After changing jobs, employees often face difficulties in transferring their Provident Fund (PF) balance from their old account to a new one or in processing withdrawals. The primary reason for this is often the failure of the previous employer to record the 'Date of Exit' in the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) records. If this date is not updated, both your PF transfer and withdrawal requests get stalled.

However, you no longer need to make repeated visits to your former employer or HR department. Providing significant relief to employees, the EPFO ​​has introduced a facility that allows you to update the 'Date of Exit' online yourself.

Why is updating the 'Date of Exit' important?

According to EPFO ​​rules, unless an exit date is marked on your old account, the system assumes you are still employed by that company. Without an exit date:

You cannot transfer your old PF balance to a new account online.

You cannot process a full-and-final settlement (withdrawal) of your PF after leaving the job.

Issues arise regarding the calculation and withdrawal of the pension (EPS) component.

Prerequisites for updating the exit date online

1. Your 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) must be activated.

2. Your Aadhaar number must be linked to your PF account (UAN).

3. The mobile number linked to your Aadhaar must be active, as the verification code will be sent to it.

4. At least 60 days (2 months) must have elapsed since the month of the last contribution made to your PF account by your previous employer. The 'Mark Exit' option on the portal will not work before this two-month period has passed.

How to update on the UAN portal: A step-by-step process

You can complete this process in just 5 minutes using a mobile phone or laptop.

1. First, visit the EPFO ​​Unified Member Portal and log in using your UAN, password, and captcha code.

2. Once the home page opens, click on the 'Manage' tab located in the top menu. Click on the 'Mark Exit' option from the drop-down list.

3. Go to the 'Select Employment' drop-down menu and choose the previous company (Establishment/PF Account) you have left.

4. After entering the details, click on 'Request OTP'. A 6-digit OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar.

5. Enter the OTP, tick the consent checkbox, and click the 'Update' button.

Once the process is complete, a success message will appear on the screen, and the updated information will be visible in your 'Service History' section.

A mistake could prove costly!

According to EPFO ​​rules, once you have manually entered the 'Date of Exit' online, you cannot change or edit it yourself. If an incorrect date is entered by mistake, you will have to fill out a 'Joint Declaration Form' with your previous employer and visit the EPFO ​​office to rectify it. Therefore, before submitting, make sure to verify your last working date against your company's relieving letter or final salary slip.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.