EPFO: How to Calculate EPF Interest Amount | PF Interest Calculation | How to Calcualte Interest on PF balance

How is the PF Amount interest calculated 

The rules related to the calculation of Interest on Provident Fund Contributions are laid down under Para 60 of the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme 1952 

The interest is credited on monthly running balance basis as follows:

• On the closing balance of the amount as on last date of the preceding year less any sum withdrawn during the current year: interest for 12 months.
• On the sums withdrawn during the current year: Interest from the beginning of the year till the last date of the month preceding the month in which withdrawal took place.
• On the amounts of contributions credited during the current year: interest from the first date of month succeeding the month of credit, till the last date of the current year.

Once the interest rate for any Financial Year is notified, and the current year ends, the month wise closing balance is calculated and then the interest for the whole year is calculated by adding the monthly running balance and multiplying it with the interest rate
/1200. (See illustration)

In case of a member taking the final settlement, the interest calculated as per this rule is added in his settlement amount.

Note: Interest is separately calculated for the Employee Share and Employer Share of Provident Fund. 

No interest is calculated on Pension Contribution since benefits are based on the service length and average wages at the time of exit, whether the benefit is through Pension or Withdrawal Benefit.

During final settlement:

In case a member is taking a final settlement and the interest for the current year is not notified, interest is credited on the basis of the rate declared for the immediately preceding year. However on declaration of interest whether at less or higher rate no revision of the settled amount is done.

Interest in the Inoperative Accounts:

No interest is credited in the members’ account from the date when the account has become Inoperative Account as per the provisions of the Scheme [Sub-paragraph (6) of paragraph 72]. 

A member can read the provisions of the paragraph in the Scheme, but to understand this in easy terms it is requested to see the following:

If a member has retired on completion of 55 years of age Or Has migrated abroad permanently Or Member has died And No claim has been received for settlement for 36 months from the date when the amount became payable,The account becomes inoperative from that date.

Once an account becomes inoperative, no interest is credited further from that date.

 So members who are leaving service before 55 years of age should file claims maximum by the age of 58 years to not lose any interest. Members who have retired after 55 years age should file claim maximum within next three years.

In case of death of a member, the beneficiary should file claim maximum within 3 years of the date of death.

Illustration of Calculation of Interest

Month/Year	Contribution	Withdrawal	Interest bearing balance
Opening Balance	112345
March	1000		113345
April	1000		114345
May	1000	25000	90345
June	1000		91345
July	1000		92345
August	1000		93345
Sept	1000		94345
Oct	1000		95345
Nov	1000		96345
Dec	1000		97345
Jan	1000		98345
Feb	1000		99345

 

Considering interest rate is 8.65%

Interest bearing balance = Sum of monthly balance = 1164140

Amount of interest= 1164140* 8.65/1200= 8391.5

Rounded to nearest rupee 8392/-

Thus the closing balance for the year will be Opening balance + Contributions – withdrawal + Interest,
Rs 112345 + 12000 – 25000 + 8392 = 107737 

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