The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has fixed the EPF interest rate for FY 2025-26 at 8.25% per annum and has received government approval. The long-awaited EPF interest payout is expected to reach subscribers' accounts in the coming weeks, according to recent reports. The EPFO calculates and deposits interest on EPF balances annually, with the crediting process typically taking place in the following financial year after the Centre approves the interest rate proposed by the EPFO's Central Board of Trustees (CBT). To verify whether interest has been credited, employees can check through multiple channels including the UMANG app, EPFO Member e-Sewa portal, missed call service, SMS service, and Passbook Lite on the EPFO Member Passbook portal. The last entry should reflect as 'Interest updated up to 31/03/2026' to confirm successful crediting of interest for the respective financial year.
A small EPF contribution can create significant retirement wealth over time through compounding effects. Investing ₹1,800 monthly in EPF for 25 years at an 8.25% interest rate can grow into a corpus of nearly ₹19 lakh through compounding. As per Mint, this demonstrates how disciplined savings, long-term focus, and compounding can help employees build meaningful financial security for retirement. The calculations show that ₹5.4 lakh in total contributions can generate a corpus of ₹18-19 lakh, with interest earned alone exceeding ₹13 lakh. This example highlights how even modest monthly contributions can accumulate substantial wealth over extended periods, making EPF one of the most reliable long-term savings instruments for salaried employees.
The EPFO 3.0 digital upgrade introduces advanced features for PF account management, including quick paperless withdrawals using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and UPI-enabled ATMs. Employees can now check their PF balance through the official EPFO app using UAN details, where they can log in, select 'Passbook' or 'Balance' option, and view their PF balance, contributions, and claim details instantly. Additionally, PF details can be accessed digitally through DigiLocker by linking your UAN, where users can sign in using Aadhaar-linked mobile number, link their UAN and verify with OTP, and access EPF documents and account details instantly. Recent reports confirm that employees can also check their balance through SMS by sending EPFOHO UAN ENG from their registered mobile number, which provides current member details, total balance, and latest contribution information. As per Mint, employees can also verify their monthly PF balance and employer contributions through the EPFO portal or UMANG application, ensuring clarity in account details.
Employers are required to deposit EPF contributions within 15 days of the end of the month for which salary has been paid. As reported by EPFO, after the employer uploads the challan and makes the payment, it typically takes about a week for the employer's contribution to be reflected in the EPF passbook. The EPFO sends a confirmation message to the registered mobile number regarding successful credit of employer contributions. To view complete month-by-month breakdown, employees can access their EPF passbook digitally through the EPFO passbook portal or the UMANG app, where contributions are displayed separately for employee and employer with EPS contributions. In case EPF deductions are made from salary payments but still do not appear in the EPF account balance, employees can check with their employer and file a complaint through the EPFiGMS portal - the official grievance redressal platform of EPFO. According to Mint, this platform serves as the primary mechanism for resolving disputes and ensuring timely resolution of member grievances.
After retiring at 65 years of age, your EPF account will continue earning interest for 3 years from the last contribution, after which it becomes inactive, though the principal remains safe for withdrawal anytime. Since you have not completed 10 years of service, you are not eligible for an EPS monthly pension but can withdraw the entire pension contribution as a lump sum by submitting Form 10C. Similarly, use Form 19 to withdraw your EPF balance if you don't plan to rejoin employment. Ensure your KYC is updated for smooth processing of your withdrawal requests.
