Employees Provident Fund

All employees aged 18 years and above working in establishments with 20 or more employees are eligible. Self-employed individuals can also voluntarily join through the EPFO portal. There is no upper age limit for enrollment.

As of 2024, both the employee and employer contribute 12% of the employee's basic salary plus dearness allowance to the EPF account. Additionally, the employer contributes 3.67% towards the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) and 0.33% towards administrative charges.

You can withdraw your entire EPF balance after retirement at age 58, or upon job separation after meeting the service period requirement. Partial withdrawals are allowed for medical emergencies, higher education, or home purchase after meeting specific conditions.

If you are employed in a covered establishment, your employer will enroll you automatically. You will receive an EPF account number (UAN) through your employer. For voluntary membership as a self-employed person, visit the EPFO portal and apply online with required documents.

Your EPF account remains unchanged when you change jobs. Your new employer will simply link your existing UAN to their establishment. All your contributions and interest continue to accumulate in your single EPF account throughout your career.