Employee share Employee EPF (12% of PF wages) Deducted from wages; A/c 1 | ₹1,800 |
Employer share EPS — pension (8.33%, capped at ₹15,000 wage) A/c 10 · max ₹1,250/month | ₹1,250 |
EPF — employer balance (residual after EPS) A/c 1 · 3.67% at the ceiling; more if uncapped | ₹550 |
Employer add-ons EDLI (0.5% of capped wages) A/c 21 · max ₹75/month | ₹75 |
Admin charges (0.5% of PF wages) A/c 2 · establishment minimum ₹500/month | ₹75 |
| Employer total (incl. EDLI + admin) | ₹1,950 |
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The Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952 (now carried into the Code on Social Security, 2020, effective 21 November 2025) applies mandatorily to establishments employing 20 or more persons (with voluntary coverage available under Section 1(4) below that). Both employee and employer contribute 12% of PF wages — basic pay plus dearness allowance (including retaining allowance and cash value of food concession, if any). A reduced 10% rate applies only to notified categories: establishments with fewer than 20 employees, sick industrial companies, establishments whose accumulated losses equal or exceed their net worth, and the jute, beedi, brick, coir and guar-gum industries.
The employer's 12% is not one deposit — it is split. 8.33% of wages (capped at the ₹15,000 statutory wage ceiling, i.e. a maximum of ₹1,250/month) is diverted to the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), and the balance — 3.67% at the ceiling, more if contributing on uncapped wages — goes to the member's EPF account. On top of the 12%, the employer alone bears EDLI at 0.5% of ceiling-capped wages (max ₹75/month) and administrative charges at 0.5% of PF wages (subject to an establishment-level minimum of ₹500/month). Members who joined on or after 1 September 2014 with PF wages above ₹15,000 are outside EPS altogether — their full employer share stays in EPF.
The ₹15,000 ceiling sets the minimum obligation, not a maximum: employers may contribute on actual higher wages, and employees may add Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) above 12% (employee-side only). All dues are remitted through the Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) by the 15th of the following month. Late remittance attracts interest under Section 7Q (12% p.a.) and damages under Section 14B — and late deposit of the employee share risks disallowance under Section 36(1)(va) of the Income-tax Act, a recurring tax-audit (Form 3CD clause 20(b)) flag.
A client restricts PF contributions to the statutory ceiling. A member draws basic + DA of ₹25,000/month; PF wages are therefore capped at ₹15,000. Standard 12% establishment, member enrolled before Sep 2014.