COMPLETE GUIDE TO EPFO IN 2025

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) plays a key role in ensuring financial security for India’s workforce. It enables employees to enjoy steady long-term savings, get pension support, and gain insurance protection. With the recent 2025 updates, EPFO has become more transparent, user-friendly, and adaptable, empowering individuals to manage their financial future with greater ease and confidence.

Key Highlights:

●        EPFO secures retirement planning with regular contributions.

●        It offers multiple benefits, including EPF, EPS, and EDLI insurance plans.

●        EFP is widely popular because of its attractive interest rate of 8.25% for FY 2024-25.

●        Supports flexible withdrawals under the new 2025 rules.

●        Allowing individuals to manage their PF, pension, and withdrawals through the EPFO portal or UMANG app.

●        It provides digital convenience by supporting UAN-based login, transfers, and balance checks.

●        EPFO gives financial protection during emergencies, unemployment, or retirement.

 

Every individual needs financial security, especially at the time of their retirement. At the beginning of a career, most individuals invest to achieve three financial goals, which include creating wealth, having regular income in the form of a pension during retirement, and securing the family’s future.

Commonly, individuals need to buy different financial products to meet each of these goals. However, there is one such product that helps people achieve all these goals at once. This financial product is called Employee Provident Fund, which is a part of our salary. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is the entity that administers the EPF schemes. In retirement, these schemes help people fulfill their dreams, such as purchasing a home or overcoming unfavorable circumstances, urgent medical expenses, or withdrawing an accumulated balance in one lump sum.

In this blog post, we will help you understand various components of EPFO, how it works, the interest rates one can earn through EPF, and the main withdrawal rules.

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What is EPF (Employee’s Provident Fund)?

EPF is a robust savings scheme that is introduced by EPFO. It is monitored under one of the key segments of the government body, called the Ministry of Labour and Employment. This scheme is mandated by the Government of India to secure the post-retirement life of individuals. This saving is built up by contributing 12% of the former’s basic salary and dearness allowance. In addition, it offers an attractive interest rate of 8% and tax-free returns.

Understanding EPFO

The Employee’s Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is one of the largest social security institutions globally that is known for providing financial security to salaried employees in India. It manages EPF, a primary retirement benefits scheme, which is established under the Employee’s Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. EPFO was established in 1951 and acts as a guardian angel of employee savings. This non-constitutional body is governed by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, which is committed to ensuring employees secure earning by the time they retire.

How Does EPFO Work in India? 

The EPFO functions with some mandatory contributions from both employer and employee, where each pay 12% of the employee’s basic salary plus dearness allowance. The following table describes the EPF contribution breakdown:

Contributor	Contribution Rate (% of Basic + DA)	Purpose/Scheme
Employee	12%	It goes entirely to EPF account
Employer	12%	8.33%, which goes to Employee Pension Scheme (EPS)  3.67% to Employee Provident Fund (EPF)
Government	0.5%	For Employee Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI)

 

Contribution Cap: Monthly, there is a wage ceiling of ₹15,000 for the employer's contribution to the EPS. The employer's contribution to the EPF is the remaining amount of their 12% share.

Voluntary PF: An employee can contribute more than 12% to his EPF as a voluntary contribution as per his choice.

Interest Rates offered by EPFO and Its Calculation

The annual interest rate is determined by the Government of India each year and is usually tax-free.

The EPF interest is calculated monthly on the current balance, though the interest value is calculated at the end of the financial year.

As per the financial year 2024-2025, the EPF interest was 8.25%.

Fund Management

The accumulated funds in the EPF account are managed by EPFO solely.

The final lump sum is paid to the subscriber at the time of retirement, which is the contribution from both the employer and employee, along with the interest earned.

The important thing is EPFO invests the funds in low-risk instruments, which relatively makes it a safe investment.

Different Themes Offered by EPFO

Apart from simple provident funds, EPFO offers a wide range of schemes that could help retired professionals in a greater way:

●        Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952: It is a core savings scheme where both employers and employees make regular contributions to build a retirement corpus.

●        Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995: This scheme is designed to provide a steady pension income to employees after retirement.

●        Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976: It offers life insurance benefits to the employee’s family in the event of their untimely demise.

Steps for Logging Into the EPFO scheme

Here are the key steps that individuals can follow to log in to the EPFO pension scheme:

Step 1: Open the Login Page

●        Go to the EPFO member portal or the UMANG app.

●        Under the “Services” tab, select the option called “Services” tab.

●        Click on the “Member UAN/Online Service (OCS/OTCP)” option.

Step 2: Log in with the Credentials

●        Subscribers need to enter their UAN, password, and the “captcha code” as shown on the screen.

●        Then click on the “Sign in” button.

Step 3: Complete two-factor authentication

●        After signing in, a six-digit OTP will be sent to the subscriber’s registered mobile number.

●        Then to log in, users need to enter the OTP and click on the “Submit” button.

