By Administrator_India
Salaried employees concerned about interest earned on their annual employees’ provident fund being taxed from April 1 can heave a sigh of relief.
Rules amended
This will be applicable to cases where employers do not make contributions to the provident fund, she said in her reply to the debate. “More clarity is needed on this statement. We will have to wait until the Gazette notification is out to understand the nitty-gritties,” said Sudhir Kaushik, Co-founder and CEO, Taxspanner.in. Every month, employers deduct 12 percent of employees’ basic salary and dearness allowance to be deposited in EPF. The employer is required to make a matching contribution to the fund, out of which, 8.33 percent is directed to employees’ pension scheme (EPS).
The finance minister had earlier indicated that the limit could be reviewed. “There can always be a discussion on the Rs 2.5 lakh limit. I can go back and review it. But it is a matter of principle. We are only touching those who are putting far more (in EPF) than what an average Indian’s earnings is per month,” she had said.
However, tax experts believe high-earners need to be prepared to restructure their investment plans in any case, with an eye on the future. “The government wants employees to shift to the National Pension System (NPS) over a period of time. So, employees who draw higher salaries need to be prepared for changes in future,” said Kaushik.