If you have switched jobs a few times, there’s a high chance you may have unintentionally ended up with more than one Universal Account Number (UAN). While it may not seem like a big issue at first, having multiple UANs can lead to significant trouble in the long run — including loss of interest, tax complications, and delays in PF withdrawal. Since EPFO strictly mandates one employee – one UAN, merging duplicate UANs is essential to safeguard your Provident Fund balance.
In this article, we explain why multiple UANs are created, what risks they pose, and the easiest ways to merge them.
Whenever an employee joins a new company, the employer requests EPFO to generate a UAN — unless the employee shares their existing UAN. In many cases, a new UAN is mistakenly created due to:
Not informing the new employer about the old UAN
Previous employer not updating the exit date in EPFO records
Mismatch in Aadhaar, PAN, name, date of birth, or gender
Aadhaar not being verified or linked properly
Since EPFO’s system identifies accounts based on personal details, even minor discrepancies can result in a fresh UAN being issued.
Keeping more than one active UAN is against EPFO regulations and may cause financial setbacks:
✔ Interest may stop: If your previous PF account remains inactive for over three years, the balance may stop earning interest.
✔ Tax burden may increase: Interest earned on a non-contributory PF account may become taxable.
✔ Withdrawal delays: While claiming PF, EPFO may question continuous service records, as employment history is split across UANs.
✔ KYC conflicts: Updating Aadhaar or PAN may fail if details differ across accounts.
To ensure a smooth PF transfer, proper KYC validation, and continuous earnings, merging all PF accounts under a single UAN is crucial.
To avoid rejection and delays, confirm:
Aadhaar number is linked and verified
PAN details match exactly with EPFO records
Name, date of birth, and gender are identical on all documents
Previous employer has updated exit date in the system
These details serve as the primary reference for verification.
You can merge your UANs using two methods:
Sign in at the Unified Member Portal
Click “Online Services” →
Select “One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request)”
Validate your personal and KYC details
Enter details of the old UAN or Member ID
Choose current or previous employer for attestation
Submit the request and track progress using the reference number
🕒 Processing Time: Typically 20–30 days, depending on employer verification.
If the portal doesn’t work or there are technical issues, send an email to EPFO containing:
Current UAN
Old UAN(s)
Name as per Aadhaar
Registered mobile number
But note — this method usually takes more time than the online system.
➡ If the previous employer is unresponsive or the company has shut down, file a complaint on EPFiGMS to fast-track the process.
Once the merger is completed:
✔ Old UAN becomes inactive
✔ All PF balances and service records are mapped to the active UAN
✔ KYC and withdrawal processes become smoother
✔ Interest continues to accrue normally
If you think you may have more than one UAN, take corrective action immediately. Early detection and merging will help prevent:
Loss of pension benefits
Taxable income issues
PF withdrawal delays
Your PF savings play a crucial role in your retirement security — don’t let a technical issue complicate it.