Step 4: Access your account

●        After logging in, you’ll be redirected to your EPFO member portal dashboard, where you can access your profile, check your service history, and manage your account details.

●        If your UAN isn’t activated yet, simply click on “Activate UAN” on the login page and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the activation.

Steps to Check EPF Balance

1. Through the EPF portal online:

●        Visit the EPFO Member Passbook portal.

●        Then go to the option, namely, “Our Services,” and select “For Employees.”

●        Under the “Services” section, click on “Member Passbook.”

●        Then users can log in by using their UAN and password.               

●        Enter the CAPTCHA code and click “Sign In.”

●        Select your PF account (if you have more than one) to view your passbook details.

 2. Through the UMANG App:

●        Download and open the UMANG app.

●        Select EPFO from the services list.

●        Tap on ‘Employee Centric Services’ and then ‘View Passbook.’

●        Log in with your UAN and OTP to view your balance.

3. Through SMS:

●        Send EPFOHO UAN ENG to 7738299899 from your registered mobile number.

●        You’ll receive an SMS with your latest EPF balance details.

4. Through Missed Call:

●        Give a missed call to 011-22901406 from your mobile number registered with the UAN portal.

●        The call will automatically disconnect after a couple of rings.

●        Shortly after, you’ll receive an SMS containing details of your latest contribution and PF balance, provided your UAN is linked with your Aadhaar, PAN, or bank account.

 

Steps to Download EPF Passbook

Individuals can download their EPF passbook by logging in to the EPFO member portal with the help of UAN and password or with the help of the UMANG app. Here are the few steps:

Via the EPFO portal:

●        Visit the official EPFO website and select “e-Passbook” under the “Our Services” section.

●        Log in using your UAN, password, and the CAPTCHA code, then click “Sign In.”

●        From the dropdown menu, choose the relevant Member ID.

●        Click “View Passbook” to open your passbook in a new tab.

●        To save a copy, click “Download Passbook,” and it will be saved as a PDF file.

Via the UMANG app:

●        Download and launch the UMANG app on your mobile device.

●        Search for and select “EPFO.”

●        Under the “Employee Centric Services” section, tap on “View Passbook.”

●        Enter your UAN and verify it using the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.

●        Choose your Member ID to view and download your passbook details.

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EPS Pension Scheme (EPS)

The Employee’s Pension Scheme offers a monthly pension to salaried individuals after retirement or to their families in case of the subscriber’s death.

Eligibility Criteria for EPS

●        The individual must be a member of the EPF scheme.

●        He should complete at least 10 years of eligible service (continuous or linked via UAN/Scheme Certificate).

●        The individual must be at least 58 years old to receive a normal superannuation pension. Individuals can also avail early pension from the age of 50.

●        There is a salary cap for employees to opt for EPS, and that is earning up to ₹15,000/month.

Benefits of the EPS Scheme

●        Superannuation Pension: EPS offers a lifelong monthly pension from age 58 after completing 10+ years of service.

●        Early Pension: It also supports reduced pension available between ages 50 and 58, with a 4% reduction per year below 58.

●        Disability Pension: EPS also offers a lifetime pension for members with permanent total disablement, regardless of service length.

●        Minimum Pension: EPF offers a minimum guaranteed pension amount of ₹1,000 per month for eligible members.

●        Family Pension: It also offers financial support to dependents in case of the member’s death.

○        Widow/Widower Pension: Payable till death or remarriage.

○        Children Pension: Up to two children, each receiving 25% of the widow’s pension till age 25.

○        Orphan Pension: 75% of the widow’s pension if both parents are deceased. 

How to Claim Pension?

The claim process for availing of a pension can be completed through the EPFO Unified Member Portal or offline by submitting forms to the regional EPFO office.

Online process:

·         Ensure your UAN is activated and your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details are linked and verified on the EPFO portal.

·         Visit the EPFO Unified Member Portal and sign in using your UAN and password.

·         Go to the Claim Section, click on ‘Online Services,’ and then go to ‘Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D).’

·         Choose Form 10D for a monthly pension or Form 10C for a lump sum withdrawal (if service is under 10 years).

·         Enter your address, accept the disclaimer, and verify using the Aadhaar OTP sent to your registered mobile number.

·         Monitor your claim status online through the EPFO portal.

Offline process:

Get the Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar/Non-Aadhaar) from the official EPFO website.

Complete the form and submit it to the jurisdictional EPF office with required documents like ID proof, address proof, and a cancelled check/bank passbook copy.

After pension approval, submit your annual Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan Patra) every November at the pension-disbursing bank to continue receiving payments.

EPF Interest Rate over the Years

This table represents the changing EPF interest rates with passing years:

 

Financial Year	EPF Interest Rate (%)
2020–21	8.50
2021–22	8.10
2022-23	8.15
2023–24	8.25
2024-25	8.25

 

Eligibility Criteria to Apply for EPF Scheme

Category	Eligibility
Employee Type	Any salaried individual working in an organization with 20+ employees
Minimum Salary Requirement	No minimum limit (mandatory if earning up to ₹15,000/month)
Age Limit	18 years and above
Employer Obligation	Mandatory EPF registration and contribution

 

Benefits of Having EPF for Employees

Apart from offering future savings, the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) provides multiple financial advantages:

●        Capital Growth: EPF helps employees’ savings grow steadily over time with regular interest rates.

