EPF Number vs UAN: Are They the Same?
No. Your UAN and your PF number are not the same. The UAN (Universal Account Number) is a permanent number that identifies you as an EPF member, and it stays the same in every job. The PF number, also called the Member ID or EPF account number, identifies one PF account with one employer, so you get a new one each time you join a new employer, and all of them sit under your one UAN.
| UAN | PF number (Member ID) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it identifies | You, as an EPF member | One PF account with one employer |
| How many you have | One, for your whole working life | One for every employer you have worked with |
| When you change jobs | Stays the same | A new one is created under the same UAN |
| Where you see it | EPFO member portal, your e-Passbook, often your payslip | Your payslip, your e-Passbook (listed under your UAN) |
| What you use it for | Logging in to the EPFO portal, linking every job, online claims and transfers | Identifying the account for one job, for example on a claim or transfer |
What is an EPF number?
EPF number is the number of your PF account with your current employer. It denotes your current employment, including the details like state, establishment, regional office and your own account. EPF number is employee-unique, and it changes when your employment changes. The EPF Scheme's own forms ask for it as "Member ID/EPF Account no.", separate from your UAN and from the "EPF Code No." of the establishment.
Your employer deducts your share of PF from your salary every month and deposits it, along with the employer's share, into this account. The account itself is kept by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), not by your employer.
What is a UAN number?
UAN or Universal Account Number is your permanent identity number in the EPF system. The EPF Scheme, 2026 defines it as "an identity number allotted to an employee on a permanent basis" (paragraph 2(1)(q)). Every PF account you have ever had, one per employer, is linked to this one number.
What is the difference between UAN and EPF numbers?
UAN number, unlike the EPF number, remains the same throughout the employee's life span. However, the EPF number keeps on changing as the employment changes. Employees are granted a single UAN number in their lifetime but they may have multiple EPF numbers.
Another difference between the two numbers is what you can do with them. With your UAN you log in to the EPFO member portal, view your PF passbook, and make claims and transfers online. A single EPF number only tells you about the account for one job.
An example: you start your career at Company A, move to Company B and then to Company C. You have one UAN from the first job, and three PF numbers (Member IDs), one for each company, all linked to that UAN.
How to find your PF number
| Where to look | What you will find |
|---|---|
| Your payslip | Most employers print the PF number on the monthly payslip |
| EPFO member e-Passbook | Log in with your UAN to view your PF passbook (EPFO makes the e-Passbook available online, paragraph 24(2)(iv)) |
| Your employer's HR or payroll team | The PF number for your current job |
How to get or find your UAN
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You already have a UAN but don't know it | Use Know Your UAN on the EPFO member portal to retrieve it with your basic details, or check your payslip |
| You are starting your first job | Use Direct UAN Allotment on the portal to self-generate your UAN without an employer request |
| You have a PF account but no UAN | Use UAN for Existing PF on the portal |
Under the EPF Scheme, 2026, if you cannot generate a UAN yourself, your employer has to help you do it (paragraph 24(2)(iii)).
What happens to your PF number when you change jobs
Give your new employer your UAN, not your old PF number. Your new employer links your UAN to its establishment (paragraph 24(2)(ii)), and in practice a new Member ID is created for the new job under the same UAN.
Your old balance does not join the new account by itself in every case. Check your e-Passbook after joining, and if your earlier PF accounts still show separately, see how to merge multiple EPF Member IDs under one UAN.
Which number do you need, and when?
| What you are doing | Number to use |
|---|---|
| Joining a new company | UAN |
| Logging in to the EPFO portal or checking your passbook | UAN |
| Withdrawing or settling your PF | File the claim online with your UAN, against the PF account (Member ID) you want to settle |
| Asking HR about one job's PF | PF number |
For the steps to settle or withdraw your PF, see PF final settlement (Form 19) and withdrawal of Provident Fund.
UAN vs PRAN: not the same either
PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number) is your account number in the National Pension System (NPS). UAN is your number in the EPF. They belong to two different retirement schemes run by two different bodies, so having one does not give you the other. If you have an NPS account, see how to track your existing NPS or PRAN.
How can PensionBox help you in maintaining your numbers?
PensionBox lets you track your EPF in the app, along with your other retirement savings, and work out how much you would need for the retirement you want.
Sign up and download the app on Android and on iOS.
Position as of October 2026, from the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 2026 (paragraphs 2(1)(q) and 24(2)) and the EPFO member portal. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the PF number and UAN number the same?
No. The UAN is your permanent EPF identity number and stays the same in every job. The PF number (Member ID) belongs to one PF account with one employer, so you get a new one with each employer, all linked to your one UAN.
Which number should I give my new employer?
Your UAN. The new employer links your UAN to its establishment and a new PF number (Member ID) is created for the new job under the same UAN.
Can I generate a UAN myself?
Yes. The EPFO member portal has a Direct UAN Allotment option to self-generate your UAN without an employer request. If you cannot do it, your employer has to help you generate one.
Can one person have two UANs?
You should have only one UAN for your whole working life. If you find PF accounts under a second UAN, the older accounts need to be brought under one UAN through the EPFO member portal.
Is PRAN the same as UAN?
No. PRAN is your account number in the National Pension System (NPS) and UAN is your number in the EPF. They are separate schemes, so one number does not give you the other.
2,00,000+ Stories
Hope they inspires you as well.
their NPS stories for a golden retirement.
PensionBox simplifies the National Pension System(NPS), the government's pension scheme for private employees both for retail users and HRs/companies.
If you don’t have an NPS account, you can simply open your pension account within 2 minutes and if you have NPS PRAN already, you will be able track, invest and manage everything free of charge with best user experience.
We never touch or hold your money directly, your investments go safely to your chosen pension fund through approved channels.
We are built with Zerodha as POP , ensuring transparency, data security, and peace of mind. Your retirement savings are protected by regulation and secured by technology.
That’s why, PensionBox brings transparency, zero charges, timely support and freedom to select any pension fund so that you get the best experience investing in NPS & be better future ready.
That’s not it, we help you & your company together to maximise contribution and tax savings with minimal charges & best user experience.
If you are an existing zerodha user then you get a fast login or sign up using kite ID.
Once you are onboarded with kite ID, you get free access to
- Open NPS in 2 minutes
- Track existing NPS
- POP shift or CRA shifting
- Invest in one time or create SIP in NPS
- Withdraw NPS requests & instant withdraw tier 2
- Create your dream retirement plan
- Open NPS Vatsalya for your kid
- Share with HR (To unlock more tax benefits)
- Employer Contribution:
- Contributions made by your employer to your NPS account are tax-free up to 14% of your basic salary under Section 80CCD(2). Do connect us with your HR to enable this for you.
Tax Benefits in Old Tax Regime - Self-Contribution:
- Deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh under Section 80C.
- Additional deduction of ₹50,000 under Section 80CCD(1B) — exclusive to NPS investments!
- This allows you to claim a total deduction of up to ₹2 lakh every year on your NPS contributions.
- Employer Contribution:
- Contributions made by your employer to your NPS account are tax-free up to 10% of your basic salary (Basic + DA) under Section 80CCD(2). Do connect us with your HR to enable this for you.
- This is over and above your personal deduction limits, giving you extra tax efficiency.
Feel free to book a free call to learn more about NPS, NPS Vatsalya, Corporate NPS & PensionBox or contact the support team.
