EPF Registration Online Process for Employer

EPF Registration Procedure

For EPF Registration procedure, an employer can choose to register either offline or online, with the online option being the preferred mode for registration today.
The registration form can be downloaded from the website of the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). Employers need to provide the following details to successfully register themselves.

1. Name and address of company
2. Head office and branch details
3. Mention date of incorporation/registration of company
4. Fill up details of employees - total employee strength
5. Activity the business/enterprise is involved in - i.e. manufacturing, production, service, etc.
6. Legal details - This pertains to legal status of a company, i.e. whether it is a private firm/public company, partnership or society, etc.
7. Owner details, including designation and address of Directors and partners
8. Particulars related to wage component of employees, i.e. total wage disbursed during a month

1. Details of bank with whom company has banking relationship
2. PAN details
3. Basic details of employee (name, date of joining, salary, etc.)

A form titled "Proforma for Coverage" needs to be filled with the details mentioned above to finish the registration process. In addition to this Proforma for Coverage, employers are expected to submit Form 5A with Annexure 1 to complete the formalities.

EPF Registration Steps for Employers

• To register the organisation, the employer will need to visit the EPFO portal, which is https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/index.php and click on the option that says, 'Establishment Registration'.
  
• Clicking on 'Establishment Registration' will lead you to the next page, which is https://registration.shramsuvidha.gov.in/user/register, where the manual can be downloaded. The user manual must be read completely by a new user before registration.
  
• Click on 'Sign Up' Button.
  
• Clicking on 'Sign Up' will ask for the Name, Email, Mobile Number, and Verification Code to be filled. After these details are filled, click on 'SIGN UP' to create your account.
  
• There will be an option called 'Registration For EPFO-ESIC'.
• The next page will give you an option called 'Apply for New Registration'. Clicking on that will give two options called 'Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948' and 'Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952', which can be checked and then click on the 'Submit' button
  
• This leads you to a page where the details of the employer such as Establishment Details, eContacts, Contact Persons, Identifiers, Employment Details, Particulars of workers, Branch/Division, Activities, and Attachments are mentioned. All mandatory details that must be filled under each section are displayed with a red asterisk.
• The summary of the registration form can be viewed on the dashboard.
• Click on the 'Submit' button to submit the registration.
  
• This is followed by the employer's Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) registration. For a fresh EPF registration application, DSC registration is mandatory.
  
• On completion of DSC registration, you will receive an email from Shram Suvidha with a confirmation that the registration has been completed.

Eligibility for EPF Registration

Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is a scheme that is regulated by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and it was introduced due to the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The work culture today depends on the welfare of employees, with employers scrambling to ensure their employees are entitled to the best care and benefits. An Employee Provident Fund is an initiative designed to offer social security benefits to employees of a particular organization, building stronger employee-employer bonds. In order to enjoy these benefits to the hilt, employers need to follow a set of rules and guidelines laid out, with registration forming the first step.

Companies which grow to a strength of 20 members are expected to register themselves within one month from the time of attaining this strength, with penalties applicable for delays in registration. Co-operative societies are expected to register if their employee strength increases to 50 or more and registered organizations continue to be under the purview of the rules and regulations of the Act even if their employee strength falls below the minimum specified number.

Documents Required for EPF Registration Online

Employers are expected to furnish certain documents as proof in order to successfully register EPF. A list of below documents are required for online EPF Registration

1. Copy of partnership deed if the company is a registered partnership firm
2. A copy of the Certificate of incorporation for a Public or Private Limited Company. This should be issued by the Registrar of Companies
3. Societies should furnish a copy of their registration certificate
4. Public and Private Limited Companies need to submit a copy of memorandum and Articles of Association
5. Societies should furnish a copy of the rules and objects of the society
6. All legal documents which might be required under the Income Tax Act
7. PAN details of company
8. Partition deed
9. Proof of incorporation - first sales invoice/ license issued by competent authorities
10. Salary details of employees
11. Balance sheet details
12. PF statement and salary
13. Number of employees that have worked for the organisation for the month
14. In case the organisation has registered for GST, the certificate must be submitted
15. First sale bill
16. Cross cancelled cheque
17. Bank details such as name, branch, IFSC code, and address of the bank
18. Machinery and raw material purchased for the first time

Conclusion

Currently, the interest rate is 8.25%, and the interest that is earned is tax-free. Since the scheme was launched by the Indian Government it is safe and secure. Employees can also transfer EPF amount from one account to another in case they change jobs. The registration process is also simple when done online and can save time.