Passbook not available to this Member-id as this pertain to exempted establishment (i.e. Trust)
Where it appears: The EPFO member passbook website, when you open one of your Member IDs.
Some members see it followed by "Requested to contact your employer".
Written by Shobhit Kesarwani · Updated
- What it means
- That employer runs its own PF trust (an "exempted establishment"), so the trust keeps your PF account, not EPFO's passbook.
- The fix
- Ask the employer's HR or PF trust for your PF statement and their process for transfers and withdrawals.
- Get help when
- The trust won't respond, or the employer has closed or merged.
I never ask for your OTP, UAN password or bank login.
What it means
Some employers are allowed to manage their employees' PF through their own trust instead of depositing it with EPFO. For a Member ID with such an employer, EPFO's passbook has no monthly entries to show, so it points you back to the employer. Your money isn't missing; it's held by the trust.
Why it happens
- The employer for that Member ID holds an exemption and runs a PF trust.
- You're looking at an old job with a large employer and never checked the trust's own records.
What you can do yourself (free, on the EPFO portal)
Everything in this list is done on EPFO's own portal or with your employer, and none of it needs a paid agent. I never ask for your OTP, UAN password or bank login, and nobody else should either.
- Ask HR at that employer, in writing, for your PF statement from the trust. Some trusts give members their own online login.
- If you've left, ask the trust how it handles transfers to your new employer and final withdrawals. For these Member IDs, the trust does the work, not the EPFO office.
- Check your other Member IDs in the passbook as usual. The message applies only to the trust-managed one.
- If nothing moves, file a grievance on EPFiGMS. It is EPFO's own grievance portal and it costs nothing. Quote your UAN and the exact message, and keep the grievance number.
When it needs help
- The trust doesn't reply to written requests.
- The employer has closed, merged or changed its name.
- You need the amount moved before a deadline.
Which guide covers it
The fix route for this message is in PF transfer stuck.
PF transfer stuck
If the move from a trust to your new employer has stalled.
Read the guide →Employer won't cooperate
The escalation route when HR or the trust stays silent.
Read the guide →Who this page doesn't help
If the passbook won't let you log in at all, see "Error! UAN password not available". If contributions are missing from a normal (non-trust) Member ID, see PF deducted but not in passbook.
Sources
Official EPFO and government pages:
Where the exact wording comes from: several members' independent reports of the message, which agree on the text.
- Glassdoor: passbook says "Passbook not available to this member id as this pertain to exempted establishment i.e Trust"
- YouTube: "EPF passbook not available to this member-id as this pertain to exempted establishment (i.e. trust)"
- YouTube: "Passbook not available to this Member id as this pertain to exempted establishment i.e. Trust"
- HR Cabin: what "pertain to exempted establishment" means
- CiteHR: PF withdrawal when the passbook is not available for the Member ID
EPFO can change the wording on its portal without notice. If what you see differs, paste it into the issue checker.
Prefer a form? Send me the details
Paste the exact message and tell me what you were doing when it appeared. I read every message myself and reply within 24 hours. It costs nothing to send a message.
Questions people ask about this message
Does this mean my employer never deposited my PF?
No. It means the PF for that Member ID is managed by the employer's trust, so EPFO's passbook doesn't show it. Ask the trust for the statement.
Can I still withdraw or transfer this PF?
Yes, but you do it through the trust's process. Ask HR or the trust for the steps.
Other EPFO messages, explained
See all error messages → · Paste your own error into the checker →
Tell me what's wrong with your PF.
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You'll know within 24 hours whether it's fixable, what's causing it, and what it will take. If you can fix it yourself, I'll tell you how to start.
I never ask for your OTP, UAN password or bank login.
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