New Delhi, June 15, 2026, 15:32 (IST)
- EPF members are watching their passbooks after EPFO’s Central Board recommended 8.25% interest for FY2025-26, with no specific credit date announced yet. mint
- A delayed passbook entry does not reduce the interest earned because EPF interest is calculated on monthly running balances. mint
- The 8.25% headline rate can look stronger after tax benefits, especially for old-regime taxpayers, though tax-free interest limits still matter. Moneycontrol
Millions of Employees’ Provident Fund subscribers are checking their accounts for the annual interest entry after EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees recommended an 8.25% rate for FY2025-26. The rate was recommended at the board meeting chaired by Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and it will be credited after official government notification and account updates, according to the Labour Ministry’s March statement. Press Information Bureau
The immediate issue for members is timing. Mint reported on June 15 that EPFO has not announced a specific date for crediting the FY2025-26 interest, while Lokshahi reported on June 13 that passbook updates are expected after administrative steps are completed. The process includes government approval, account verification and interest calculation across a very large subscriber base. Mint said EPFO manages more than seven crore active contributing members, and the crediting exercise must account for deposits, withdrawals, transfers and other member-level activity. mint
The delay should not be read as a loss of money. EPF interest is calculated on monthly running balances through the financial year and remains payable even if the entry appears later in the passbook. That is why the visible update may lag the rate announcement. For members, the practical signal is the passbook entry showing annual interest and the updated balance, rather than the date on which the rate was first recommended. mint
The 8.25% rate also matters because EPF is not just a fixed-income product. It is part retirement saving and part tax-efficient account. Moneycontrol’s June 10 analysis noted that the effective return can be higher for taxpayers using the old tax regime because eligible EPF contributions qualify under Section 80C, accumulation is not taxed, and withdrawals are generally tax-free after five years of continuous service. Thomas Stephen, Director and Head – Preferred at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, told Moneycontrol that “the effective return works out to nearly 11.8 percent,” while Atish Jain, CEO of Choice Connect, said comparing EPF’s stated return with mutual fund XIRR was “comparing two entirely different things.” Moneycontrol
That comparison has limits. Equity mutual funds can deliver higher long-term returns, but they carry market risk and are taxed at exit. Fixed deposits are simpler, but interest is taxed annually, which lowers post-tax returns for higher-income savers. EPF’s advantage is stability and tax treatment, not liquidity or upside. Moneycontrol also cited Core Integra’s Munab Ali Baik as saying tax-free interest eligibility is restricted to employee contributions up to ₹2.5 lakh a year. Moneycontrol
Members can check the status through the EPFO passbook portal using their Universal Account Number, or through UMANG, SMS and missed-call services. EPFO’s passbook portal lists missed-call balance enquiry at 9966044425 and SMS enquiry as EPFOHO UAN <LAN> to 7738299899. The portal also warns members not to share Aadhaar, PAN, bank details or OTPs, and says EPFO never asks members or pensioners to deposit money through phone calls. Gov
