Lost track of old PF account? Govt reveals how new EPFO e-portal helps trace and transfer balance

A lot of employees switch jobs many times throughout their careers, which often leads them to losing track of their old Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) accounts. To access these funds, they need to transfer the PF amount from their old account to their new EPF account. Many EPF subscribers have encountered issues when trying to transfer these amounts, especially if they have multiple Universal Account Numbers (UANs).

To help solve this problem for EPF subscribers, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a new e-portal. This platform assists members in locating their old, inoperative EPF accounts and transferring the accumulated balance to their current UAN or settling it. This information was shared by the Labour Ministry in a written response in Lok Sabha on July 27, 2026.

EPFO e-portal for old EPF accounts

VK Sreekandan, Member of Parliament, raised the question in Lok Sabha whether the government is considering launching an e-portal to facilitate identification/tracking UAN linking and the activation of old EPF accounts.


Replying to the query, Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said that EPFO has developed a digital platform that enables members to securely trace their inoperative EPF accounts.

According to the minister, members can authenticate themselves using Aadhaar to access their old PF accounts and either transfer the balance to their active UAN or apply for settlement.

How the EPFO portal works

The e-portal relies on Aadhaar-based authentication to verify a member's identity. Once authenticated, eligible members can identify their old PF accounts and initiate the transfer of funds to their current UAN. Members may also use the portal to settle eligible old accounts.

The government believes the digital process will make it easier for members to merge their old PF balances with their active EPF accounts, avoiding the hassle of lengthy offline procedures.

Sreekandan also asked whether the government plans to broaden the EPFO e-portal to include members who may not be able to recall or access their old number identifications.

According to the Minister, “There is no proposal to cover members who cannot recall old account details.”

The government clarified that it is not currently considering expanding the portal to include members who are unable to recall or access identification details of their old EPF accounts.

Expected benefits of the new EPFO portal

According to the government, the portal is expected to allow digital submission of joint declarations for KYC updates, subject to verification.

Enable faster, more transparent and hassle-free settlement of old inoperative EPF accounts.

Reduce manual intervention.

Minimise physical documentation