EPF Calculator (India): Simple Guide to EPF, EPS, VPF, and Your Future Corpus
Confused by EPF terms and payslip jargon? This guide explains EPF in plain English—and our EPF Calculator shows your monthly contributions and long-term corpus with interest.
What is EPF?
EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) is a mandatory retirement savings scheme for salaried employees in India working in PF-covered establishments. Both you (employee) and your employer contribute a percentage of your monthly salary (Basic + DA) to build a long-term corpus. The balance earns annual interest declared by EPFO.
How EPF Works (EPF, EPS, VPF)
Key Terms
- Basic + DA: The base of most EPF calculations.
- Employee EPF: Usually 12% of Basic + DA (you can contribute more via VPF).
- Employer Contribution: Typically 12% of Basic + DA; split into EPS and Employer EPF.
- EPS (Pension): 8.33% of wage up to the EPS wage ceiling (commonly ₹15,000/month). EPS does not form part of the withdrawable EPF corpus.
- VPF: Voluntary Provident Fund—any extra contribution you add. Earns EPF interest.
Employee EPF = (Employee rate + VPF%) × Basic+DA
Employer EPF = (Employer rate × Base) − EPS
EPS = min(Basic+DA, EPS ceiling) × 8.33% (or your set rate)
Base for employer can be either Basic+DA or EPS ceiling (toggle in the tool).
Use the EPF Calculator (Step-by-Step)
- Enter Monthly Basic + DA: e.g., ₹30,000.
- Set Contribution Rates: Employee (e.g., 12%), Employer (e.g., 12%), and optional VPF (0–100%).
- EPS Settings: Keep the EPS rate at 8.33% and ceiling at ₹15,000 unless your HR states otherwise.
- Interest Rate: Enter the latest EPF interest (e.g., 8.25%).
- Projection Years: Choose how long to save (e.g., 10 years).
- Ceiling Toggle: Check “Restrict employer PF to EPS ceiling” if your employer computes on the ceiling (common practice).
- Click Calculate: See monthly breakdown and a year-wise projection table.
Find out how to check your EPF Balance here
How to withdraw money from PF account using UMANG App
How to withdraw money from PF Account step by step
If you’re looking for a modern, feature-rich, and trader-friendly platform, Dhan is easily one of the best choices available today. From zero account opening charges to advanced tools like native TradingView, options strategy builder, and free API access, Dhan is clearly built with the modern Indian trader in mind.
Whether you’re an intraday trader, an options strategist, or a long-term investor, Dhan offers the perfect blend of speed, simplicity, and smart technology — without burning a hole in your pocket.
Why wait? Open your Dhan account now and take control of your trading journey with confidence.
👉 Click here to get started with Dhan
Open a Free Dhan Trading & Demat Account
Dhan offers cutting-edge tools for fast, powerful, and informed trading:
- ✅ Zero brokerage on delivery trades
- ✅ Auto-detection of candlestick patterns on charts
- ✅ Advanced Option Chain with Greeks, Max Pain, PCR & more
- ✅ Pre-built & custom Option Strategy Builder (Free)
- ✅ 20 Depth Market Data and Flash Trade execution
- ✅ Margin Trading Facility (MTF) with 4X leverage (75%)
- ✅ 3 Platforms: Mobile App, Web App & Dedicated Options App
- ✅ ScanX Screener: stock insights, trends & news
- ✅ Advanced orders: Trailing SL, Iceberg, Forever Orders
- ✅ Instantly pledge 1,500+ stocks for options margin
- ✅ Trade commodities: Gold, Silver, Crude, Natural Gas
- ✅ Fundamental + Technical analysis across all platforms
No paperwork. Zero account opening charges. Setup in minutes.
Worked Examples (Beginner to Advanced)
Example 1: New Employee – ₹20,000 Basic + DA
- Employee EPF at 12% = ₹2,400/month
- Employer PF at 12% on ceiling (₹15,000): ₹1,800; EPS = 8.33% × 15,000 = ₹1,249.5; Employer EPF = ₹550.5
- Corpus contribution/month = 2,400 + 550.5 = ₹2,950.5 (EPS excluded from corpus)
- At 8.25% annual interest, 5 years ≈ ₹2.1–2.2 lakh corpus (approx; actual depends on rate stability)
Example 2: Mid-Career – ₹50,000 Basic + DA, No VPF
- Employee EPF = 12% × 50,000 = ₹6,000
- Employer on ceiling: total PF ₹1,800, EPS ₹1,249.5, Employer EPF ₹550.5
- Corpus / month = 6,000 + 550.5 = ₹6,550.5
- 10 years @ 8.25% ≈ ₹12–13 lakh (illustrative)
Example 3: With VPF and Ceiling OFF
- Inputs: Basic+DA ₹30,000; Employee 12%; Employer 12%; VPF 5%; Interest 8.25%; 10 years; Ceiling OFF.
- Employee EPF = ₹3,600; VPF = ₹1,500 → Employee total = ₹5,100
- Employer EPF = (12% × 30,000) − 1,249.5 = ₹2,350.5
- Corpus / month = 5,100 + 2,350.5 = ₹7,450.5
- 10 years @ 8.25% ≈ ₹14–15 lakh (illustrative)
Note: Figures are rounded and intended for planning; your actual balance depends on annual EPF rate and exact crediting rules.