●        Retirement Security: It acts as a dependable corpus to support employees financially after retirement.

●        Emergency Support: Allows partial withdrawals to meet urgent financial needs during unforeseen situations.

●        Tax Benefits: Contributions qualify for tax deductions under Section 80C, offering savings along with tax relief.

●        Flexible Withdrawals: Recognizing major life events, the EPF permits partial withdrawals for specific purposes such as education, marriage, or medical needs.

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What are the latest EPF withdrawal rules in 2025?

Here are some key rules to follow while drawing from the Employee Provident Fund:

Employment Status

According to the new EPFO rules, individuals can withdraw up to 100% of the valid EPF balance that includes the contribution of both employee and employer. This represents a significant change from previous rules, where full withdrawal was not allowed during their employment.

Currently, partial withdrawals are also more flexible and liberalized for specific purposes such as medical treatment, marriage, higher education, housing, and other special circumstances. These changes are approved by the EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees on October 13, 2025. The aim behind imposing these challenges is to simplify the withdrawal process and enhance ease of access for more than millions of subscribers.

Unemployment

If individuals are unemployed for at least one month, they can withdraw up to 75% of your EPF balance.

Moreover, if unemployment continues for two months or more, then subscribers are eligible to withdraw the entire amount.

Tax Deduction

Section	Benefit	Description
80C	Deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh	On employee’s own contribution
Exempt Interest	Fully exempt (if continuous 5-year service)	Interest earned on EPF is tax-free
Withdrawal	Tax-free	If withdrawn after 5 years of continuous service

 

Full Withdrawal

Account holders are allowed to withdraw their full EPF balance under two conditions:

●        One should be unemployed for at least 2 months

●        One starts new job after a 2-month gap following his last working day

 

What Happens to EPF When You Change Jobs?

When an individual makes a job change, then it is mandatory for them to transfer his existing PF balance to his new employer’s PF account. They can initiate the transfer online through the EPFO portal using their UAN.

Key Services Available on the EPFO Member Portal

The EPFO member portal offers a wide range of online services that can simplify employee access to their PF account. Here are some major services:

●        Employees can link all their EPF accounts under a single UAN by simply performing UAN activation.

●        Moreover, members can also check their EPF balance and download their passbook anytime to check their monthly deposits and gained interest amount.

●        The EPFO member portal also enables users to apply for EPF withdrawal online. This withdrawal amount can be partial for specific needs, such as home, education, or medical expenses, or the full amount after retirement or a job change.

●        In addition, employees can transfer their EPF balance seamlessly at the time of job change to ensure continued benefits without losing service history.

●        Also, the portal allows users to avail themselves of the KYC update feature, allowing them to upload and verify essential documents such as Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details securely.

 

Final Words

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) empowers every employee to build a secure financial foundation, offering peace of mind and a lifetime of financial independence. Employees not only secure their post-retirement life but also gain access to multiple financial advantages like emergency withdrawals, tax benefits, and steady capital growth by contributing regularly to the EPF. With digital initiatives such as the EPFO member portal and UMANG app, managing and tracking one’s PF account has become easier than ever. Ultimately, EPFO empowers every employee to build a secure financial foundation, offering peace of mind and financial independence for the future.

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FAQs:

1. What is the main purpose of EPFO?

EPFO aims to ensure financial security for salaried employees by managing provident fund, pension, and insurance schemes.

2. How much do employees and employers contribute to EPF?

Both contribute 12% of the employee’s basic salary plus dearness allowance every month.

3. What is the EPF interest rate for 2024–25?

The EPF interest rate for the financial year 2024–25 is 8.25%.

4. How can I check my EPF balance?

You can check your EPF balance via the EPFO portal, UMANG app, SMS, or missed call service using your UAN.

5. When can I withdraw my EPF amount?

You can withdraw your full EPF after retirement or 2 months of unemployment and partially for specific needs like medical or education expenses.

6. What is EPS under EPFO?

EPS (Employees’ Pension Scheme) provides a monthly pension after retirement or to the member’s family in case of death.

7. Is EPF withdrawal taxable?

No, EPF withdrawals are tax-free after 5 years of continuous service, including interest earned.

8. Can I withdraw my PF from the ATM?

Yes, you can withdraw your PF balance from ATMs when the new EPFO 3.0 initiative will be taking place. Under this initiative, you will be provided with an ATM card linked to your EPF account through which you can withdraw the amount from authorized ATMs.

9. Can we withdraw the PF amount via UPI?
Yes, you can withdraw your PF amount through UPI under the upcoming EPFO 3.0 initiative. This will enable you with instant PF withdrawals, once implemented nationwide.