Status of sending the monthly details of the Provident Fund accounts to employees is as follows: (i) The updated Provident Fund (PF) accounts are available online on the EPFO website i.e. wwe.epfindia.gov.in from August 2012 and the Provident Fund accounts of members are updated as and when the contribution is received. Members can view and [...]

Provident Fund (PF) & Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF: PF is automatically deducted from your salary. Both you and your employer contribute to it. While employer’s contribution is exempt from tax, your contribution (i.e., employee’s contribution) is counted towards section 80C investments. You also have the option to contribute additional amounts through voluntary contributions (VPF). Current rate of interest is 8.5% per annum (p.a.) and is tax-free.

The cost of educating our children is rising consistently. It’s a matter of concern for all of us. One relief is the tax benefit provided for spending on children’s education. The Income Tax Act provides a direct deduction on account of fees paid for the education of dependent children. The act also provides for deduction on account of interest on loans taken for higher education of children.

Due date for payment of Provident Fund contributions is 15 days from the end of month in which wages are paid (plus grace period of 5 days). Thus, if wages pertaining to April’ 2012 is paid on, say, 7th May’ 2012, due date for payment of Provident Fund contribution is 20th June’ 2012 [i.e. 15th June' 2012 as increased by grace period of 5 days].

In accordance with amended para 69 (under para 83 of Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952), an International Worker is allowed to withdraw the full amount standing to his credit in the fund: • on retirement from service in the establishment at any time after attaining the age of 58 years;

EPFO is reportedly planning to provide portable numbers to salaried individuals. The move might stem the trend of premature withdrawal which most people prefer over getting their accounts transferred while switching jobs.

Section 10(11) and 10(12) of the Act deal with exemption on payments from provident funds, while section 80C of the act deals with allowance of deductions on contributions to provident funds. The following are the types of provident funds. Recognized Provident Fund (RPF) – This scheme is applicable to an organization which employs 20 or more employees. An organization can also voluntarily opt for this scheme. All RPF schemes must be approved by The Commissioner of Income Tax. Here the company can either opt for government approved scheme or the employer and employees can together start a PF scheme by forming a Trust. The Trust so created shall invest funds in specified manner. The income of the trust shall also be exempt from income taxes.

In computation of income under the head Profits and gains of business or profes­sion (PGBP), some of the expenses are allowed under Income Tax Act 1961 and can be claimed by the assessee only in the year in which the payment is actually made.

Government Thursday slashed interest rate on deposits in Employees Provident Fund from 9.5 percent to 8.25 percent for 2011-12 affecting over 4.7 crore subscribers. This cut was proposed by the Finance Ministry and a notification was issued by the Labour Ministry, official sources said. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) had provided 9.5 percent interest rate to its subscribers for 2010-11 after it found Rs 1,731 crore surplus in its books of account.

Withdrawal of Provident Fund may attract Income Tax. The Income Tax Department recently told EPFO (Employees Provident Fund Organisation) to deduct Tax (TDS) from the withdrawal amount, if the withdrawal happened before completing five years of subscription. Tax officials have cited a rule in the 1961 Income-Tax Act that taxes PF withdrawals by employees before completing five years of contributions into the EPF is taxable.