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Employees' Provident Fund is a scheme to save money for one's retirement. Both employers and employees contribute to this plan. EPF India is one of the world's largest retirement benefit schemes. Check out its details below.
What is the Employees' Provident Fund?
EPF stands for Employees' Provident Fund. It is a retirement benefits scheme where both an employer and employee contribute equally to this scheme. Both must contribute around 12% of the basic salary to this fund.
At the time of retirement, the employee gets a lump sum and interest on it.
How does EPF Work?
In this Employees' Provident Fund, both employee and employer contribute to this fund. The contribution is to the tune of 12% of basic salary, with dearness allowance taken into account if paid.
However, not all of an employer's contribution goes to EPF. An employer contributes around 3.67% of the 12% to this fund. The remaining 8.33% goes to this Employees' Pension Scheme.
What are the Benefits of EPF?
There are plenty of benefits for investing in this Employees' Provident Fund. They are as listed below:
Capital Appreciation
There is a fixed rate of interest available in this EPF India scheme. Moreover, the EPF also earns an interest even when lying dormant.
Corpus for Emergencies
Because of specific premature withdrawal rules, the EPF can act as an emergency corpus.
Corpus for Retirement
The main reason people invest in the EPF is to get a retirement corpus. The corpus gives investors a sense of security.
Tax Saving Scheme
Employees’ Provident Fund comes under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Therefore, even the earnings from this EPF scheme are exempt from taxes.
Therefore, there are many benefits of making an EPF contribution.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for EPF?
The EPF eligibility criteria are as follows:
- Any company with more than 20 employees must register with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation of India compulsorily.
- Companies with less than 20 employees can also register for the Employees' Provident Fund voluntarily.
- All employees drawing a salary are eligible for EPF.
- Moreover, it is compulsory for all employees earning less than ₹15,000 to register for the EPF.
- However, employees earning more than ₹15,000 can also voluntarily stay in the EPF scheme.
Hence, these were the EPF pension eligibility rules.
What is the Interest Rate on EPF 2023-24?
EPF interest rate 2023-24 is 8.15%, as per the EPFO’s (Employee Provident Fund Organisation) norms. A current EPF interest rate was fixed at 8.15% as per order number INV-11/2/2021-INV/2766 dt. 24-07-2023
How is Interest Calculated on EPF?
Here's how to calculate EPF interest. Contributions to this Employees' Provident Fund are made monthly. However, the interest is calculated at the end of a year.
An interest rate of 8.15% is divided monthly, and that amount is paid to the employee. Therefore, monthly interest is 8.15%/12 = 0.6792%.
For a running balance of ₹6000, the interest calculated per month is shown below:
EPF Interest = Running balance for the month*0.6792/100%
Above was the EPF calculation for the years 2023-24.
How to Calculate Employees' Provident Fund?
Here's how to calculate the EPF amount:
EPF Contribution
Employee's Contribution
No matter the employee's income, the contribution to PF is 12% of the Basic Pay + DA.
Employee Contribution to EPF=12/100*(Basic+DA)
Employer's Contribution
The employer's contribution to PF is as follows:
Employer's Contribution to EPF=3.67/100*Basic+DA
8.33% goes to the Employee Pension Scheme.
What Are the Categories of Employer's Contribution to EPF?
Category | Percentage of contribution (%) |
Employees Provident Fund | 3.67 |
Employee's Deposit Link Insurance Scheme (EDLIS) | 0.50 |
Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) | 8.33 |
EDLIS Admin Charges | 0.01 |
EPF Admin Charges | 1.10 |
Employees' Provident Fund Contribution Example
- Suppose an employee earns ₹15,000 per month.
- Then an employee's contribution is ₹1800 a month according to the calculation shown below.
- Employee Contribution to EPF=12/100*₹15000=₹1800
- An employer's contribution is ₹ 550 a month, as shown below:
- Employer's Contribution to EPF=3.67/100*₹15000=₹550.5
What are the Different Types of EPF Forms Required?
The various EPF forms required are:
Name of the Form | Need for the Form |
Form 2 | For nominating and declaring the nominee |
Form 5 | For registering for EPS and EPF |
Form 5 IF | Fill this form to avail a claim for the EDLI scheme. |
Form 10C | This form is necessary for availing of the withdrawal benefits and scheme certification |
Form 10D | This form helps to avail of monthly pension |
Form 11 | For transferring EPF account |
Form 14 | This form is needed for purchasing of LIC policy |
Form 15G | This form is necessary to avail of tax-saving benefits on the interest |
Form 19 | Form 19 is needed to settle the Employees' Provident Fund |
Form 20 | This form is needed to settle the Employees' Provident Fund when the policyholder has died |
Form 31 | It is necessary for the EPF withdrawal |
What are EPF Tax Rules?
EPF is a EEE tax rule. Therefore, it is exempt from tax on EPF withdrawal. Further, contributions and interest received are also exempt from tax. However, there are some cases where EPF is taxable. These are:
- It is taxable if an employer's contribution to the Employees' Provident Fund exceeds ₹7.5 lakhs in a financial year. An employee is liable to pay tax on an amount that exceeds ₹7.5 lakhs.
- If an excess contribution from the employee's side to the EPF account exceeds ₹2.5.
- If there is no employer contribution to an EPF account, which is the case for government employees, then the interest will be tax-exempt up to ₹5 lakhs in a financial year.
- Interest earned on inactive EPF accounts is taxable in the employees' hands.
- Withdrawal from the Employee Provident Fund account is tax-exempt except when withdrawal happens after less than 5 continuous years of service. And if any withdrawal amount exceeds ₹50,000, then TDS is applicable at the rate of 10%. However, withdrawals can be exempt in an employee's poor health, closing of a business or other events beyond the person's control.
How to Contact EPF?
- Employers can send their queries to employerfeedback@epfindia.gov.in.
- Employees can send their queries to employeefeedback@epfindia.gov.in.
- Moreover, you can also call the toll-free EPFO contact number 1800118005.
For more information on contacting Employee Provident Fund, you can use these links:
In conclusion, the Employee Provident Fund is a good investment vehicle for saving for their retirement. Having a triple exempt status means that the withdrawal amount, the interest and the contribution are exempt from taxes. Hence, it is popular among salaried persons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any upper limit on contribution to EPF?
Both employees and employers contribute around 12% of the basic salary, which is the upper limit. However, if you contribute to VPF, then you can add more to the PF account.
Can an employee contribute more than 12% to EPF?
Yes, an employee can contribute more than 12% to the EPF if they opt for VPF or voluntary provident fund.
What is the basic salary for EPF?
To be applicable for EPF, one needs a basic pay of less than ₹15,000 a month.