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EPFO Circulars & notices

EPFO Wage Ceiling Increased to 25,000 Rupees

The monthly wage limit for calculating mandatory Provident Fund contributions has increased from 15,000 to 25,000 rupees.

Document
Circulars & notices
Dated
29 Sep 2026
Effective
17th September 2026
Act by
17th September 2026

This page was written by Patron Accounting’s AI from the official release and reviewed before publishing. It explains the document in plain language. It is not the document itself. Where this page and the original differ, the original governs.

The short version

  1. The new wage ceiling is 25,000 rupees per month.
  2. This change applies to all employees covered under the Social Security Code.
  3. Employers must update payroll systems to reflect the higher contribution limit.
  4. The new rule is effective from 17th September 2026.

In short

This circular from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) announces an increase in the wage ceiling used to calculate mandatory retirement savings contributions.

What has changed

How it worked before

Until 17th September 2026, the wage ceiling for calculating Provident Fund contributions was capped at 15,000 rupees per month.

What has changed

The government has raised the maximum monthly wage limit for Provident Fund calculations to 25,000 rupees.

Who this affects

Employers and employees covered under the Code on Social Security.

An example

If you run a small business and pay an employee 30,000 rupees per month, you previously calculated their Provident Fund contribution based on a 15,000 rupee limit. Under the new rule, you must now calculate their contribution based on the new 25,000 rupee ceiling. This will increase the total monthly contribution amount for both the employer and the employee.

What you should do

Employers must update their payroll software and accounting systems to calculate Provident Fund contributions based on the new 25,000 rupee limit.

Deadline · 17th September 2026

If you do nothing

If you fail to update your payroll, you will underpay the required Provident Fund contributions. This can lead to interest charges, penalties, and formal notices from the EPFO for non-compliance.

The terms explained

Wage ceiling
The maximum monthly salary amount used to calculate mandatory Provident Fund contributions.
Code on Social Security
A law that combines various rules regarding employee benefits like retirement savings and insurance.
Provident Fund
A government-managed retirement savings scheme where employers and employees contribute a portion of the salary.

The original document

Issued byEPFO
DocumentCirculars & notices
Full titleWage Ceiling Circular 28.09.2026
Issued on29 September 2026
Effective17th September 2026

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Does this wage ceiling increase apply to me?

If you are an employer or employee covered under the Code on Social Security, this change applies to you starting from 17th September 2026.

What happens if I do not update my payroll?

Failing to update your payroll will result in incorrect contribution amounts, which may lead to penalties and interest charges from the EPFO.

Do I need to file any new forms?

No new forms are required, but you must ensure your internal payroll calculations are updated to reflect the new 25,000 rupee limit.

Is this change retroactive?

The change is effective from 17th September 2026, meaning it applies to contributions due from that date onwards.