One of the main reasons for EPFO rejecting the EPF withdrawal claim is incomplete KYC. Therefore, to avoid rejection by the EPFO, it is important to ensure that your EPF account is KYC compliant, before making any request.

It is important that your Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) account is KYC compliant. If the EPF account is not KYC compliant, then you will not be able to avail various services online on the Employees Provident Fund Organisation’s (EPFO) Member e-Sewa Portal. Some of these services include filing withdrawal claim, transfer of account, making nomination etc.

If your EPF account is not KYC compliant, then the EPFO can reject the service request raised by you and ask you to first make your account KYC compliant.

Here’s how you can check and complete the KYC process for your EPF account.

Checking KYC compliance in EPF account
There are three ways to check if your EPF account is KYC compliant. The first way is by checking your UAN card. UAN stands for Universal Account Number.

A. KYC Status via UAN card
Step 1: Log in to your account on the Member e-Sewa Portal.
Step 2: Select ‘UAN card’ tab under the ‘View’ tab.

If the KYC in your EPF account is completed, then the UAN card will show ‘Yes’ in front of KYC information row.

B. Documents that are approved under KYC tab
Another way to check if your EPF account is KYC compliant is by checking the documents that are approved and verified in the EPFO records. This can be checked in the ‘KYC’ option under the ‘Manage’ tab on the Member e-Sewa Portal. The EPF account holder can check the documents under the ‘Digitally Approved KYC’ tab.

The tab will show the list of documents that are approved and verified. For instance, for any online claim submission Aadhaar is mandatory. Therefore, one must ensure that Aadhaar is mentioned and verified in the list of documents. Similarly, bank account and IFSC details shown in the documents must be correct for timely credit of the EPF funds.

C. By checking on EPF India website
The third way to check if EPF account is KYC compliant is by visiting this website: https://iwu.epfindia.gov.in/eKYC/. Here, click on ‘Track EKYC’ option. After this, you will be asked to enter your UAN and captcha code.

If your account is KYC compliant, then the following message will appear on your computer screen: “Dear Member, Your Aadhaar Details XXXX XXXX against UAN XXXX XXXX has successfully been verified. Online EPFO services linked with Aadhaar can be availed.”

However, if the KYC is not completed in your EPF account, then you will have to complete the KYC process.

How to complete the KYC process
Step 1: Visit https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/

Step 2: Select ‘KYC’ option under the ‘Manage’ tab.

Step 3: Select the documents that you are going to upload. Do keep in mind that it is mandatory to link to your Aadhaar to UAN to be eligible for online claim submission. Similarly, PAN is also mandatory if the number of service years is less than five years at the time withdrawing the funds. Also, your bank account with correct IFSC must be linked to your UAN for the timely credit of EPF withdrawal.

Step 4: Enter the document number, name as per document and other details (see image) in the respective fields. For instance, after selecting document type ‘bank’, you will be required to enter your savings bank account number in the document number area, name as per the bank records in the name as per document filed and IFSC in other field.

Similar steps have to be taken in case of PAN and Aadhaar. The documents required to be uploaded will depend on what is missing from the documents required i.e. Aadhaar, PAN or bank account details etc.

The EPFO portal allows the following documents to be uploaded as proof for the purpose of KYC:
a) Bank
b) PAN
c) Aadhaar
d) Passport
e) Driving License
f) Election Card
g) Ration card
h) National population register.

Step 5: Once the documents of your choice are uploaded on the EPFO portal, click on save.

The status of your KYC will be shown under the ‘KYC Pending for Approval’ tab. Remember you will be required to submit the document proof to your employer. The EPFO will update your KYC details in your account only after your employer has verified your documents.

As per the FAQs mentioned on EPF website, the system will also trigger SMS on the individual’s registered mobile number once the KYC update is appoved by an employer.

One your KYC is approved, the status of the documents that were uploaded and submitted by you to your employer will be shown in the ‘Digital Approved KYC’ section under the KYC option. The documents will be shown as ‘approved by establishment’ and ‘online verification status’.

In case your employer is not appoving KYC details, you can directly approach administration or HR department with request. If it is taking more time you can escalate it to higher authority in the organisation. If no one is responding to your request you can approach EPF grievance via http://www.epfigms.gov.in/ as per the FAQs.