PAN and EPF Mismatch: What It Means and How to Resolve It

Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is among the most significant financial security pillars of over 7.37 crore EPFO-registered Indian workers. It helps you build a large corpus by making regular EPF contributions to the monthly pension scheme. It also allows you to withdraw both contributions and interest earned when required.

A slight mismatch between PAN and EPF details, however, can prevent you from accessing your EPF balance. In this blog, we will understand what is PAN and EPF mismatch is and how you can address it.

What Is Employee Provident Fund (EPF)?

The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement savings plan sponsored by the government. It aims to ensure the long-term financial security of the salaried workers in India. It is administered by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and ensures that the employee and the employer make a fixed percentage contribution to the EPF account every month based on the employee's basic salary.

Every contribution will contribute to a large retirement corpus, which will provide several EPF benefits, including tax-free interest and even insurance coverage under the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance program. The EPF account number is a number that is used to identify your contributions, view your EPF balance, and manage your provident fund online using the EPF portal or UMANG app.

Importance of PAN Details in Your EPF Account

The PAN card is very important in the EPF withdrawal process since it assists the EPFO in verifying your identity and calculating the appropriate TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) to deduct on the withdrawals.

• The PAN card is essential in the EPF withdrawal process because it assists the EPFO in identifying you and the TDS that will be charged on withdrawals.

• In case your PAN is confirmed in your EPF account, TDS will be restricted to 10% but in case of a mismatch, more than 30% TDS can be deducted from your provident fund.

• PAN verification is used to process EPF withdrawal and transfer requests faster, and is associated with your EPF account number.

• Correct PAN information also avoids mistakes in the EPFO records, which increases the likelihood of rejection or delay of claims.

• The EPF account has a lock-in period, and therefore, the early withdrawals that are not made after five years are subject to taxation.

• The correct connection of your PAN card, Aadhaar, and bank account information can assist in making sure that you get all the PF amount without any deductions or delays in processing.

The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is one of the most popular retirement savings choices for salaried employees because it provides substantial tax exemption benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

What is a PAN and EPF Account Mismatch?

A PAN–EPF account mismatch occurs when the details linked to your PAN, like your name, date of birth, or even the spelling, do not match the information in your EPF account. EPFO uses your PAN to verify your identity for withdrawals, TDS purposes, and the employees' pension scheme.

If the system fails to validate your PAN, it treats the employee's PF account as unverified. This can result in higher tax deductions or transaction delay. For example, if your PAN card has your name as Shekher Kumar Sharma, but your EPF account has it as Shekher K. Sharma, the system considers it a mismatch.

Why Does PAN–EPF Mismatch Occur in the EPF?

Here are the most common reasons for PAN and EPF account mismatch:

• Name mismatch: The slightest spelling variations between your PAN card and EPF account records will lead to a verification failure on the EPFO website.

• Wrong or unverified PAN number: When your PAN is typed in incorrectly or not verified in the employee provident fund KYC section, your account will not be properly synced.

• Wrong date of birth or gender: Incorrect personal information between the EPF number and the PAN card may not be validated.

• Unlinked Aadhaar and PAN: In case Aadhaar is not linked with PAN, the EPFO is unable to verify your EPF account, and thus, withdrawals or claims are delayed.

Another common reason is when individuals have just updated their PAN details but forgot to couple the new PAN with their employee provident fund EPF profile. Also, if your PAN was not approved through the Income Tax database, EPFO will not be able to verify it during EPF withdrawal or fund transfers, which can affect your retirement corpus.

How Mismatch Affects Your EPF Withdrawal Process and EPF Balance Transfers

The most immediate effect is on PF withdrawals. If your PAN is not authenticated, the EPFO deducts tax at the higher TDS rate of up to 30% + cess instead of applying the standard 10% which is the case when a validated PAN is linked.

This may cause a drastic drop in the EPF balance you will finally receive at the time of EPF withdrawal, especially if it is based on your basic salary. Also, an unverified PAN can delay fund transfers between multiple PF accounts, especially when you have changed jobs.

Since both old and new employer links your Universal Account Number (UAN) to a unique PF account number, the mismatch can stop the system from auto-transferring the entire PF amount. You have to intervene through the regional EPFO office manually.

Impact of PAN–EPF Mismatch on Tax Deduction (TDS)

A verified PAN is necessary for correct TDS calculation during EPF withdrawals. As per the Income Tax Act, if you withdraw the employee provident fund EPF before 5 years of continuous service, TDS applies. But the rate of deduction depends entirely on PAN verification.

If your PAN matches and is verified, TDS is deducted at 10%. If your PAN fails verification due to a mismatch, TDS jumps to 30% + cess. For example, if you withdraw ₹2 lakh before 5 years, the deduction may go up from ₹20,000 to almost ₹69,200.

Income Tax Department’s official guidelines clearly state that invalid or mismatched PANs are treated as no-PAN cases, which means the highest possible deduction rate. Therefore, even a minor spelling variation in your PAN or EPF account can lead to unnecessary tax deductions affecting your retirement corpus and long-term savings.

