In a major step towards improving ease of living for its members, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has simplified the process of PF account transfers through a revamped Form 13 functionality. Introduced in January, the new system eliminates the need for employer approval in most cases when employees change jobs, significantly expediting the transfer process.

Previously, PF transfers involved coordination between two EPF offices—the source (from where the funds are transferred) and the destination (where the funds are credited). Under the updated mechanism, once the source office approves the transfer, the funds are instantly credited to the member's account at the destination office, eliminating any delay and enhancing member convenience.

The new system also includes a detailed breakdown of taxable and non-taxable PF components, helping ensure accurate TDS calculations on taxable interest. This streamlined process is expected to benefit over 1.25 crore members annually and facilitate quicker transfers of nearly ?90,000 crore.

In addition, EPFO has relaxed the requirement of Aadhaar for generating Universal Account Numbers (UANs) in specific cases—such as accounting for past accumulations from surrendered Exempted PF Trusts or past dues from recovery proceedings. A new software feature allows for the bulk generation of UANs based on member IDs and existing records, speeding up the crediting of funds.

To ensure security, UANs generated without Aadhaar will remain frozen and only be activated once Aadhaar is linked. These initiatives aim to enhance service delivery, reduce member grievances, and support auto-settlement of eligible claims through improved validations.