in and unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in — and the official UMANG app. Never enter your UAN password or OTP on any other website or app, and never share them with anyone who contacts you by phone, message, or social media.

Can I download my EPF passbook as a PDF?
Yes. After opening your passbook on the EPFO member portal or the passbook portal, use the download option to save it as a PDF. You can also download it from the UMANG app after selecting “View Passbook” for your Member ID.

For more government-service guides, visit our homepage. If you are planning for retirement income, also read our guide on the EPS pension increase and how to check your pension online.

Disclaimer: OnlineChallanChecker.com is a private guide website and is not a government website. The steps in this article are based on the official EPFO portals and services as available at the time of writing, but EPFO may change its portals, numbers, or procedures. Always confirm the latest instructions on the official EPFO website at epfindia.gov.in or the UMANG app before acting, and never share your UAN password, OTP, or bank details with anyone.

Last updated: 12 November 2026

Manish

Manish is the content curator at OnlineChallanChecker.com, a trusted platform for checking challan status, payment updates, and traffic fine information across India. With over 5 years of experience in digital content creation and online service platforms, Admin is committed to delivering accurate, easy-to-understand guides that help users manage their challans effortlessly.