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EPFO Amnesty: Last Chance for PF Trust Exemption!
13 Oct
Summary
- EPFO's Amnesty Scheme 2026 offers a one-time chance to regularize PF trust exemption status.
- Eligible establishments must apply by the December 28, 2026 deadline.
- The scheme relaxes statutory requirements for employee strength and trust corpus size.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued a strong call to action for eligible establishments, encouraging them to expedite their applications under the Amnesty Scheme 2026. This scheme presents a singular chance to regularize the exemption status of provident fund (PF) trusts. The crucial deadline for submitting applications is December 28, 2026.
The Amnesty Scheme 2026 specifically targets PF trusts recognized under the Income Tax Act, 1961, that may lack formal exemption orders under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, or the Code on Social Security, 2020. Introduced as a transitional measure, the scheme commenced on June 29, with the application window closing on December 28.
Further easing the process, the scheme relaxes certain statutory requirements stipulated by the Code on Social Security, 2020. These include stipulations concerning the minimum number of employees, the size of the PF trust's corpus, and a mandatory three-year compliance period. Upon successful regularization, establishments gain the flexibility to operate either as exempt entities managing their own PF trusts or as unexempt entities under the EPFO's standard framework.
