Transfer PF from Private Trust to EPFO: Step-by-Step Process (2026)

If your old company ran its own PF trust and your new employer is covered by EPFO, you can move your PF balance using Form 13. The process is different from a normal EPFO-to-EPFO transfer, because your money sits with the trust while your pension service sits with EPFO. This guide explains each step, what the trust and EPFO do at their end, and how to fix the most common delays.

What is a private (exempted) PF trust?

A private PF trust is a fund a company runs itself, with EPFO’s approval, instead of depositing PF with EPFO. Such companies are called exempted establishments (Section 17, EPF Act). Monthly PF contributions go into the trust, where trustees invest them and add interest. The trust must follow EPFO’s rules and transfer funds when members switch jobs. Pension (EPS) contributions usually still go to EPFO under a separate account number.

	Private PF trust	EPFO
Who holds your PF money	The company’s trust	EPFO
Who holds your pension (EPS) service	Usually EPFO	EPFO
Interest rate	At least the EPFO rate	Rate declared by EPFO each year
Withdrawals and loans	Through the trust’s own process	Online on the EPFO Member portal
Your PF account number	Issued by the trust	Member ID under your UAN

Not sure if your old company had a trust? Check your payslip or annual PF statement: it will name the trust instead of EPFO. You can also ask your old HR team directly.

When do you need to transfer from a trust to EPFO?

There are two common situations.

1. You changed jobs. You moved from a company with its own PF trust to one that deposits PF with EPFO. Your old balance stays with the trust until you request a transfer.

2. Your company gave up its trust. Sometimes a company gives up its exemption, or EPFO cancels it. When that happens, the trust has to move everyone’s PF balance to EPFO. Under Para 28 of the EPF Scheme, cash must be sent within 10 days and securities within 30 days.

You don’t have to file Form 13 for this. Your employer and EPFO take care of it. Just hold on to your last trust statement so you can check that the right amount shows up at EPFO.

Why transfer instead of withdrawing? A transfer keeps your service continuous. That matters for tax: PF withdrawn before 5 years of continuous service is taxable, and service with the trust counts towards those 5 years only if the balance is transferred.

Before you start: what you need

Keep these ready before you file the transfer:

• Active UAN with a working mobile number, and Aadhaar, PAN and bank account linked and approved (KYC).
• Old PF account number issued by the trust.
• Old Pension Fund Account Number (your EPS member ID with EPFO). Exempted companies have a separate pension number, and Form 13 asks for it.
• Name and address of the old trust, and the old company’s address.
• Dates of joining and leaving the old company.
• Your new PF member ID (shown under your UAN on the Member portal).
• Your last trust statement, so you can check the amount later.

If the details on your UAN don’t match the trust’s records (name, date of birth, father’s or spouse’s name), fix them first. Mismatches are the most common reason transfers get stuck.

How to transfer PF from a private trust to EPFO: step by step

The official form is Form 13 (Revised), the Transfer Claim Form. Because your PF money and your pension service sit in two different places, you send it to two places.

1. Fill in Form 13 (Revised).
   • Part A: Your name, father’s or spouse’s name, mobile, email and bank details. Bank details are only for verification; the money goes to your new PF account.
   • Part B (old account): Your trust PF number, Pension Fund Account Number, old company’s name and address, the trust’s name under “PF account is held by,” and your joining and leaving dates.
   • Part C (new account): Your new PF member ID, new company’s name and address, and your new employer’s EPFO office under “Account is held by.”
     
2. Get it attested by an employer. Either your previous or your present employer can sign and seal it. The form itself notes that attestation by the previous employer usually means faster settlement.
   
3. Send one copy to the old trust. This copy is the request to move your PF money. Submit it through your old employer or directly to the trust’s address.
   
4. Send another copy to the EPFO office. This copy moves your pension service details to the new account. Submit it to the EPFO office of the employer who attested the form: your new employer’s office if the new employer signed, your old employer’s office if the old employer signed.
   
5. Or start online, if your employer supports it. Log in to the EPFO Member portal and go to Online Services > One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request). Online transfer works only if the attesting employer has registered a digital signature with EPFO. When the old account is with a trust, you’ll need the trust’s details, including its bank IFSC, and the portal gives you a form to print, sign and send to the trust.
   
6. Note your claim or tracking ID and keep copies of both forms with the date you submitted them.

What happens after you apply

Once the trust receives your Form 13, the work moves to the trust and EPFO. EPFO has published the exact process the trust must follow on its Online Transfer Claim Portal.

