EPF Tax has you confused? Here is how to decide between EPF, PPF and NPS

EPF Tax has you confused? Here is how to decide between EPF, PPF and NPS

 The Employee Provident Fund Tax announced in the Union Budget 2016-17 has everyone scurrying to withdraw their deposits. Under the Budget proposal, the government is planning to tax 60 per cent of Employees Provident Fund corpus on contributions made after April 1, 2016. The move by the government has sent confusing signals and has put a spotlight on retirement products available in the country.

After the announcement of the EPF tax in the Budget, the government came under severe pressure to withdraw the entire provision. While speaking at a post-Budget conference with industry chambers, Union Finance Minister Minister Arun Jaitley sought to assuage people's concerns on Wednesday and said he would spell out the final decision on taxing withdrawals from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) at the time of replying to a debate in Parliament.


The minister said the EPF withdrawal tax is not aimed at raising revenues, rather the emphasis of the government is to make India a pensioned and insured society. No tax will levied if the corpus at the time of withdrawal is invested in pension-based annuities, he said.


Meanwhile, we look at the three major retirement schemes – EPF, Public Provident Fund and National Pension Scheme – and what they have on offer for you.


The EPF is run by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), while the old-age income security scheme – the Public Provident Fund (PPF) – is sponsored by the government. The National Pension Scheme is sponsored by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).


Aside from the EPF and PPF, the National Pension System (NPS) is a recent entrant in this space. Arun Jaitley has sought to make the NPS more tax-friendly. The 40 per cent of the corpus that an investor can withdraw after maturity is proposed to be made tax-free. The long-term aim is to bring it on an equal footing with the EPF on the taxation front.


The Public Provident Fund remains totally exempted throughout. For PPF, with an 8.7 per cent annual rate of interest, the Economic Survey 2016 clearly mentioned that after factoring in tax rate on deposit and interest, the effective interest rate comes to a high 16 per cent.


The NPS, on the other hand, offers market-linked returns with a maximum equity investment of 50 per cent from subscriber money permitted under the scheme. In essence, it provides a window to beat returns from PPF and EPF in the long term.


EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME (EPF)


Eligibility: Employees drawing basic salary of Rs 15,000 have to compulsory contribute to the Provident fund and employees drawing above Rs 15,000 have an option to become member of the Provident Fund


Where to open: Scheme is provided by Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) through organisation enrolled with it. Your office will open the account for you if they employ 20 persons or more


Investment limit: Employee contributes 12 per cent of basic salary and and equivalent amount is contributed by the Employer.


Returns: EPF funds will earn a 8.8 per cent for 2015-16, marginally up from the previous 8.75 per cent.


Duration/maturity: Till the retirement of the employee or the employee opting out of


Loans/Withdrawals: You can withdraw from EPF account for children’s education, marriage of self, children and siblings, purchase/construction of a house or any medical emergencies. However, withdrawal is subject to certain conditions:


• Minimum 7 years of service;
• Maximum 3 withdrawals during which you hold the EPF sAccount;
• Maximum aggregate withdrawal would be 50% of the total contributions made by you.


For medical emergencies, there is no minimum service period. However, the maximum amount one can withdraw is 6 times the basic salary and proof of hospitalisation is required.


However, withdrawal for purchase/construction of house is available only once in an individual’s working life. The minimum service period is 5 years and the maximum withdrawable amount is 36 times your total salary (for construction of property) and 24 times (for purchase of property).


Tax Benefits: Currently enjoys the Exempt, Exempt, Exempt (EEE) status. However, Budget 2016-17 has stoked a massive controversy by proposing that has proposed that only 40 per cent of the contributions made to EPF after April 1, 2016, will be tax-free on withdrawal. With widespread opposition to the move, the government is likely to reconsider its decision and a final word is awaited.


Nomination: Subscriber can nominate one or more person belonging to his family. If he has no family he can nominate any person or persons of his choice but if he subsequently acquires family, such nomination becomes invalid and he will have to make a fresh nomination of one or more persons belonging to his family. You cannot make your brother your nominee as per the Acts.


Transfer of Account: Account is transferable with change of change of job of subscriber




PUBLIC PROVIDENT FUND (PPF)


Eligibility: Individuals can open account in their name, also open another account on behalf of a minor. Joint/NRI/HUF accounts cannot be opened.


Where to open: Post offices, public sector banks and few private banks offer the government-run scheme.


Investment Limit: Minimum Rs 500 with a cap of Rs 1.5 lakhs per annum. Deposits can be made in one lump-sum or in 12 installments per year.


Interest Rate/Returns: 8.7 per annum with effect from April 1, 2015. Interest is paid on March 31 every year. Interest calculated on monthly basis on the minimum balance between 5th and last day of the month.


Scheme Duration: 15 years with the provision to extend in one or more blocks of 5 years each. Premature closure is not allowed before 15 years.


Loans/withdrawals: Available from third financial year. Part withdrawal is permitted from 7th Financial Year


Taxation: PPF comes under the Exempt, Exempt and Exempt (EEE) category which makes it tax exempt from investment till maturity. Subscription qualifies for tax benefits under 80C of Income Tax Act.


Nomination: One or more persons can be nominated


Transfer of Account: The PPF account can be transferred free of charge to another branch, another bank or post office.




NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME (NPS)


Eligibility: All citizens between 18 and 60 years as on the date of submission of application


Where to open: Authorised Points of Presence (POP) and almost all private and public sector banks apart from several other financial institutions offer the scheme.


Investment limit: (For Tier-1 non-withdrawable) minimum Contributions is Rs 500 with a total minimum contribution per year at Rs 6,000. For Tier-II (withdrawable) minimum contributions Rs 250 with minimum balance of Rs 2000. No cap on maximum investment.


Returns: NPS offers market-linked returns. Being a defined contribution scheme where subscribers contribute to his account, there is no defined benefit that would be available at the time of maturity. The accumulated wealth depends on the contributions made and the income generated from investment of such wealth.


Duration/maturity: Maturity of scheme is at age 60


Loans/Withdrawals: On retirement, a subscriber can opt out of NPS. However, the subscriber would be required to invest minimum 40 per cent of the accumulated savings to purchase a life annuity, while remaining can be taken out a lump-sum.
 
Tax Benefits: Tier-I account is exempt, exempt, taxed (EET). The amount contributed is entitled for deduction from gross total income upto Rs 1 lakh (along with other prescribed investments) as per section 80C of the Income Tax Act.


The Union Budget 2016-17 has proposed that 40% of retirement corpus of a subscriber of National Pension Scheme (NPS) at the time of retirement will be tax exempt. Further, annuity payment to the legal heir after the death of pensioner has been made exempt from tax.


Nomination: In the event of death of the subscriber, the nominee can receive 100 per cent of the NPS pension wealth in lump sum.




Happy Investing