PF return filing means filing of PF returns online with the EPFO. Such returns feature details related to employer and employee payments made towards the provident fund. They also include essential details such as total wages, employee count, and PF account numbers. These returns must be filed each month, and non-compliance is punishable by penalties and fines.
Employers must adhere to a wide variety of regulations to keep business running as smoothly as possible. One of the implementations is PF annual return filing, which refers to the PF return submission process to the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). Services Plus, provide all the detailed and necessary procedures for creating the smooth annual compliance.
Taxation rules for Provident Fund (PF) contributions fall within the ambit of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Below is a composite on the taxation of various components of PF:
Employer’s Contribution to PF
Employee’s Contribution to PF
Interest on PF Contributions
Taxation on PF Withdrawal
(If PAN is provided and the amount withdrawn is more than ₹ 50,000, TDS is @ 10 %): In case no PAN is available, TDS on it is 30%.
Taxation of Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF)
Key Compliance Requirements
Note: All years PF returns due date is 30th April for next Financial Year.
[As prescribed under the EPF Act, the late filing of PF returns can lead to penalties and legal consequences.]
Depending on the service entity, businesses are required to submit certain documents to register for the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) with the Employee's Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). Here is a list of required documents:
1. PAN of the Business — needed for filling taxes and verification.
2. Certificate of Incorporation—if applicable, depending on entity type:
3. GST Registration Certificate, if any.
4. Proof of address of the establishment (any one of the below):
5. Business Bank Details: Cancelled cheque or bank statement through which PF annual return filing amount should be applied by company.
6. Specimen Signature of the Employer: We require the Digital signature (DSC) of the employer for online filing.
7. Employee level: Salary details, UAN (if applicable), joining date, and designation.
B. More Documents in accordance with the type of business
2. For Partnership Firms
3. For Proprietorship Firms
4. For NGOs, Trust & Society
C. Required Employee Info for PF Registration
D. Registration Process Overview
1️. Go to EPFO’s Unified Portal– https://unifiedportal-emp.epfindia.gov.in/
2️. Complete the Employer Registration Form.
3️. Upload Required Documents
4️. Verify via DSC (Digital Signature Certificate).
5️. Get PF Registration Number (Establishment Code) for your PF return filing company.
Adapting the PF return filing process as per the unified portal: Employers need to adapt their PF return online filing process as per the guidelines/formats of the Unified Portal for PF filing.
Mandatory PF Registration: Whenever a new establishment is opened with the Employees Provident Fund System, they need to file for a timely return.
PF Forms and Reports as Applicable:
Form 2: Declaration Nomination
Form 2: For declaring nominations under Employees' Provident Fund and Employees' Family Pension Scheme. This form is generally filled in by employees when joining an establishment and must be submitted along with Form 5. Form 2 consists of two parts:
Part A:
Part B:
Form 5: Monthly Report
Form 10: Monthly Report
Form 12A — Report of payment details
PF annual return filing:
Form 3A:
Form 6A:
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What is PF return filing?
PF return filing is the process of submitting monthly returns to the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Employers with PF registration must file these returns to report PF contributions, details of employees, and other necessary information.
What is the PF contribution?
Both employers and employees are required to contribute 12% of the employee's basic salary to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account.
When is the PF Return filed?
PF returns must be filed by the 25th of each month through the unified portal to ensure compliance with EPFO regulations.
What is ECR in PF?
ECR, or Electronic Challan cum Return, is an electronic monthly return uploaded by employers through the Employer e-Sewa portal. It helps in generating a Challan for online payment of PF dues after approval.
What is UAN?
UAN, or Universal Account Number, is a unique identification number allocated by EPFO. It serves as a single identifier for an individual's multiple member IDs received from different employers.