EPFO Launches Amnesty Scheme 2026 for PF Trusts to Regularize Compliance The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced the Amnesty Scheme 2026, offering a six-month window for establishments managing Provident Fund (PF) Trusts under the Income Tax Act of 1961 to regularize their compliance status. The initiative, announced on June 29, 2026, aims to address legal gaps in the operations of exempted PF trusts and ensure adherence to statutory frameworks. The scheme is designed to grant retrospective amnesty to eligible entities, enabling them to formalize their exemption status and align with the provisions of the Finance Act 2026, the Income Tax Act 2025, and the Code on Social Security. The Union Labour Ministry emphasized that the amnesty will be granted under Section 17 of the Act and Section 143 of the Code on Social Security, 2020. This retrospective approach allows establishments that have been operating as exempted PF trusts but lack formal exemption notifications to rectify their legal status. The scheme is particularly targeted at organizations, ranging from small businesses to larger enterprises, that have been contributing to employee provident funds without formalizing their exemption status. An exempted provident fund is a scheme managed by an employer through a private trust rather than being governed by the EPFO. While these funds operate independently, they must still comply with regulations set by the Income Tax Department and the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The Amnesty Scheme 2026 seeks to integrate such trusts into a unified statutory framework, ensuring legal compliance and simplifying the administration of provident fund benefits.#income_tax_act_1961 #code_on_social_security_2020 #epfo #amnesty_scheme_2026 #finance_act_2026
