Confused About Missing Pension Contributions? Seeking Advice on Next Steps

I was employed with ABC Pvt Ltd (trust PF) from February 2018 to March 2021. However, while accessing the trust passbook, I am unable to see any pension contributions of 8.33% during the service period. The employer's 12% contribution was fully allocated to EPF.

Prior to ABC, I was with XYZ for 5 years, where I joined in 2013 and was part of EPF and EPS contributions from my employer. Over those 5 years, my previous employer contributed towards EPS.

Please help me as I am not sure what will happen to my pension money stored in XYZ since my next employer, ABC, didn't deduct any amount for EPS contributions for 3 years.

Please advise me on the next step in order to proceed.

Don't panic. First, check what declaration you gave in Form 11. If you have ticked "yes" for EPS membership, then the employer is at fault. So, first ask for a copy of Form 11. In any case, you need to write a letter to your employer to pay EPS from the employer's share. If it is your mistake that in Form 11 you ticked "no" against item 10 of the form, you will need to bear interest and penalty.

The case can be regularized by depositing the contribution.

Gap Period Between Employment at XYZ Co and ABC Co

What is the gap period between leaving XYZ Co and joining ABC Co? You also left ABC Co in March '21. Have you joined any other organization? Have you settled your PF from XYZ Co after leaving? Please answer the above queries.

If there is a significant gap between joining ABC Co and leaving XYZ Co, or you have already settled your PF with XYZ Co, then your employment at ABC Co has been considered as fresh employment, obviously based on your FORM-11 declaration. If your Basic Salary (PF Gross) was more than ₹15,000 per month when you joined ABC Co, and based on your declaration in Form-11, the ABC Company may not deduct your EPS contribution as per the September 2014 EPFO Circular.

S K Bandyopadhyay (WB, Howrah) CEO-USD HR Solutions

No gap between XYZ and ABC.

PF transferred from XYZ to ABC. Never withdrawn anything yet from EPFO.

Issue with EPS contributions

After ABC, I joined another company without a gap, but they are not making any EPS contributions. I might have accidentally filled in the wrong information on Form 11.

Seeking advice on next steps

What should I do? Should I write to the ABC company to get the 3-year service passbook revised with EPS and then transfer to the present company? Also, in my present company, should I request a revision as well?

EPS Account Transfer and Issues

The matter is now complicated. Your EPS account has also been transferred to ABC Co. from XYZ Co., but unfortunately, your EPS has been stopped by ABC Co. for more than 3 years now. Before you write to ABC Co., please contact the EPFO Office for their advice and act accordingly.

Probably there was a wrong judgment by ABC Co. - maybe your basic salary while joining ABC Co. was more than ₹15,000/-. If you have been a member of EPS since 2013, you should continue the same till date. Please also discuss with your present organization's HR to find a solution.

S K Bandyopadhyay (WB, Howrah)
CEO-USD HR Solutions

EPS Withdrawal Guidance

EPFO suggested reaching out to the XYZ jurisdiction EPFO office regarding EPS withdrawal. According to ABC records, the member is not an EPS member for the ABC PF number.

Not sure how to proceed now?

If you can withdraw the EPS amount from your XYZ Co., please do so. In my opinion, that is the best solution at this moment.

S K Bandyopadhyay (WB, Howrah) CEO-USD HR Solutions