EPFO issues SOP to freeze, de-freeze accounts

December 28, 2023:  The Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) on December 22, 2023, issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for freezing and de-freezing of provident fund (PF) accounts.

The SOP provides a time-bound methodology for freezing MIDs/UANs/Establishments on account of verification requirement, as a measure of due diligence to secure the funds in these MIDs/UANs/Establishments and the subsequent de-freezing, wherever required, on completion of verification of genuineness, mentioned the government order.

As per the SOP, the PF accounts can be freezed upto 30 days and an extension of another 14 days can be given for verification of the account, if there is confirmation of fraud with respect to that account. A second extension will be given only after the approval of FA & CAO.

On receipt of the information of the freezing, if the member or employer files a grievance in the EPFiGMS Portal, then in that case the duration shall be as below: –

Source: EPFO SOP