How to Check If There’s a PAN–EPF Mismatch

Detecting a mismatch early can save you time and money. You can verify this in two simple steps, reviewing your records on a monthly basis.

Step-by-Step: Checking PAN Status on the EPFO Portal

1. Visit the EPFO Member e-Sewa Portal .

2. Log in using your UAN (Universal Account Number) and password.

3. Go to Manage → KYC details.

4. Check if your PAN is marked as “Verified” or “Unverified”.

5. If it shows “Unverified”, it means there’s a mismatch with the Income Tax database.

How to Verify Your PAN Through the Income Tax Portal

1. Visit the Income Tax e-Filing Portal.

2. Under Quick Links, select Verify Your PAN Details.

3. Enter your PAN, full name, and date of birth.

4. If the data matches, your PAN will be confirmed as valid. If not, you’ll need to update it before re-linking with the EPF account online.

If both portals display conflicting details, the mismatch is confirmed and must be corrected, typically requiring your employer's attestation, before proceeding with any EPF withdrawal process.

How to Correct PAN–EPF Mismatch Online

Here is how you can resolve the PAN and EPF mismatch:

Method 1: Update PAN Details on the EPFO Portal

1. Log in to the EPFO Member e-Sewa Portal .

2. Go to Manage → KYC → Add PAN.

3. Enter your PAN and name exactly as they appear on your PAN card.

4. Save and submit the details for employer approval.

5. Once the employer approves, EPFO will verify it with the Income Tax database automatically.

This method usually takes three to seven working days. If successful, your PAN status will change to “Verified”.

Method 2: Rectify PAN Details via the Income Tax Portal

In case the problem is with the PAN record, you need to rectify it first. You can update the PAN details online through the NSDL e-Governance Portal or UTIITSL Portal .

Make sure that the name spelling, date of birth, and gender are all matching precisely with your EPF account number. After the issuing of the updated PAN card, link it to your EPF account again as per Method 1.

Method 3: Contact EPFO Helpdesk or Submit a Joint Declaration

In some instances, particularly when an online correction fails, you will have to contact your regional EPFO office. Present a Joint Declaration Form signed by both you and your employer, which indicates the incorrect fields. Provide self-attested copies of your PAN card, Aadhaar, and proof of identity as attachments.

Submission of grievances can also be done through the EPFiGMS portal by choosing “PAN Mismatch” as the issue type. It generally takes the EPFO 15–30 days to resolve such requests.

Best Practices to Avoid PAN–EPF Mismatches

Here are a few best practices that ensure consistency:

• Use identical personal details across all documents, like PAN, Aadhaar, and EPF account.

• Link PAN and Aadhaar on both the Income Tax and EPF portals before starting any withdrawal for a smooth transfer.

• Update records without delay after name changes due to marriage, legal correction, or any document update.

• Check your PF account number format and details regularly, particularly after changing jobs, as your PF account number is connected to your Universal Account Number (UAN).

• Keep acknowledgement copies of all update requests for future reference.

Also Read: EPFO 3.0: New PF Withdrawal Explained

To Conclude

The mismatch between PAN and EPF accounts is an all-too-common mistake. If you routinely check your personal information on both the EPFO and Income Tax portals, it will be easier to prevent any problems during withdrawals, transfers, or even tax calculations.

Not only does keeping the financial records in sync save time, but it also ensures that your contributions to the EPF scheme are processed without delays. It ensures your hard-earned money comes to you with no deductions.

FAQs

What are the reasons for PAN and EPF details to mismatch?

The main reason for a mismatch is personal information discrepancies, which might take the form of name differences, date of birth errors, or EPFO records containing unverified PAN details.

How long does it take to fix a PAN-EPF mismatch through the online method?

Generally, the entire process will take about 3 to 7 business days after the employer provides approval for the KYC update on the EPFO portal. In certain circumstances, this could take up to 15 days, depending on the verification time.

Is it possible to withdraw EPF even when PAN details are not corrected?

Certainly, but in case your PAN is not verified, TDS is deducted at the maximum marginal rate of 30% + cess.

Is there any effect of a mismatch on the TDS refund or credit?

Indeed, it is so. In case the PAN is not verified, the higher TDS deducted could fail to be reflected correctly in your Form 26AS, thereby making refund claims difficult.

Who should I approach if the mismatch still exists after rectification?

You may either raise a grievance via the EPFiGMS portal or visit your nearby EPFO office, taking along a joint declaration form as well as ID documents for manual resolution.

How to check my EPF account balance online?

You can check your EPF balance through the EPFO portal, UMANG application or through SMS on your registered mobile number using your Universal Account Number (UAN).

What is the importance of PAN to my EPF account?

Your PAN card ensures that you are deducting taxes properly on EPF withdrawals.

What happens if my PAN details don't match my EPF account?

PF withdrawals may be slowed down and lead to increased TDS due to a PAN-EPF mismatch.

Where can I get my employee PF number?

You can find PF account number in your salary slip or on the EPFO portal, or UAN Member Portal.

What should I do to fix a discrepancy between PAN and EPF account information?

Log in to the UAN portal, update your KYC information and align your PAN with your EPFO records to continue making unhindered EPF withdrawals.