Which law applies. Section numbers on this page are those of the Income-tax Act, 2025, which took effect on 1 April 2026 and governs tax year 2026-27 onwards. For earlier tax years the corresponding provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Section 80C) continue to apply.
EPF Calculator — Employee Provident Fund Corpus & Returns
Calculate your total EPF corpus at retirement. Includes employee + employer contributions at 8.25% p.a.
Basis for the figures: Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952; contribution and interest rules per EPFO Rates and limits change; confirm against the source before relying on an output.
Visual Breakdown
EPF Components Explained
| Contribution | Rate | Account |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Share | 12% of (Basic + DA) | EPF |
| Employer Share | 12% of (Basic + DA) less the EPS share (3.67% when Basic + DA is ₹15,000 or less) | EPF |
| Employer Share | 8.33% of (Basic + DA) up to ₹15,000 (at most ₹1,250 a month) | EPS (Pension) |
| Employer Admin | 0.5% of (Basic + DA) | EPFO Admin |
| EDLI (Insurance) | 0.5% of (Basic + DA) | Life cover (₹7L) |
Statutory Wage Ceiling
PF mandatory only on Basic + DA up to ₹15,000/month. Above this, employer may continue but isn’t required. EPS (pension) is capped at this ₹15,000 base regardless of actual salary, so above it the rest of the employer’s 12% goes to your EPF account. This calculator assumes both contributions are on your full Basic + DA; if your employer restricts PF to the ₹15,000 ceiling, enter 15000.
Current Interest Rate
EPF FY 2025-26: 8.25% per annum (recommended by the EPFO Central Board, March 2026; FY 2024-25 was also 8.25%). Historical range 8.10-9.50%. Compounded annually (calculated monthly).
EPF Tax Treatment
| Stage | Tax Treatment |
|---|---|
| Employee contribution | Section 123 eligible (up to ₹1.5L combined) — Old Regime |
| Employer contribution (≤12%) | Tax-free |
| Employer contribution (>7.5L/year combined PF+NPS+Super Annuation) | Excess taxable (Budget 2020) |
| Interest on Employee Contribution above ₹2.5L/year | Taxable at slab (Budget 2021) |
| Withdrawal after 5 years | Fully tax-free |
| Withdrawal before 5 years | Tax + TDS 10%; reverses earlier 80C deduction |
EPF vs Other Retirement Options
| Instrument | Rate | Tax | Liquidity |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPF | 8.25% | EEE (after 5 yr) | Partial after 7 years; full at 58 |
| VPF (Voluntary PF) | 8.25% | EEE (interest taxable above ₹2.5L/yr) | Same as EPF |
| PPF | 7.1% | EEE | 15-year lock-in |
| NPS Tier 1 | 10-12% expected | Partial; annuity income taxable (annuity at least 20% of corpus, 40% for government subscribers) | Locked till 60 |
| Equity MF (long-term) | 11-13% | 12.5% LTCG above ₹1.25L | Anytime |
EPF Withdrawal Rules
| Purpose | Service Required | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage (self/sibling/children) | 7 years | 50% of own contribution |
| Higher education (self/children) | 7 years | 50% of own contribution |
| Home purchase/construction | 5 years | 36 × monthly salary (max) |
| Home loan repayment | 10 years | 36 × monthly salary |
| Medical treatment | None | 6 × monthly salary or own contribution + interest, lower |
| Retirement | None at 55 + | 90% of total balance |
| Unemployment (1 month+) | None | 75% of balance; remainder after 2 months |
Worked Examples
Example 1: 25-Year Career, ₹15K Basic Ceiling
Monthly contribution (employee + employer EPF): ₹1,800 + ₹550 = ₹2,350. Annual: ₹28,200. Over 25 years at 8.25%: corpus ≈ ₹22 lakh. Plus EPS (8.33% of ₹15K = ₹1,250/month). EPS provides pension at 58.
Example 2: Higher Basic (₹50K), No Capping
Monthly EPF contribution: employee 12% (₹6,000) + employer 12% less ₹1,250 to EPS (₹4,750) = ₹10,750. Over 25 years at 8.25%: corpus ≈ ₹1.02 crore.
Example 3: VPF Top-Up
Standard 12% EPF + Additional 10% VPF on ₹50K basic = 22% employee contribution, plus the employer’s ₹4,750 (₹15,750 a month in all). Over 25 years: corpus ≈ ₹1.50 crore. Interest on employee contributions above ₹2.5L a year is taxable (this example, at ₹1.32L a year, stays below that limit).
More FAQs
How do I check my EPF balance?
(1) Member Portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in (UAN login). (2) SMS “EPFOHO UAN ENG” to 7738299899. (3) Missed call to 9966044425. (4) UMANG app.
What is UAN?
Universal Account Number — a 12-digit unique ID issued by EPFO. Stays the same across employers. Activate on first job to link all PF accounts seamlessly.
How does EPF transfer work when changing jobs?
If UAN is activated and KYC complete, transfer is automatic when new employer adds your UAN to their establishment. Earlier required manual Form 13 — now mostly automated via EPFO online portal.
What is EPS (Employees Pension Scheme)?
Pension component within EPF. 8.33% of (Basic+DA) up to ₹15K goes to EPS. Eligible for monthly pension at 58 — calculated as (Pensionable Service × Pensionable Salary) / 70. Typically modest pension (₹1,000-7,500/month depending on tenure).
Should I withdraw EPF on job change?
Generally NO — transfer to new employer (online). Withdrawing breaks compounding chain. Withdrawing before 5 years also makes the amount taxable + TDS deducted.
What is the EPF interest calculation method?
Interest is calculated month-end on the running balance. Credited annually to your account (usually December). Compounds from following year. Effective annual yield ≈ stated rate.
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