The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a 12-digit unique identification number allotted by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) to all salaried employees who contribute a part of their income towards the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) . The UAN acts as an umbrella for the multiple Member Identification Numbers (Member Id) allotted to an individual by different establishments. It is generated and assigned by the EPFO and is issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The UAN number is independent of employers and is linked to all the member IDs of the employee.

The UAN number is important because it helps employees track their total EPF contributions, under their previous employer(s) as well as current employer, all in one place. It also helps in the transfer of EPF balance from one employer to another. The UAN number is printed on the salary slip from the time the company starts deducting the salary towards PF contributions. Employees can also find their UAN number by visiting the UAN portal and filling in their details.