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Introduction of new amnesty scheme

New Delhi: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has launched an important relief scheme for companies operating PF trusts, called ‘Six Months Waiver Scheme-2026’. According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment, this scheme provides a golden opportunity to regularize your status under the EPF and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. This scheme will be available for the next six months, so that employers and other concerned parties can take advantage of it.

Who will get the benefit?

This amnesty scheme is exclusively for those institutions whose PF Trusts are recognized under the Income Tax Act, 1961 and which are smoothly functioning, but which do not have a formal exemption notification from the Central or State Government. This new arrangement is in accordance with the changes made in the Financial Act-2026. According to the revised framework, now only those provident funds will be recognized which have received official exemption under Section 17 of the EPF Act.

Categories of eligible institutions

Under this six-month amnesty scheme of EPFO, eligible institutions have been divided into two categories. The first category includes those institutions which are already seeking trust regularization and have started complying as non-exempt institutions. The second category includes those institutions which wish to function as exempted institutions under the Social Security Code, 2020.

Waiver of dues and fines

The biggest advantage of this scheme is that it provides exempt status and recognition for a fixed period of time from the inception of the trust. It also gives significant relaxations in the mandatory conditions under Social Security Code-2020 such as minimum number of employees, size of fund and compliance three years in advance. Most importantly, pending assessments relating to dues, damages and interest will be withdrawn and waived off, provided contributions and interest equal to or better than the statutory rates have been deposited in the member accounts.

application process

To avail the benefits of this scheme, eligible institutions will have to make a formal application to the Central Government through email at the concerned EPFO ​​regional office. Applicants can send their interest to rc.exemption@epfindia.gov.in. The Ministry has clarified that it will be mandatory for the applicants to get their financial accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant (CA). Additionally, any special or compliance audit directed by EPFO ​​officials must be completed within three months of submission of the application.