Left out of EPF by your employer? This EPFO move will bring you in with no contribution required

If you are a salaried person who was excluded from EPF benefits by your employer between 2017 and 2025, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is starting a new campaign from November 1 to include you. And the best part is that you don't need to make any contribution for the lost years.

EPFO's Employees' Enrolment Campaign, 2025 will commence on November 1 and close on April 30, 2026, providing employers a special window to voluntarily enroll eligible employees, who were left out of EPF coverage between 01.07.2017 to 31.10.2025 and regularise their past compliance.

The scheme will apply to all establishments, irrespective of their existing coverage status.

Interestingly, the employee share will be waived for the declared period, only if not deducted. However, employers will be required to make their contributions for the relevant years.

"Employer is liable to deposit only the employer's share, along with interest (under Sec 7Q) and administrative charges as well as Penal Damages amounting to lumpsum of 100," EPFO said.

Employees’ Provident Funds (Amendment) Scheme, 2025 mandates the following rules for employers under the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign, 2025:

The employer shall deposit contributions in respect of declared employees for past periods from their respective date of joining as declared by the employer, that-

• (a) the employer shall only be required to pay the employer’s share, provided the employees’ share has not been deducted and kept with the employer;

• (b) the employees’ share shall be waived, if not deducted by employer earlier.

• (c) the employer shall pay interest for the past period under section 7Q of the Act along with administrative charges, as applicable.

According to EPFO, employers will be required to generate e Face Authentication-based UAN through UMANG App for each declared employee and remit contributions using Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) during the campaign. Further, they are required to file the declaration online only via EPFO portal, linking ECR with a Temporary Return Reference Number (TRRN).

Further, no suo-motu action will be initiated for employees who exited prior to declaration, provided all eligible employees have been declared and no dues remain unpaid for past or present employees whose shares were deducted.