What Do You Mean By Provident Fund?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A provident fund is

a retirement fund run by the government

. They are generally compulsory, often through taxes, and are funded by both employer and employee contributions. Governments set the rules regarding withdrawals, including minimum age and withdrawal amount.

What is provident fund and how does it work?

An Employee Provident Fund is

a scheme that has been put in place for all salaried employees working in a corporate organization with 20 or more employees

. The Employee Provident Fund Organization of India or EPFO has instructed all organizations to put a fraction of employees’ salaries into the provident fund.

What is provident fund and types?


Statutory Provident Fund

– This scheme is set up under the Provident Funds Act, 1925. … It is also known as the General Provident Fund (GPF). The interest rates of general provident funds are revised from time to time by the government. The private sector employees are not eligible for the general provident fund.

What is provident fund in simple words?

A provident fund​ is an

investment fund

that is jointly established by the employer and employee to serve as a long term savings to support an employee upon retirement. It also represents job welfare benefits offered to the employee.

What do you mean by provident fund in income tax?

Provident fund is

a kind of security fund in which the employees contribute a part of their salary and the employer also contributes on behalf of their employees

. Section 10(11) and 10(12) of the Income Tax Act defines the exemption on the amount added to the provident fund.

What is the use of provident fund?

A provident fund is a government-managed,

mandatory retirement savings scheme

used in India, Singapore, and other developing nations. These funds also share some characteristics with pension funds provided by employers.

What is the benefit of provident fund?

This savings scheme offers tax exemption under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act to an EPF Account holder. EPFO allows for

Partial Fund Withdrawals in certain cases

such as medical emergency, home loan repayment, construction or purchase of new house, renovation of house, wedding of children or self.

How can I calculate my provident fund?

Calculation of EPF

Employee Provident fund interest is calculated on the Contributions made by the employee as well as the employer. Contribution made by the employee

equals 12% of his/her Basic Pay plus Dearness Allowance

(DA).

Who is eligible for PF?


Employees drawing less than Rs 15,000 per month

have to mandatorily become members of the EPF. However, an employee who is drawing ‘pay’ above prescribed limit (currently Rs 15,000) can become a member with permission of Assistant PF Commissioner, if he and his employer agree.

How many types of provident fund are there?

Employees’ provident fund is classified into

4 categories

: Statutory Provident Fund, Recognized Provident Fund, Unrecognized Provident Fund and Public Provident Fund. Let us have a brief look on the types of funds and tax imposed on these funds.

How is provident fund deducted?

Employee’s contribution towards EPF –

12% of the employee’s salary

is deducted by the employer on a monthly basis for contribution towards EPF. The entire contribution goes towards the EPF account. Employer’s contribution towards EPF – The employer also contributes 12% of the employee’s salary towards EPF.

What is difference between provident fund and gratuity?

Gratuity is usually awarded in addition to other benefits payable to an employee. However gratuity is not payable during the period an employer has set up a provident fund in his establishment with at least

50%

of the contribution by the employer and the remaining by employee.

Who manages provident fund?

Native name कर्मचारी भविष्य निधि संगठन Services Provident Fund Implementing agency for Bilateral Social Security Agreements AUM ₹11 lakh crore (US$150 billion) Owner

Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India
Website epfindia.gov.in

Does Provident Fund get taxed?

The first R25 000 of your provident fund withdrawal is not taxed, so if this is your first (retirement fund) withdrawal

you will pay no tax

, If it is your second, you would most likely pay tax at 18%.

What is provident fund for employees?

The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is

a retirement benefits scheme in

which employees of an organisation contribute a small portion of their basic pay monthly. In the same line, the employer also contributes a similar amount on their behalf towards the scheme.

Can I get my provident fund if I resign?

If you resign, or you are retrenched,

you are allowed to withdraw from your employer-sponsored retirement fund

(that is a pension or provident fund). The “benefit” you can claim is the balance in your retirement account. Once you have withdrawn, you have no other claim against that fund.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.