It has become compulsory to link documents like Aadhaar card with Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) accounts. After Universal Account Number (UAN) was introduced in 2014, it has become easier for any employee to update EPFO KYC information through the UAN portal.

Let’s look at the process in detail.

Here is a step-by-step guide to updating Know Your Customer (KYC) details in an EPF account: 

Step 1: Go to the official portal of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Step 2: Log in to the EPFO online portal using UAN number and password.

Step 3: After logging in, select the "manage" option from the top menu bar.

Step 4: Select a “KYC” menu from the dropdown menu.

Step 5: A form will appear for updating KYC information on the screen.

Step 6: Enter Aadhaar, passport, PAN and bank account details.

Step 7: To update a document, check the box right next to it and provide the required information.

Step 8: Select the "save" option to save the details under the "pending KYC" section.

The EPFO will then verify the new information. Before the verification, one can choose to delay the update of the documents and to do that; one has to click the "x" mark beside the document. Once the information arrives that EPFO has verified the details, one can update them.

It generally takes 2 to 3 days to verify an employee’s details.

Here are the documents one needs to complete the EPFO KYC update:

• Aadhaar card
• PAN card (Permanent Account Number)
• NPR (National Population Register)
• Voter car.
• Passport
• Ration card
• Driving licence
• Bank account details

If not done already, it is necessary to update the contact details in the EPF account. Here is a step-by-step guide to the process:

Step 1: Visit the EPFO portal and log in with the credentials.

Step 2: There is a "manage" section on the main menu. Click on that.

Step 3: Click on the “contact details” option on the dropdown menu.

Step 4: Check a box beside the option “change mobile number” and/or “email ID”.

Step 5: Enter new contact details.

Step 6: There will be an option “Get Authorization PIN”. Click on it.

Step 7: The system will send an OTP to the phone number and/or mail address for verification.

Step 8: Complete the OTP verification and the system will update new details in due time.

If one updates EPFO KYC, one can avail of various benefits. Here is a list of the benefits:

• An updated EPF account will ensure that TDS charges do not increase.
• An employee can know their monthly PF via SMS notification.
• Only when KYC details are embedded with UAN, an employee can process online withdrawal claims.
• An employee can have 10% TDS levied against an amount if he or she chooses to withdraw it from the PF before completing 5 years of service.
• If one wants to transfer EPF accounts, an updated KYC can make that easy.
• One can have a lag-free withdrawal and transition.

1. UAN Card

Steps to Track EPFO KYC status through UAN Card:

Step 1: Employees can log in to their account on Member e-Sewa Portal and navigate to "view" tab and find "UAN card".

Step 2: A UAN card will show a “yes” against the KYC information row if an employee’s KYC information is updated.

2. EPF India Website

Steps to track EPFO KYC status through EPF India website:

Step 1: One can go to the government website to check one’s EPF account.

Step 2: Select ‘Click here for knowing the claim status.’ The website will require you to fill up UAN and captcha code. Then, if an account is KYC compatible, a message will notify that.

3. Documents Approved Under KYC Tab

Steps to track EPFO KYC status through approved documents under KYC tab:

Step 1: An employee, through the Member e-Sewa Portal, can select the “manage tab” and find “KYC” after logging in to the site. Then they can select “Digitally Authorized KYC”.

Step 2: One can see a list of validated and accepted documents there. One can check for the papers that EPFO has accepted and has kept in the archives to be sure that his or her account is KYC compatible.

Let’s look at how employees can register their contact details for UAN or activate UAN:

Step 1: To register a phone number or email ID, one must activate UAN. To do that, one has to visit the EPF portal.

Step 2: Click on "Activate UAN" for important links.

Step 3: Enter the necessary details one by one. It will require details like UAN, phone number, email ID, employee name, and date of birth.

Step 4: Enter the captcha verification code to click on "Get Authorize Pin".

Step 5: The system will send an OTP to the registered phone number and email ID. Enter the OTP to verify and activate UAN.

The UAN activation will register the phone and mail address.

By learning how to update EPFO KYC through the simple aforementioned processes, one can avail of all the benefits of an updated KYC. This article lays out the processes in easy to follow steps and adds additional details and benefits.