A UAN Number (Universal Account Number) is a unique 12-digit identification number assigned to employees in India by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to manage their provident fund accounts across multiple employers throughout their career.
What is Universal Account Number
The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a centralized identifier that links all of an employee's provident fund member IDs from different employments into a single, portable account. When employees switch jobs, their existing UAN gets linked to the new employer's PF member ID, ensuring continuous accumulation of retirement savings without manual transfers. This matters significantly in HR because it reduces administrative workload, accelerates the joining process, and provides employees direct access to their complete PF history through the EPFO portal. The UAN system is specific to India and applies to all employees covered under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, making it an essential component of statutory benefit administration.