EPF is a retirement benefits scheme under the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Act, 1952, where an employee has to pay a certain contribution towards the scheme and an equal contribution is paid by the employer as well on a month on month basis.
The Scheme is managed by Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).
The employee gets a lump sum amount including self and employer’s contribution with interest on both, on retirement and during the service period (under certain circ*mstances as stipulated).
The principal amount and the accrued interest are exempt from income tax during withdrawal and thus an attractive retirement plan for the salaried class.
The Scheme covers all entities in which 20 or more employees are employed and certain entities are covered, subject to certain conditions and exemptions even if the required 20 staff criteria are not met.
Recent Update on EPF
EPFO has declared the interest rate as 8.15% for Employees' Provident Fund accounts for the FY 2022-23. The latest announcement for EPF interest rate on EPF accounts was announced via a circular dated July 24, 2023.
Current & Historical EPF Interest Rates
The Interest rate of EPF is reviewed every year after consultation with the Ministry of Finance by EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees. The PF interest rate of 2023 is fixed at 8.15%. Provident fund Interest rates for the last five years are mentioned below:
Year | EPF Interest Rate |
2016-17 | 8.65% |
2017-18 | 8.55% |
2018-19 | 8.65% |
2019-20 | 8.65% |
2020-2021 | 8.55% |
2021-2022 | 8.55% |
2022-2023 | 8.15% |
EPF Interest Rates 2022-23
The interest rate on EPF is reviewed on a yearly basis. The EPF interest rate for the fiscal year 2022-23 is 8.15%. When the EPFO announces the interest rate for a fiscal year and the year closes, the interest rate is computed for the month-by-month closing balance and then for the entire year.
The year in which the new interest rates are published remains valid for the following fiscal year, i.e. from the year beginning on April 1st of one year to the year ending on March 31st of the following year.
Here are a few key points to remember about EPF Interest Rate:
- The interest rate of 8.15% has come into effect and will be applicable to EPF deposits.
- Even though the interest is calculated monthly, it is only deposited to the Employees’ Provident Fund account once a year on March 31st of the applicable fiscal year.
- The transferred interest is added to the next month’s balance, i.e. April’s balance, and is then used to calculate interest.
- If no contributions are made to an EPF account for 36 months in a row, the account becomes dormant or inoperative.
- Employees who have not reached retirement age might earn interest on their inactive accounts.
- Interest is not paid on funds put in retired employees’ inactive accounts.
- The interest collected on dormant accounts is taxed at the member’s slab rate.
- The employee will not receive any interest for payments made by the company to the Employees’ Pension Scheme. However, beyond the age of 58, a pension is provided out of this amount.
EPF Contribution by Employee and Employer
Depending on the entity contributing towards EPF, there are two components of the contribution namely – employee and employer contribution.
The employee contributes 12% of basic salary plus dearness allowance (DA) towards its EPF account. The employee has to contribute a lower contribution of 10% in case the entity has less than 20 employees and or if the entity is certain designated industries such as Jute, Beedi, Brick, etc.
The employer contributes a similar amount to the scheme (12% of employee’s basic salary plus DA). 8.33% of such employer contribution goes towards the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) subject to a ceiling of 1,250 per month if the salary of the employee is 15,000 or more and the rest 3.67% is added to the EPF account of the employee. The employer also contributes 0.50% towards Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) account of the employee.
Pertinent to note here, the employee can also voluntarily contribute higher than the statutory requirement of 12% and is called contribution towards Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) which is accounted separately. The VPF also provides tax free interest however the employer is not required to contribute anything to VPF if the employee chooses to opt for it.
How to Calculate PF Interest
Every month the interest rate is calculated but is deposited in the account at the end of the financial year. The interest calculation on the EPF of the employee is explained by the given example.
Basic Salary + Dearness Allowance = ₹ 30,000
Employee’s contribution towards EPF = 12% of ₹ 30,000 = ₹ 3,600
Employer’s contribution towards EPS (subject to limit of 1,250) = ₹ 1,250
Employer’s contribution towards EPF = (₹ 3,600 – ₹ 1,250) = ₹ 2,350
Total EPF contribution every month = ₹ 3,600 + ₹ 2350 = ₹ 5,950
For example, The employee provident fund interest rate for 2022-2023 is 8.15% ,the interest applicable per month. When calculating interest, is = 8.15%/12 = 0.00679166666. Again to remind, the provident fund interest will be calculated at the end of every month however the interest amount will only be credited at the end of the financial year.
Assuming the employee joined service on 1 April 2022, contributions start for the financial year 2022– 2023 from April 2022 only.
Total EPF Contribution for April = ₹ 5,950
For April Interest on the EPF contribution= Nil (No interest for the first month)
EPF account balance at the end of April = ₹ 5,950
EPF Contribution for May = ₹ 5,950
Total EPF account balance as at May = ₹ 11,900
Interest on the EPF contribution for May = ₹ 11,900 * 0.7083% = ₹ 84.29
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As an expert in retirement benefits and provident fund schemes, I bring to your attention the intricacies of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and its recent updates. My knowledge in this domain is substantiated by a comprehensive understanding of the EPF's historical context, its management through the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), and the current interest rate declaration for the fiscal year 2022-23.
Let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article:
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EPF Overview:
- EPF is a retirement benefits scheme under the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Act, 1952.
- Both employees and employers contribute to the scheme on a monthly basis.
- Managed by the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).
- Lump sum amount, including contributions and interest, is provided to employees on retirement or under certain circ*mstances during the service period.
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Coverage and Recent Update:
- The scheme covers entities with 20 or more employees, and certain exemptions may apply.
- EPFO declared an interest rate of 8.15% for EPF accounts for the fiscal year 2022-23 in a circular dated July 24, 2023.
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Current & Historical EPF Interest Rates:
- Interest rates are reviewed annually by EPFO's Central Board of Trustees.
- The interest rate for 2022-23 is 8.15%. Historical rates for the past five years are provided in the article.
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EPF Interest Rate Calculation:
- The interest rate is applied monthly but credited to the EPF account at the end of the financial year.
- Interest is calculated on the month-by-month closing balance for the entire year.
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EPF Contribution by Employee and Employer:
- Employees contribute 12% of basic salary plus dearness allowance, while employers contribute a similar amount.
- Employer contribution is divided into 8.33% for the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) and 3.67% to the EPF account.
- An additional 0.50% is contributed towards Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI).
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Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF):
- Employees can voluntarily contribute more than the statutory 12%, known as Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF).
- VPF contributions earn tax-free interest, but employers are not obligated to contribute.
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Interest on Inactive Accounts:
- If no contributions are made for 36 months, the account becomes dormant.
- Inactive accounts may earn interest for employees who have not reached retirement age.
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Taxation and Pension:
- Principal amount and accrued interest are exempt from income tax during withdrawal.
- Interest collected on dormant accounts is taxed at the member's slab rate.
- Beyond age 58, a pension is provided out of the EPF amount.
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How to Calculate PF Interest:
- Interest is calculated monthly but credited annually.
- An example calculation is provided based on a hypothetical scenario.
In conclusion, the EPF is a complex yet rewarding retirement plan for the salaried class, and understanding its nuances is crucial for both employers and employees. If you have further questions or need additional clarification, feel free to ask.