EPFO INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR AMNESTY SCHEME FROM PROVIDENT FUND TRUSTS
Kind
attention of all employers, stakeholders, and the general public is
drawn towards the introduction of the AMNESTY SCHEME, 2026 by the
Central Government. This scheme provides a six-month window for establishments
operating Provident Fund (PF) Trusts recognized under the Income Tax Act, 1961
to regularize their status.
The
Finance Act, 2026 has aligned the Income Tax framework governing recognized
provident funds with the statutory and administrative provisions of Employees'
Provident Fund & Misc. Provisions Act, 1952. Recognition under the Income
Tax Act, 2025 shall be available only to provident funds that have obtained
exemption under Section 17 of Employees' Provident Fund & Misc. Provisions
Act, 1952. Amnesty shall be granted to such establishments retrospectively
under Section 17 of the Act and Section 143 of the Code on Social Security,
2020.
1.
Application of Amnesty Scheme
This Scheme applies to
establishments that have been operating a Provident Fund
Trust recognized under the Income
Tax Act, 1961, but do not possess a formal exemption
Notification from the appropriate
Government - Central Government or State Government, as the
case may be.
2.
Validity of Scheme
- Duration: The scheme is
valid for a period of six (6) months from the date
of notification. The Scheme has been notified on 29th June, 2026.
3.
Eligible Establishments
- Category–I: Establishments
seeking retrospective trust regularization which has already started
compliance as an un-exempted establishment or are opting for
prospective compliance as an un-exempted establishment.
- Category–II: Establishments
seeking retrospective trust regularization that choose to continue
operating as exempted establishments under the Code of Social
Security, 2020.
4.
Key Benefits and Reliefs Provided
- Retrospective
Regularization:
Exemption status and Trust recognition will be granted from the inception
of the Trust up to the designated cut-off date.
- Waiver of
Requirements under the Code on Social Security, 2020: Minimum
employee headcount and corpus size rules are waived. The 3-year prior
compliance rule is deemed satisfied.
- Abatement of
Legal Proceedings: Pending assessments for dues, damages, and
interest will be withdrawn and stand abated, provided member accounts
received interest and contributions at par with or better than statutory
rates. Past finalized orders will be treated as void ab-initio.
5.
Mandatory Employer Obligations
- Application: Eligible
establishments shall submit a formal application addressed to the Central
Government. The applications may be submitted through email to the
concerned Regional Office. An expression of interest indicating its
willingness for availing the scheme may also be emailed to: rc.exemption@epfindia.gov.in.
- Audit Compliance: Financial
accounts must be audited by a Chartered Accountant. Special/compliance
audits directed by EPF authorities must be completed within 3 months of
the application.
6.
Guidance and Support
For details regarding this
Amnesty scheme, part C of Annexure to the Employees' Provident Fund
Scheme, 2026 issued vide Gazette
notification GSR 525(E) dated 29.06.2026 may be referred to.
Additionally, the EPFO website
may be referred to, for detailed procedure outlined in Circular,
SoP, etc.
Establishments within
the jurisdiction of Regional Office, Chennai (South) may contact the office
directly or through email ro.chennai2@epfindia.gov.in for further necessary
guidance.
(R VIVEK RAMAN REDDY)
REGIONAL PF COMMISSIONER-II
REGIONAL OFFICE, CHENNAI SOUTH
| कर्मचारीभविष्यनिधिसंगठन EMPLOYEES’ PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION श्रमऔररोज़गारमंत्रालय, भारतसरकार (MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, GOVT. OF INDIA) क्षेत्रीयकार्यालय, चेन्नईदक्षिण/ REGIONAL OFFICE, CHENNAI SOUTH नंबर37, रोयापेट्टाहाईरोड, चेन्नई – 600014 No.37, Royapettah High Road, Chennai – 600014 दूरभाषाण/Tele: 044-28139301फैक्स/Fax: 044-28133070 वेबसाइट/website: www.epfindia.gov.in ईमेल/ E-mail : ro.chennai2@epfindia.gov.in ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