1. The trust calculates your balance, including interest up to the transfer date.
2. The trust pays the money to the EPFO office that maintains your new account, by NEFT or cheque.
3. The trust logs in to EPFO’s Online Transfer Claim Portal and enters your old pension member ID, your new member ID and the payment details (NEFT transaction ID or cheque number).
4. The trust uploads Annexure-K, the statement that shows your contributions and service, and approves it with a trustee’s digital signature.
5. EPFO matches the payment with Annexure-K and credits the amount to your new PF account.
6. EPFO moves your pension service to the new account, based on the copy of Form 13 you sent to the EPFO office.

After step 5, the amount shows in your EPFO passbook as a transfer-in entry. Check that it matches your last trust statement plus interest.

How long it takes and how to track it

A trust-to-EPFO transfer usually takes longer than a normal EPFO-to-EPFO transfer, because two organisations act one after the other. Expect a few weeks, and follow up if nothing moves within a month.

Ways to track it:

• Member portal: Online Services > Track Claim Status, if you filed online.
• EPFO passbook: look for a transfer-in credit in your new member ID.
• The trust: ask the old HR or trust office for the NEFT transaction ID or cheque number and date. EPFO can trace the payment with it.
• SMS: EPFO sends updates to your registered mobile number.

Tax and service: the transferred amount is not taxed, and your years with the old company count as continuous service. That keeps the 5-year rule working in your favour when you withdraw later. Your pension service also carries over, so your EPS eligibility (10 years for a monthly pension) includes your old job.

Common problems with PF Trust Transfer

Problem	Likely cause	What to do
Trust says it never received your request	Form sent to the wrong address, or only the EPFO copy was filed	Send a fresh signed copy to the trust and keep the courier receipt or email
Trust has paid, but EPFO hasn’t credited it	Annexure-K not uploaded, or payment not matched to your member ID	Get the NEFT or cheque details from the trust and share them with the EPFO office of your new employer
Online transfer option not available	Neither employer has a digital signature registered with EPFO	Use the paper Form 13 route
Claim rejected for mismatched details	Name, date of birth or father’s name differs between the trust and UAN	Correct the details (Joint Declaration with your employer), then reapply
Only the pension service moved	The trust copy of Form 13 is still pending	Follow up with the trust; the two parts move separately
Amount credited is lower than expected	Interest calculated only up to an earlier date, or a past withdrawal	Ask the trust for a statement of how the amount was worked out

If the trust doesn’t respond: exempted trusts are supervised by EPFO. Raise a grievance on EPFiGMS with your UAN, both account numbers and the date you submitted Form 13, or write to the Regional PF Commissioner who covers your old company. If you’re stuck at the EPFO side instead, see our guide on claims stuck “under process”.

Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer PF from a private trust to EPFO online?

Partly. You can start the request on the EPFO Member portal if your old or new employer has a digital signature registered with EPFO. You still need to send a signed copy of the form to the old trust, because the trust releases the money.

Which form is used to transfer PF from a trust to EPFO?

Form 13 (Revised), the Transfer Claim Form. Send one copy to the old trust for your PF money and one to the EPFO office for your pension service.

What is Annexure-K?

It is a statement of your PF contributions and service that goes with the transferred money. The trust uploads it to EPFO’s Online Transfer Claim Portal along with the payment details.

Do I need my old employer’s approval?

Either your old or your new employer can attest Form 13. Attestation by the old employer is usually faster, because they can verify your trust account directly.

Will my pension service be lost if my old company had a trust?

No. In most exempted companies, pension contributions were deposited with EPFO all along. The EPFO copy of Form 13 links that pension service to your new account.

Is PF transferred from a trust taxable?

No. A transfer is not a withdrawal. Your service with the trust also counts towards the 5 years of continuous service needed for tax-free withdrawal.

What if I withdraw instead of transferring?

You can, through the trust’s own claim process. But if your total service is less than 5 years, the withdrawal may be taxable, and your service history breaks.

To move PF from a private trust to EPFO, fill in Form 13 (Revised), get it attested by your old or new employer, and send one copy to the old trust and one to the EPFO office. The trust pays the money to EPFO with Annexure-K, and EPFO credits it to your new account along with your pension service. Keep copies, track the credit in your passbook, and escalate on EPFiGMS if the trust doesn’t act.

Changing jobs between two EPFO-covered companies instead? Read our guide on transferring your EPF online when changing jobs. Employers can read about EPF exemption rules for private trusts.

EPF Guide is an independent site and not part of EPFO. Rules and portal steps can change, so confirm details on epfo.gov.in or with your EPFO office.