The Ministry made it clear that only those companies will be applicable to avail this benefit which have sought retrospective trust regularisation and has already started compliance as an un-exempted establishment or are opting for prospective compliance as an un-exempted establishment
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced the Amnesty Scheme, 2026, providing a one-time opportunity for companies operating private provident fund (PF) trusts, recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961, to regularise their status by seeking appropriate certification. The scheme will remain open for six months from June 29, 2026, when it was notified.The Ministry of Labour & Employment issued a statement on Sunday, saying that the scheme applies to establishments that have been operating a private provident fund trust recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961, but do not possess a formal exemption notification from either the central or a state government, as the case may be.Recognition under the IT Act will be available only to provident funds that have obtained exemption under Section 17 of Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. Amnesty shall be granted to such establishments retrospectively under Section 17 of the Act and Section 143 of the Code on Social Security, 2020, the Ministry stated.The Ministry made it clear that only those companies will be applicable to avail this benefit which have sought retrospective trust regularisation and has already started compliance as an un-exempted establishment or are opting for prospective compliance as an un-exempted establishment. Another category of companies that can avail scheme are those seeking retrospective trust regularisation and choose to continue operating as exempted establishments under the Code of Social Security, 2020.Exemption status and trust recognition will be granted from the inception of the Trust up to the designated cut-off date, the statement read.Compliance waiverMinimum employee headcount and corpus size rules have been waived for establishment seeking waiver of requirements under the Code on Social Security, 2020. The 3-year prior compliance rule is deemed satisfied, it clarified.Also, pending assessments for dues, damages and interest will be withdrawn and stand abated, provided member accounts received interest and contributions at par with or better than statutory rates, as per the Ministry. Past finalised orders will be treated as void ab-initio is another relaxation the Ministry is bringing to mainstream private PF trusts.Eligible establishments will have to mail a formal application to the central government at rc.exemption@epfindia.gov.in.Published on July 12, 2026
