Form D- Payment of Bonus Act - How to calculate the total no. of employees in the financial year?

Greetings, Under the Payment of Bonus Act, while filing annual returns in FORM D - How to calculate the total no. of employees in the financial year?
Shall we consider no. of employees at the start or end of the financial year or the average number of employees in a year?

How the percentage of the bonus is decided? Is it mandatory to give 8. 33% or 20 % bonus?

Dear Megha,
*You have to consider actual employees (To whom the bonus was paid in the financial year) and you have to calculate on actual basis.
*The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 provides for a minimum bonus of 8.33 (minimum) 20% (Maximum-20%) percent of earned wages.

*Every employee shall be entitled to be paid by his employer in an accounting year, bonus, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, provided he has worked in the establishment for not less than 30 working days in that year.