Discontinuance of Form-9 in Physical Form by EPFO
Previously, Form 9 in hard copy needed to be submitted by the employer to the respective EPFO office for the allotment of a PF number to the employees, including the employee's personal information. However, with effect from 01/10/2017, there is an order for the discontinuance of Form-9 in physical form by EPFO.
The EPFO body has taken this step in the wake of rapid computerization in EPFO as an initiative towards becoming an Electronic Paper Free Organization. The official stated that since the employee master roll is available in the PF system containing all relevant details of the employee, such as name, gender, DOB, DOJ, father's/spouse's name, as well as Aadhaar and bank details fetched through electronic challan (PF return), the submission of Form-9 in physical form by the employer can be discontinued. This would boost e-governance for fully electronic settlement of claims and also facilitate employers in ease of doing business by reducing their paperwork.
However, for those employees whose joining date is prior to 01/10/2017, the employer still needs to submit Form 9 in hard copy to their respective PF office.