EPFO INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR AMNESTY SCHEME FROM PROVIDENT FUND TRUSTS

Prelims-testable facts

• 01The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced the Amnesty Scheme, 2026, for exempted Provident Fund Trusts recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• 02The scheme provides a one-time opportunity for establishments to regularise their status and obtain formal exemption notification from the appropriate Government.
• 03Recognition under the Income Tax Act, 1961 is available only to provident funds that have obtained exemption under Section 17 of Employees' Provident Fund & Misc. Provisions Act, 1952.
• 04The Amnesty Scheme applies to establishments operating a Provident Fund Trust recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961 but without a formal exemption notification.
• 05The scheme will remain open for a period of six months from its introduction.
• 06Amnesty shall be granted to such establishments retrospectively under Section 17 of the Employees' Provident Fund & Misc. Provisions Act, 1952 and Section 143 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

Trap alerts

• Most people think the Amnesty Scheme is for all Provident Fund Trusts, but actually it's only for those recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Most people think the scheme will automatically regularise the status of exempted Provident Fund Trusts, but actually they need to apply and obtain a formal exemption notification.