Both PF and ESI contributions for a wage month must be paid by the 15th of the following month. For example, contributions on September wages are due by 15 October.
What happens if you pay late
- Interest: simple interest at 12% a year for the period of delay, under s. 127 of the Code on Social Security (old EPF Act s. 7Q).
- Damages: damages can be levied for the default under s. 128 (old EPF Act s. 14B and ESI Act s. 85B), at the rates in the schemes.
- Prosecution: continued non-payment can lead to penalties under ss. 133–134.
A simple monthly routine
- Close payroll by the 5th and pay wages by the 7th (Code on Wages s. 17).
- Generate UAN and ESI IP numbers for new joiners in the same month they join.
- Update exit dates for employees who leave.
- Upload the ECR and generate the ESI challan by the 10th, and pay before the 15th.
See this month's dates on our due dates page, or hand the whole task to us with our monthly filing package.