The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is one of the most dependable retirement savings schemes for salaried employees in India. Designed to ensure long-term financial security, the scheme mandates regular contributions from both the employer and employee. One of the key features that amplify EPF’s value is the annual interest credited to the account. However, many users often find themselves puzzled about when the interest is credited, how it is calculated, and what to do if it doesn’t show up as expected. In this article, we simplify the EPF interest crediting process and explain how to track your EPF balance with ease.
How Is EPF Interest Calculated?
The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) interest is calculated monthly on the running balance in the account but credited annually at the end of the financial year. The interest rate for FY 2024-25 is 8.25%, which translates to a monthly rate of 0.688% (i.e., 8.25/12).
Steps to Calculate EPF Interest
1. Contributions:
- Employee Contribution: 12% of basic salary + dearness allowance.
- Employer Contribution: 12% of basic salary + dearness allowance, split as:
- 8.33% (Capped to ₹1,250/month) towards the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS). Remaining get credited in employer EPF share.
- Remaining 3.67% to the EPF account.
- 8.33% (Capped to ₹1,250/month) towards the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS). Remaining get credited in employer EPF share.
2. Monthly Interest Calculation: Interest is calculated on the opening balance at the start of each month, plus contributions made during that month.
Formula: Monthly Interest = Monthly Balance × Annual Interest Rate / 12
3. Annual Credit: The total interest earned each month is credited to the EPF account on March 31.
4. Compounding: The closing balance at the end of a financial year becomes the opening balance for the next year, and interest is calculated on this updated balance.
Example Calculation
Assume:
- Basic Salary + Dearness Allowance = ₹40,000/month.
- EPF Interest Rate = 8.25%.
Contributions:
- Employee’s Contribution: 12% × ₹40,000 = ₹4,800.
- Employer’s Contribution: 12% of ₹40,000 = ₹4,800
Out of this ₹4,800:
- To EPS (Pension): 8.33% of ₹40,000 = ₹3,332.
But since EPS contribution is capped at ₹1,250 (because EPS wage is capped at ₹15,000), only ₹1,250 goes to EPS. - Balance to EPF:
Remaining Employer Contribution = ₹4,800 − ₹1,250 = ₹3,550
Total Monthly EPF Contribution = ₹4,800 (employee) + ₹1,468 (employer) = ₹6,268.
5. Monthly Interest: For April (assuming an opening balance of ₹2,00,000): Interest = (₹2,00,000 + ₹6,268) × 0.688% = ₹1,431.91
This process repeats for each month with updated balances.
6. Annual Interest: The sum of monthly interest amounts is credited at the end of March. For example, total annual interest earned might be approximately ₹20,978 if contributions and balances remain consistent throughout the year.
7. Key Points
- Interest is calculated monthly but credited annually.
- Interest contributions above ₹2.5 lakh/year are taxable.
- The EPF balance grows through compounding as contributions and interest accumulate over time.
How to Check EPF Interest and Balance
You can check interest through 5 methods:
- EPFO Portal: Login with your UAN and password at passbook.epfindia.gov.in
- UMANG App: Go to EPFO → View Passbook → UAN → OTP → Login
- SMS: Text “EPFOHO UAN ENG” to 7738299899
- Missed Call: Call 9966044425 from your registered number
- FixMyPF: Login with your mobile number or UAN and password to check the interest credit and gain deeper insight into your PF.
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