Define EPF (Employee Provident Fund)

EPF stands for “Employee Provident fund”. EPF is a deduction from employee’s monthly salary. You may know it as that maddening, indefinable portion of your monthly salary that isn’t able to spend. EPF is a retirement benefits scheme that’s available to all salaried employees. This scheme is maintained and overseen by EPFO (Employees Provident Fund Organisation of India and reputed company with above 20 staffs is required by law to register with the EPFO. Under the EPF scheme, an employee has to pay a certain contribution towards the scheme and equal contribution is paid by the employer. It is lump sum amount for employee including self and employer’s contribution with interest on both, on retirement. According to EPF rules and regulation, employee whose ‘pay’ more than Rs. 15000 p/m is at the time of joining, is not eligible and is called non-eligible employee.

Scheme

Employer’s contribution of basic pay

Employee’s contribution of

EPF

3.67%

12%

EPS

8.33%

Employer’s and Employee’s contribution towards EPF

The contribution of the employee towards EPF is 12% p/m of basic wages and DA (Dearness allowances). And the same rate is contributed by the employer towards EPF also. According to the EPFO rules, the contribution rate of for both (Employer and Employee) is limited to 10%. For most workers are belong to the sequestered sector, it is the basic salary on which the contribution is considered. The entire 12% of your contribution goes into your EPF account along with 3.67% (out of 12%) from your employer, while the balance 8.33% from your employer’s side is averted to your EPS (Employee’s Pension Scheme).

Nomination of EPF

EPF (Employee Provident Fund) has also provided a nomination facility. Any employee if registered under EPF scheme can nominate your parent, spouse or children. But you can’t nominate your brother or sister for EPF. Any nominations made by such member in favour of a person not belonging to his family will be invalid. It is (nomination) is necessary. For the purpose of engaging a nominee is to have someone who is trustworthy and liable to handle the nominator’s asset after his expiry.

Who is Eligibility for EPF Registration?

Registration of EPF is compulsory for organisations/companies which employs more than 20 persons, including promised and permanent workers. The companies which grew to a strength of 20 members are expected to register themselves under one month from the time of managing this strength along with fines applicable for delays in registration. Co-operative societies are expected to register if their worker's strength increases to 50 or more and registered organisations continue to be under the purview of the rules and regulations.

Process for Employers towards EPF Registration

The process for employers towards EPF registration employers need to provide the following details to successfully register them. The details are as follows:

Basic details of employee (date of joining, name, salary etc.).
PAN details, name and address of company, details of head branch and bank details with whom company has banking relationship.
Total employee’s strength, fill up details of employees and owner details including designation and address of directors.
Legal deatils.