Pro Tips for Employees
- Use VPF strategically: Even an extra 2–5% builds a much larger corpus over a decade.
- Keep UAN & KYC updated: Link Aadhaar/PAN and bank for smooth transfers and withdrawals.
- During job change: Transfer EPF to avoid multiple idle accounts and interest loss.
- Track passbook: Monitor contributions and interest annually via EPFO passbook.
- Tax benefits: Employee contributions may qualify under Section 80C (subject to prevailing limits and rules).
EPF vs PPF vs NPS (Quick Comparison)
Feature |
EPF |
PPF |
NPS |
|---|---|---|---|
Who can invest? |
Salaried employees in PF-covered firms |
Anyone (resident individual) |
Anyone (with KYC) |
Contribution Source |
Employee + Employer (fixed %) |
Self (₹500–₹1.5L/yr typical) |
Self and/or employer |
Interest/Returns |
EPFO-declared interest (reviewed annually) |
Govt-declared (quarterly) |
Market-linked (equity/debt mix) |
Lock-in |
Till retirement/conditions |
15 years (with partials) |
Till 60 (partials/exit rules) |
Tax Treatment |
Generally EEE (subject to rules) |
EEE (subject to rules) |
EEE/EET mix (subject to rules) |
Employer Match |
Yes (statutory) |
No |
Optional (corporate NPS) |
FAQs
Is EPF mandatory?
Generally yes, for eligible establishments and employees. Your HR can confirm your organisation’s coverage status.
What is the EPS wage ceiling?
It’s the maximum monthly wage considered for EPS contributions (commonly ₹15,000). EPS is calculated at 8.33% of this wage.
Can I increase my EPF contribution?
Yes—through VPF. Your VPF earns the same interest as EPF and can be changed via your HR/payroll process.
How is interest credited?
EPF interest is declared annually and credited after the financial year end. Our calculator approximates compounding monthly for planning accuracy.
Is EPS part of the EPF corpus?
No. EPS is a separate pension component funded from the employer’s PF share and is not withdrawable like EPF.
Where can I check my current EPF interest rate?
On EPFO’s official announcements/portal. Set that rate in the calculator to project your corpus with the latest figure.
Conclusion
EPF is a powerful, disciplined way to build your retirement savings—every month, without fail. With a clear view of contributions (employee, employer EPF, and EPS) and the ability to adjust for interest rates, ceilings, and VPF, this calculator turns complexity into clarity.
Experiment with different scenarios—try adding a small VPF, extending your horizon, or toggling the ceiling—to see how your corpus grows. Smart tweaks today can translate into lakhs more at retirement.
If you’re looking for a modern, feature-rich, and trader-friendly platform, Dhan is easily one of the best choices available today. From zero account opening charges to advanced tools like native TradingView, options strategy builder, and free API access, Dhan is clearly built with the modern Indian trader in mind.
Whether you’re an intraday trader, an options strategist, or a long-term investor, Dhan offers the perfect blend of speed, simplicity, and smart technology — without burning a hole in your pocket.
Why wait? Open your Dhan account now and take control of your trading journey with confidence.
👉 Click here to get started with Dhan
Open a Free Dhan Trading & Demat Account
Dhan offers cutting-edge tools for fast, powerful, and informed trading:
- ✅ Zero brokerage on delivery trades
- ✅ Auto-detection of candlestick patterns on charts
- ✅ Advanced Option Chain with Greeks, Max Pain, PCR & more
- ✅ Pre-built & custom Option Strategy Builder (Free)
- ✅ 20 Depth Market Data and Flash Trade execution
- ✅ Margin Trading Facility (MTF) with 4X leverage (75%)
- ✅ 3 Platforms: Mobile App, Web App & Dedicated Options App
- ✅ ScanX Screener: stock insights, trends & news
- ✅ Advanced orders: Trailing SL, Iceberg, Forever Orders
- ✅ Instantly pledge 1,500+ stocks for options margin
- ✅ Trade commodities: Gold, Silver, Crude, Natural Gas
- ✅ Fundamental + Technical analysis across all platforms
No paperwork. Zero account opening charges. Setup in minutes.
If, you have liked the content please do share it with your friends or on social media, as sharing do bring the good karma. If you have any questions or feedback you can leave them in comment box below.
🌟 4 Best Brokers for Trading in India (2025) – Dhan vs Upstox vs Zerodha vs Fyers
🏆 Best Demat & Trading Account in India (2025) – Dhan vs Upstox vs Zerodha vs Groww
Here is the list of things as a beginner you should know, if you are thinking for doing intraday trading.
A brief understanding of
How To Invest In Indian Stock Market – Explained With Examples For Beginners
Learn about the basics of candlestick chart patterns and how to use them for intraday trading and investing. You should also learn about the best moving averages to use for better trading result.
Checkout Mastering Intraday Trading: A Beginner’s Guide to Profitable Strategies in the Indian Stock Market
Note: Please do your own research and make investment. Moneycontain will not be responsible for any of your losses at all. The point made is for educational purpose only and intended to give information. All investments are subject to risks, which should be considered prior to making any investments.
