Navigating PF Withdrawal: How to Handle Transfers Across Multiple Companies?

Hi everybody,

I need to know regarding PF withdrawal. I worked for Company A for 4 years. Then I changed to Company B in May 2009, and there I applied for the transfer of PF from Company A to B. Then again in November 2009, I changed to Company C, but here I didn't transfer the PF by filling up the transfer form but provided them with the same PF number. Now I want to withdraw the PF amount of Company A, which was transferred to Company B along with Company B's amount. Now my worry is, how will the PF office know all these details and how much amount to give me? Will the PF office know that I am requesting to withdraw the amount of Company A + B and not Company C, which is current, and will there be any hassle because I'm using the same PF account number? Please help; it's confusing.

With every change in company, you cannot have the same PF number. Provident Fund account number comprises a Regional Code (e.g., AP for Andhra Pradesh, KR for Kerala, or TN for Tamil Nadu) followed by a sub-regional code (e.g., HYD for Hyderabad, KK for Kozhikkode, etc.), then an establishment code in digits, and finally, the account number allotted to a particular employee alone. When you joined company C, you should have received a PF number which would have an establishment code similar to all the employees in company C. I do not know why your account number did not change.

If you have transferred the account from A to B, then your contribution slip should reflect this transfer. You can verify with the Regional/Sub-Regional Office of the PF Organization whether the transfer has been processed. If so, you can withdraw the amount by using Form 19 and 10 C separately for companies B and C.

Regards, Madhu.T.K

Thanks for your help, Madhu. Much appreciated. When I joined company C, I did not transfer the PF from company B. I merely provided the existing PF number, filled the PF form, and submitted it to HR in the company, and they accepted it willingly. One thing you clarified is that I will not face any difficulties in withdrawing the PF from Companies A and B.
Can you please clarify what would happen if the PF amount from Company C is still being directed to the old PF number, and whether I can withdraw the PF amount from Company B by contacting the Company B Accounts department.

Hi Krinix,

First, I would like to know in which location you are currently working. My question is, when you change from company A to company B, will both Company A and B be located in the same place? If Company A and B are not in the same location or state, then you cannot transfer the PF account number to company B. This transfer can only happen when both companies belong to the same state, such as Andhra Pradesh, etc.

Each PF account number contains state codes. For example, for Andhra Pradesh, it's AP, and for Maharashtra, it's MH. If all three of your companies - A, B, and C - are in the same state, you still cannot withdraw the amount. However, you can take an advance from the PF account by providing the required Form 31 to the regional PF Commissioner.

If you have any more doubts, please reply to me.

Your company, C, cannot deposit PF to the account of company B. The HR of company C should have given you a new account number, striking out the account number written by you. You can verify the accounts by personally going to the Office of the EPFO where your company C's PF accounts are maintained. Since you do not know your account number (with the company C), you just mention the company name and your name.

Dear Shabbir, there is no restriction for the transfer of PF from one state to another or within one state. Similarly, there is no restriction regarding the withdrawal of the amount. The only restriction for withdrawal is that you cannot withdraw the amount while you are in service.

Regards,
Madhu.T.K

Thank you, Shabbir and Madhu. I did go home to check thoroughly, and yes, I do have a new PF account number with Company C. I was stupid not to check that. But your information was apt and to the point. It did help me after all.

Hopefully, I should now have no hassle picking up PF of Companies A and B.

Dear,

There will be interrelation between PF Branches. If PF transfer is applied from A to B, the concerned PF branch will send for verification whether he is having such an account or not.

I am changing my existing company from Pune to another company in Jamshedpur and want to transfer my PF amount to my new company. I have not yet joined the new company. Can anyone suggest what I should do, or do I have to withdraw the PF amount?

You can keep the account for transferring once you join another organization or withdraw it. If you keep it, you will earn interest for 36 months. If you are sure that you will not join any organization, then you may withdraw the amount.

Madhu.T.K

PF Withdrawal Process

If you have a UAN, you can directly apply for PF withdrawal. You do not require your previous employer’s approval to process this application. However, the challenge with this option is that most employers do not share the UAN with employees. In the absence of a UAN, this option cannot be availed.

Get a PF withdrawal form, fill it out, and submit it directly to the regional Provident Fund Office. This procedure requires identity attestation since the PF office needs to ensure that the right person is applying for withdrawal. Hence, your withdrawal form needs to be attested by one of the following authorities:

- Any Bank Manager
- A Gazetted Officer
- Magistrate/Post/Sub Post Master/President of Village Panchayat/Notary Public

I don't think that companies do not share the UAN of the employees. They cannot do so because they have to link the employees' UAN with their mobile phone numbers so that they can get information about their account. This has been made a mandatory requirement. Registering UAN using the mobile numbers itself discloses their UAN to all the employees.

Madhu.T.K