EPF Interest Rate 2023
The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is a Government-backed retirement savings scheme directed towards salaried employees in India. The EPF is administered by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Both the employee and the employer contribute to the employee’s EPF account. The employee could withdraw the EPF amount upon retirement or before subject to terms and conditions. The current EPF interest rate stands at 8.15%.
Current EPF Interest Rate 2022-23
In the Union Budget 2023, no amendments were made to the EPF interest rate. EPFO, the statutory retirement fund body in India, recently announced that the interest for 2022-2023 deposits has been hiked to 8.15%.
The following table will give you get an idea of the diversity or stability of EPF interest rates over the years:
| Financial Year | Annual Interest Rate (%) |
| 2022-23 | 8.15% |
| 2021-22 | 8.10% |
| 2020-21 | 8.50% |
| 2019-20 | 8.50% |
| 2018-19 | 8.65% |
| 2017-18 | 8.55% |
| 2016-17 | 8.65% |
| 2015-16 | 8.80% |
| 2014-15 | 8.75% |
| 2013-14 | 8.75% |
| 2012-13 | 8.50% |
| 2011-12 | 8.25% |
| 2010-11 | 9.50% |
| 2005-10 | 8.50% |
| 2004-05 | 9.50% |
| 2001-04 | 9.50% |
| 2000-01 | 12% (April-June), 11% from July 2001 |
How to Calculate EPF Interest Rate?
The following illustration will help you understand the calculation of EPF interest rate:
Suppose the employee’s basic salary is Rs. 45,000 and the person joined the organisation in April 2022. The calculation for EPF interest will be as follows:
| Contribution | Percentage of salary | Amount |
| EPF by employee | 12 | Rs. 5,400/- |
| EPS by employer | 3.67 | Rs. 1,651/- |
| EPF by employer | 8.33 | Rs. 2,498/-* |
| Total contribution per month | Rs. 9,549/- |
If the annual EPF interest rate is 8.15%, an interest rate of 0.68% (approximately) will be levied on a monthly basis.
Let’s check it out in detail.
- Overall EPF contribution – Rs. 5,400/-
- Interest for April on the PF contribution – NIL (interest is not applicable for the first month)
- EPF balance at the end of April 2022 – Rs. 5,400/-
- EPF contribution for May 2022 – Rs. 5,400/-
- Overall EPF balance as of May 2022 – Rs. 10,800/-
- Interest on the contribution towards EPF for May – Rs. 10,800 x 0.68% = Rs. 73.44/-
EPF Interest Calculation in a Financial Year
Refer to the table below to get an idea of how EPF interest is calculated in a financial year:
| Months | Basic Salary + Dearness Allowance (Rs.) | Employer’s Contribution (Rs.) | Employee’s Contribution (Rs.) | Total Balance at the End of the Month (Rs.) | Interest Earned (Rs.) |
| 1 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 8350 | 0 |
| 2 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 16700 | 59 |
| 3 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 25050 | 118 |
| 4 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 33400 | 177 |
| 5 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 41750 | 237 |
| 6 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 50100 | 396 |
| 7 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 58450 | 355 |
| 8 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 66800 | 414 |
| 9 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 75150 | 473 |
| 10 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 83500 | 532 |
| 11 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 91850 | 591 |
| 12 | 40,000 | 3550 | 4800 | 100200 | 651 |
How to Use a PF Calculator?
You can also use an EPF or PF calculator to check your accumulated wealth by the time you retire due to EPF contribution. All you need to do is fill in the following details – your age, basic monthly salary, contribution towards PF (in %), your employer’s contribution towards PF (in %), expected average annual increase in salary (in %), age when you intend to retire, and interest rate. Upon completion, you would be able to check the amount you could accumulate during retirement.
EPF Eligibility Criteria
You need to satisfy the following criteria to be eligible to enjoy EPF benefits:
- Employees working for an organisation are eligible for EPF benefits from the very first day of their joining.
- A company consisting of a minimum of 20 employees can offer EPF benefits to its employees.
- The benefits cannot be availed by the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
Tax Benefits on EPF
EPF account holders are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The maximum amount available for tax benefits in an EPF account is Rs. 1 lakh. Also, if you have contributed to an EPF account for five consecutive years, the amount saved up to this time will be exempted from tax. But, if the duration of your EPF account is less than 5 years, the amount accumulated will be subject to TDS deduction upon withdrawal.
1. Contribution Rate If the Employee’s Salary Does Not Exceed Rs 15,000/-
If an employee’s salary is not more than Rs. 15,000/-, then the following breakup of contribution from salary is maintained:
- Employee contribution to EPF: 12%
- Employer contribution to EPF: 3.67%
- Employer contribution to EPS: 8.63%
2. Contribution Rate If the Employee’s Salary Is More Than Rs 15,000/-
This section will show you the contribution break up if the salary exceeds Rs. 15,000/-.
- Employee contribution to EPF: 12%
- Employer contribution to EPS: 8.33%
- Employer contribution to EPF: balance left after deduction of 8.33% from 12% of the salary.
Also Read
Final Word
As these schemes’ benefits are provided and looked after by the employer, most of us do not bother to know about them in detail. But it is important to be aware of the current EPF interest rate and have a clear knowledge of these calculations.
Need a quick cash loan? Download the Navi App right now to apply for a Navi Instant Cash Loan. You can get up to Rs. 20 Lakh, at attractive interest rates, starting at 9.9% p.a. Oh, and did we mention that there are no processing fees? So, what are you waiting for? Apply now!
FAQs
Ans: Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India maintains or regulates the EPF rules.
Ans: When there is no contribution in an EPF account for 36 consecutive months, the account does not get any more interest. This usually happens when an employee forgets to transfer their EPF account in the event of job transfer. Also, after an employee attains 58 years of age, the amount in the EPF account stops getting any interest.
Ans: One will need to enter the following details in the EPF calculator:
Age of employee
Age of retirement
Available EPF balance
Monthly basic salary and dearness allowance
Monthly EPF contribution
Expected salary hike
Ans: UAN or Universal Account Number is a unique number provided to every employee by EPFO. It is used by the employer to manage their PF account. One can also transfer and withdraw funds by logging in to the UAN portal.
Ans: If you have doubts or problems regarding PF, you can contact EPFO customer care on 1800118005 (toll-free). You can also visit the EPFO office at the following address:
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhavan
14, Bhikaji Cama Place
New Delhi – 110066
