The Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has extended the last date to seed Aadhaar number with the universal account number (UAN) for filing electronic challan-cum-returns (ECR) till September 1, 2021, in order to provide relief amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an official circular released by the EPFO on Tuesday, June 15, the last date to seed the Aadhaar number with UAN is extended from June 1, 2021, to September 1, 2021, for those who need to file the electronic challan-cum-returns.
This will give more time to employers to link their employees Aadhaar number with PF accounts or UAN.
The EPFO had issued office order for the field staff on June 1 saying that the ECR shall be allowed to be filed only for those members, whose Aadhaar numbers are seeded and verified with the UAN, with effect from June 1, 2021. The EPFO had decided to make Aadhaar seeding compulsory after a labour ministry notification in this regard. A notification was issued by the labour ministry on May 3, which mandated the ministry and bodies working under it to seek Aadhaar number from the beneficiaries under the Social Security Code.
Section 142 of the Social Security Code provides for establishing the identity of an employee or an unorganised worker or any other person through the Aadhaar number for seeking benefits and availing services.
The UAN is basically a 12-digit account number allotted by the Employee Provident Fund Organisation to every employee where the EPF deposits are being made. The universal account number makes the process of operating PF account services such as availing withdrawal, PF loans, or checking the EPF balance easier and convenient for the account holders.
Meanwhile, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation – having finalised the interest rate on the provident fund (PF) deposits for the financial year 2020-21 at 8.5 per cent, is likely to credit the interest amount in the accounts of its subscribers by next month.
