The details of Provident Fund (PF) deduction are recorded in the salary slip received every month by the employees working in private and organized sector, but many times the employees are not able to know whether the company (employer) has actually deposited that money in the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) account on time or not. As per the clear rules of EPFO, it is the legal obligation of the company to deposit the amount deducted from the salary into the government account within the stipulated time frame. If the company fails to do so, it is considered a punishable offense by law. Employees can check in a few minutes sitting at home whether their hard-earned money has reached their account or not. Last date for depositing PF for the company: 15th Strict rule Under the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund Scheme 1952: 15th of every month Deadline: By the 15th of the month following the month in which the salary is made, it is mandatory for the employer to deposit 12% of the employee's contribution and 12% of the company's share in EPFO (for example, PF deducted from the salary of January month should be deposited by 15th February). Heavy penalty on delay: If the company does not deposit the money by 15th, 12% annual interest is charged under Section 7Q and a penal penalty ranging from 5% to 25% under Section 14B. Scope of crime: Not deducting money from salary and depositing it in EPFO comes under the category of Criminal Breach of Trust under the Indian Penal Code and EPF Act. 4 easy ways to know whether PF has been deposited at home or not EPFO has provided several digital options for employees to track the real-time status of their account: 1. EPFO Member Passbook Portal: Visit the official passbook portal (passbook.epfindia.gov.in). Login by entering your 12 digit UAN (Universal Account Number) and password. Select your Member ID and open the passbook. The passbook shows monthly entries—in which the monthly credit of Employee Share, Employer Share and Pension Fund (EPS) is recorded with a clear date. 2. UMANG App: Open 'UMANG App' on smartphone and search 'EPFO' service. Click on 'View Passbook' and login through UAN and OTP. From here you can directly view the complete history of your monthly credit and download the PDF. 3. Missed Call and SMS Alert: If your UAN is linked to bank, PAN and Aadhaar, give a missed call to 9966044425 from your registered mobile number. To get information through SMS, write EPFOHO UAN HIN (for Hindi) and send message to 7738299899. Within a few moments, details of the final deposit amount will arrive on the phone. 4. Monthly Automatic SMS: As soon as the challan (ECR) is filed by the company, EPFO sends SMS directly to the employee's mobile that this month's amount has been deposited in your account. What to do if money is deducted from salary but not deposited in the account? If PF deduction is visible in your salary slip but there is no entry in the EPF passbook for many months, then it is a serious matter. In such a situation, follow these 3 steps: Step 1 – Contact HR/Accounts department: First of all, talk to the payroll department of your company and ask for challan receipt (ECR Challan Receipt). Step 2 – Online complaint on EPFiGMS: If the company does not provide a satisfactory response, then directly visit EPFO's complaint portal (epfigms.gov.in). There select 'Register Grievance', upload your salary slip as 'PF Member' and lodge the complaint. Step 3 – Complaint to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (RPFC): The enforcement squad of EPFO will investigate the company concerned and recover the PF dues of the employees along with interest by attaching the assets and bank accounts of the employer. Employees are advised to check their EPF passbook between 20th-25th of every month so that any negligence or default by the company can be detected in time.
