Confused About PF Transfers? Can My New Employer Use My Old PF Account?

This is the second company that I have been working for in the past year. My current employer has asked me to provide them with the PF account number from my previous organization (i.e., my first organization). The HR department of my current company informed me that they would deposit the PF component that I am eligible for into the existing PF account from my first organization, as they do not have their own establishment code due to being a small firm with fewer than 15 employees. Despite my repeated requests, I have not yet received the Form-16. I am not very familiar with HR technicalities, and I am unsure if it is possible for a new employer to send money to an existing PF account.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

To get things right, the PF transfer happens from the previous company to the current company, not the other way around as you have mentioned.

Secondly, to check if PF remittance is being made against your name, you can log into the PF department website and check the same. They will have the details of all remittances made against your name/account. You can also check there if the company has been registered under PF, and the establishment number can be obtained from there.

Form 16 and Tax Remittances

For Form 16, it is mandatory for the employer to give you a copy of it. You can log into the IT department website and check if remittances have been made for the tax deducted. You can also check Form 26A, which is available on the IT department site. If nothing is showing there, then you need to seriously follow up with your employer on the status.

Hope this helps & all the best.

Resolve Your Previous PF Account

It is better to get your PF account from your earlier establishment settled and retrieve the money from EPFO since your new organization is not covered under EPF. They cannot credit your EPF contribution to the old account. That is, perhaps, a false promise they have made. Rectify the situation immediately; otherwise, you will be taken for a ride by them.