UAN: Universal Account Number
Last updated: 13 July 2026. General explainer, not legal or tax advice.
At a glance
What the UAN is
The Universal Account Number is a 12 digit number the EPFO issues to every provident fund member. It is an umbrella. Each job creates a member identity under the provident fund, and the UAN ties all of those identities to one number that stays with the person for life.
Why it matters when you change jobs
Before the UAN, every job meant a fresh PF account and a slow transfer. Now the new employer links the fresh account to the existing UAN, and the balance can be transferred online rather than through paper claims. The member sees every account in one passbook.
Activating and using the UAN
The member activates the UAN on the EPFO member portal and seeds KYC details, Aadhaar, PAN and bank account, against it. Once active, the portal shows the balance, the passbook, and lets the member raise transfer or withdrawal claims. Aadhaar seeding is what lets most online claims go through cleanly.
The employer's role at onboarding
When a new joiner already has a UAN, the employer links it to the new PF account rather than creating a second UAN. If the person has never had a PF account, the employer generates a fresh UAN through the portal. Declaring the correct wages against that UAN each month is part of the monthly return.
Common UAN problems and fixes
Two problems come up often. The first is a person ending up with more than one UAN, usually because a new employer generated a fresh one instead of linking the old, which then needs the accounts merged under a single number. The second is a mismatch between the name or date of birth on the UAN and on the Aadhaar or PAN, which blocks online claims until it is corrected.
Both are fixable through the EPFO member portal, and both are cheaper to avoid at onboarding. Asking a new joiner for their existing UAN, and seeding correct KYC once, saves a transfer headache and a stuck claim later.
Worked example
An employee has held two earlier PF covered jobs, so two accounts sit under one UAN. On the third job the employer links the new account to that same UAN. All three balances show in one passbook, and the older balances can be transferred into the current account online.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Does the UAN change when I switch jobs?
No. It stays the same for life. Each employer links your new PF account to your existing UAN, so your balances stay together.
Where do I find my UAN?
It is usually printed on your payslip, and your employer can share it. You can also trace it on the EPFO member portal using your PF details.
Who generates the UAN for a first job?
The employer generates it through the EPFO portal when a person joins their first PF covered job.
Can a person have two UANs?
No, a person should hold only one. If two got created, they must be merged so all the PF sits under a single number.
What is KYC seeding on the UAN?
Linking your Aadhaar, PAN and bank account to the UAN. Seeded KYC, especially Aadhaar, is what lets most online PF claims go through.
What if I have two UANs?
They should be merged so all your provident fund sits under one number. This usually happens when a new employer generated a fresh UAN instead of linking your existing one.
Why is my PF claim getting rejected?
A common reason is a name or date of birth mismatch between the UAN and your Aadhaar or PAN, or unseeded KYC. Correcting these on the EPFO portal usually clears it.
Sources and official references
The rules and figures on this page trace to the official sources below. Statutory amounts and dates change, so confirm the current number on the source before you act on it.
How Offrd helps
Offrd captures PF details, including the UAN, during onboarding, so provident fund records are correct from the first day.