♦ Due Date extended to 15.05.2020
♦ Grace Period Allowed for 30 days (From 16.04.2020 to 15.05.2020)
About this Circular:
- Employees’ Provident Fund Organization, India, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has extended Due date for Filing return vide Circular No. C-I/Misc./2019-20/Vol.II./Part./9 dated 15.04.2020.
- Extension of due date for payment of contributions and administrative charges/Inspection charges due for wage month march 2020 from 15.04.2020 to 15.05.2020 to establishments disbursing wages for March 2020
CRUX:
It is Clarified that the employers who seeks to avail the Relief, need to file ECR for wage month March , 2020, on or before 15.05.2020, duly certifying the disbursement of wage to employees by declaring actual date of disbursement of wages for march 2020.
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Text of the EPFO Circular is as follows:-
EMPLOYEES’ PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION
(Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India)
Head Office
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 1.4, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi — 110 466.
Date: 15.04.2020
No.C-I/Misc./2019-20/Vol.II/Part./9
To,
All Addl. CPFCs in charge of Zones
All RPFCs in charge of Regional Offices
All OICs in charge of District Offices.
Subject: Extension of due date for payment of contributions and administrative charges/Inspection charges due for wage month March 2020 from 15.04.2020 to 15.05.2020 to establishments disbursing wages for March 2020
Sir,
Considering the unprecedented situation created by COVID-19 and lockdown announced by the Central Government from 24.03.2020 midnight onwards to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the competent authority has decided to allow grace period of 30 days (from 16.04.2020 to 15.05.2020) for filing of Electronic Challan cum Return (ECR) to the employers of those establishments which have disbursed the wages for March, 2020 to their employees.
It is clarified that that employers, who seek to avail the above relief, need to file ECR for wage month March, 2020 on or before 15.05.2020, duly certifying the disbursement of wages to employees by declaring actual date of disbursement of wages for March, 2020 in the column “Salary disbursal date” in the ECR and remit the contributions and administrative/inspection charges on or before 15.05.2020.
(This issues with the approval of the Central Provident Fund Commissioner)
Your Faithfully
(Pankaj Raman)
Addl. CPFC (Compliance)
Copy for information to:
FA & CAO, CVO, All Addl. CPFC (Head Quarters), ACC (IS) at Head Office, EPFO
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Relevant PIB Press Release is as follows:-
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Date of Filing Electronic Challan Cum Return (ECR) for Wage Month March, 2020 Extended Up to 15.05.2020 from 15.04.2020
Move Incentivises About 6 Lakh Establishments for Salary Payments During Lockdown Period
Posted On: 15 APR 2020 5:48PM
Considering the unprecedented situation created by COVID-19 and lockdown announced by the Central Government from 24.03.2020 midnight onwards to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the due date for filing of Electronic Challan Cum Return (ECR) for wage month March, 2020 is extended up to 15.05.2020 for employers who have paid wages to their employees for March, 2020.
The due date for March, 2020 is ordinarily 15.04.2020, so grace period of thirty days has been allowed to the establishments covered under EPF & MP Act, 1952 to remit the contributions and administrative charges due for March, 2020
The above decision of Ministry of Labour and Employment is to support and provide relief to Employers of establishments which have disbursed wages for March, 2020 to its employees and an incentive to employers for wage payment to employees during COVID-19 pandemic. The move is in keeping with the objective of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana to prevent disruption in employment and ensure earning to employees to help them fight the pandemic.
This relief will benefit about 6 lakh establishments to file ECRs without default by paying salary to about 5 crore employees.
The employers have to declare the date of disbursement of wage for March, 2020 in the ECR for March, 2020.
The ECR, with the said declaration, and contributions and administrative charges for March, 2020 are now due on or before 15.05.2020.
The employers disbursing the wages for March, 2020 not only get relief of extension of due date for payment of EPF dues for March, 2020 but also avoid liability of interest and penalty, if they remit on or before 15.05.2020.
Source- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1614747 and https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_docs/PDFs/Circulars/Y2020-2021/GraceperiodMarch2020.pdf
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