The amnesty covers PF trusts that are recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961, but don’t have a formal exemption order under Section 17 of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, or Section 143 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.
In simpler terms, the scheme is aimed at trusts that have tax recognition but haven’t completed the separate formal process required to be treated as exempt PF establishments under provident-fund law.
The amnesty was introduced under the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 2026, notified on June 29. It is available for six months, until December 28, 2026.
What does the amnesty offer?
The key benefit is retrospective regularisation. Eligible PF trusts can have their exemption status formally regularised for the earlier period rather than merely obtaining recognition going forward.
The scheme also waives certain eligibility requirements, including those relating to minimum employee strength, corpus size and the three-year compliance requirement under the Code on Social Security.
Once its past status has been regularised, an establishment can choose whether to continue as an exempt establishment — effectively operating its own approved PF trust — or move to the unexempt system administered directly by EPFO.
EPFO issued detailed guidelines on July 11 explaining how trusts can apply and the procedural requirements they must follow.EPFO steps up outreach
EPFO said it is working through its field offices to identify potential applicants and make eligible trusts aware of the amnesty.
As part of the effort, it has approached the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), asking it to circulate information about the scheme among its members. Chartered accountants could help identify PF trusts that qualify for the amnesty.
EPFO’s zonal offices in Uttar Pradesh and Kolkata have also held seminars and workshops with stakeholders.
The retirement-fund body has separately approached the Income Tax Department for details of PF trusts recognised under the Income Tax Act. EPFO plans to cross-check those trusts’ coverage and exemption status under provident-fund laws before recognition is granted or withdrawn.
Eligible PF trusts can apply under the procedure laid down in EPFO’s July 11 circular.
