EPF and ESI · How and Why
Epf Mobile Number Registration Online (India, 2026)
Your mobile number is the key to the EPF member portal: it is where the OTP lands when you log in, update details, or make a claim. If the number linked to your UAN is wrong or belongs to an old phone, you are locked out of the things that matter most. This guide shows how to register or update your mobile number for EPF online, and covers the related tasks employers and employees search for at the same time: calculating gratuity, paying the ESIC e-challan, and registering a new PF account.
- Update mobile: member portal, Manage, Contact Details, then verify with an OTP to the new number.
- Need UAN active: activate your UAN first if you have never logged in; it links your mobile.
- Gratuity formula: last basic plus DA x 15 / 26 x completed years; tax-exempt up to a notified ceiling.
- ESIC e-challan: generate and pay the monthly contribution challan on the employer portal at esic.gov.in.
- New PF: register the establishment online, enrol employees to generate UANs, then file monthly ECR.
- Deadlines matter: PF and ESI are monthly; late payment attracts interest and can hit employee benefits.
01Why the EPF mobile number matters
Every EPF member has a Universal Account Number (UAN). The mobile number linked to that UAN is used to:
- Send the login OTP for the member portal and the UMANG app.
- Authorise updates to your name, date of birth and bank details.
- Confirm withdrawal and transfer claims.
If the number is out of date, you cannot receive these OTPs and most self-service tasks stop working. Keeping it current is the single most useful thing you can do for your EPF account.
You usually need your current number already active
Updating the mobile number on the member portal generally needs an OTP to the new number and verification against your UAN details. If you have lost access entirely, your employer or the EPFO office may need to help reset it.
02Register or update your mobile number online
You can do this yourself, free, on the EPFO member portal.
- Go to the member portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in and log in with your UAN and password.
- Open "Manage" and then "Contact Details".
- Tick the mobile number box, enter the new number, and request the OTP.
- Enter the OTP sent to the new number to confirm the change.
If you cannot log in because you never activated your UAN, activate it first using the "Activate UAN" option, which also links your mobile. If you have lost access to the registered number, ask your employer to update it or visit the EPFO portal at epfindia.gov.in for the correction route.
03Calculate gratuity amount online
Gratuity is a lump sum paid to an employee who has completed a qualifying period of continuous service, usually five years, when they leave. For employees covered by the gratuity law, the common formula is:
Gratuity = last drawn basic salary and dearness allowance x 15 / 26 x number of completed years of service.
- "15 / 26" reflects 15 days of wages for each completed year, counting 26 working days in a month.
- Service beyond six months in the final year is usually rounded up to a full year.
- Gratuity is tax-exempt up to a notified ceiling; amounts above that may be taxable.
Online gratuity calculators apply this formula. For a quick estimate, enter your last basic plus dearness allowance and completed years. Confirm the tax-exempt ceiling as notified, since amounts above it can be taxable.
04Pay the ESIC e-challan online
Employers covered by the Employees State Insurance scheme pay monthly contributions through an ESIC e-challan.
- Log in to the employer portal at esic.gov.in.
- Generate the monthly contribution challan after filing the contribution details for your employees.
- Choose online payment and pay through net banking to generate the paid e-challan.
- Save the challan as proof of payment.
ESI contributions have a monthly due date, and late payment attracts interest and can affect employees' benefit eligibility, so pay before the deadline each month.
05New PF registration online
An employer crossing the employee threshold for EPF coverage must register the establishment and then enrol employees.
- Establishment registration is done online through the EPFO portal (often via the government Shram Suvidha single-window portal).
- Employee enrolment follows, generating or linking each employee's UAN.
- Monthly ECR filing and contribution payment then begin.
For the ongoing deadlines once you are registered, see the PF return due date, and for the related ESI costs, see ESIC registration fees.
06How Claw Tax helps
Claw Tax and Accounts is an online tax, GST and accounting service for India that connects you with a verified chartered accountant at a fixed, published price, with a Claw reviewer checking every filing before it is submitted.
Updating your own EPF mobile number or checking a gratuity figure is a free, do-it-yourself task on the EPFO portal, and most individuals can manage it. The recurring work, new PF and ESI registration, monthly ECR and ESIC challans, and keeping payroll compliance on time, is where small businesses lose hours and risk late fees. With Claw Tax and Accounts, a verified chartered accountant sets up and runs your PF and ESI compliance at a fixed, published price, a Claw reviewer checks the filings, and reminders go out before each monthly due date. For a one-off personal query, we will point you to the free portal route rather than sell you a subscription.
This is an online service, and it is not tax or legal advice; a verified CA handles your specifics.
07Frequently asked questions
How do I register or change my mobile number for EPF online?
Log in to the EPFO member portal with your UAN and password, open Manage and then Contact Details, tick the mobile number box, enter the new number and request an OTP. Enter the OTP sent to the new number to confirm. If you never activated your UAN, use Activate UAN first, which links your mobile.
What if I have lost access to the number registered with my UAN?
If you cannot receive the OTP because the old number is gone, you usually cannot change it on the portal alone. Ask your employer to update your contact details against your UAN, or follow the correction route on epfindia.gov.in. In some cases the EPFO office needs to verify your identity before resetting the number.
How is gratuity calculated?
For employees covered by the gratuity law, the common formula is last drawn basic salary plus dearness allowance, multiplied by 15 divided by 26, multiplied by the number of completed years of service. Service beyond six months in the final year is usually rounded to a full year. Gratuity is tax-exempt up to a notified ceiling.
How do I pay the ESIC e-challan online?
Log in to the ESIC employer portal at esic.gov.in, file the monthly contribution details for your employees, generate the contribution challan, then pay online through net banking. Save the paid e-challan as proof. ESI contributions have a monthly due date, so pay before the deadline to avoid interest.
How does a new employer register for PF online?
Register the establishment online through the EPFO portal, often via the Shram Suvidha single-window portal, then enrol each employee to generate or link their UAN. After registration, you file the monthly ECR and pay contributions. An employer generally must register once it crosses the employee threshold for EPF coverage.
Can I do EPF and ESI tasks myself for free?
Yes. Updating your mobile number, checking gratuity and viewing your passbook are free self-service tasks on the EPFO and UMANG platforms. Employers can also register and file themselves. Many small businesses still prefer help with the recurring monthly ECR and ESIC filings so deadlines and contributions stay accurate.