Online PF Registration for Employers

PF registration is required for various categories of Indian businesses:

• Mandatory Registration: Any establishment (Company, LLP, Firm, or Society) that reaches a headcount of 20 or more employees.
• Voluntary Registration: Startups and SMEs with fewer than 20 employees who wish to offer PF benefits to their staff.
• Contractual & Temporary Workers: Businesses that utilize a significant number of contract or casual laborers who meet the eligibility criteria.
• Specified Industries: Entities involved in any of the 180+ industries specified under the EPF Act.
• International Workers: Companies employing foreign nationals who are required to contribute to the social security fund in India.

Ofin Legal provides an end-to-end solution for employer PF compliance:

• Shram Suvidha Portal Onboarding: Complete creation of the employer profile and digital identity.
• Establishment ID Generation: Securing your unique 15-digit EPF code for all future interactions.
• DSC & e-Sign Mapping: Integrating the employer’s Digital Signature or e-Sign on the portal for authorized filings.
• UAN Generation & Training: We generate UANs for up to 5 employees and train your HR/Finance team on the process for future hires.
• Monthly ECR Support: (Optional Subscription) Seamless monthly filing of Electronic Challan-cum-Returns (ECR) and payment processing.
• Regulatory Advisory: Guiding you on the statutory wage limits and contribution structures to ensure accuracy.

Entity Documentation

• Certificate of Incorporation / Partnership Deed / Business Registration.
• PAN Card of the Business Entity.
• Cancelled Cheque of the business bank account.
• Proof of Address (Utility bill or Lease Agreement). 

  Employer/Director Documentation

• PAN and Aadhaar of the Directors, Partners, or Proprietor.
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of the authorized signatory.
• Specimen Signature of the authorized representative. 

  Employee Information

• List of at least 20 employees (for mandatory) or a consent list (for voluntary).
• Aadhaar, Bank details, and Mobile numbers of employees for UAN generation.

Requirement Assessment: We determine if you are registering under the mandatory 20-employee rule or opting for voluntary registration.

Portal Setup: Our team creates your profile on the Unified Shram Suvidha Portal and fills out the “Employer Registration” forms.

Document Upload: We upload all entity and authorized signatory proofs, ensuring they meet EPFO’s technical specifications.

DSC/e-Sign Mapping: We link your digital signature to the portal to authenticate the establishment’s identity.

Code Issuance: The EPFO verifies the data and issues the Establishment ID (PF Code).

• Document Verification: 1–2 working days.
• Portal Application: 1 working day.
• EPFO Approval & Code Issuance: Typically 7 to 15 working days, depending on the department’s verification of the Shram Suvidha data.
• Note: Employers can begin collecting and remitting PF contributions immediately upon receiving the Establishment ID.

Non-compliance with the EPF Act is taken very seriously by the labor department:

• Delayed Registration: If you fail to register within 30 days of reaching 20 employees, you may be liable to pay contributions retrospectively for all employees from the date of eligibility.
• Damages (Section 14B): Late payments attract heavy damages ranging from 5% to 25% per annum, depending on the period of default.
• Interest (Section 7Q): A mandatory interest of 12% per annum is charged on the amount due for every day of delay.
• Imprisonment: In extreme cases of habitual default or withholding employee shares without depositing them, the law provides for imprisonment of the employer.

• Practical Training: We don’t just give you a code; we train your team on UAN generation and KYC mapping.
• Compliance Managers: You get a dedicated POC to navigate the often-glitchy Shram Suvidha and EPFO portals.
• Lowest Price Guarantee: Expert-led registration at the most affordable professional fees in India.
• Combo Benefits: Get significant discounts when you combine PF registration with ESIC Registration.

PF Contribution Breakdown (Statutory Table):

| Component | Employee Share (12%) | Employer Share (12%) | Total |
| :— | :— | :— | :— |
| EPF (Provident Fund) | 12% | 3.67% | 15.67% |
| EPS (Pension Scheme) | 0% | 8.33% | 8.33% |
| EDLI (Insurance) | 0% | 0.50% | 0.50% |
| Admin Charges | 0% | 0.50% | 0.50% |

The Case for Voluntary Registration:

Even if you have only 2 or 3 employees, registering for PF voluntarily signals that your startup is serious about employee welfare. It helps in attracting experienced talent from larger corporations who already have active UANs and want to continue their retirement savings without a break.

PF & ESI Combo Registration:

In India, the threshold for ESI (Employee State Insurance) is often reached alongside PF. Ofin Legal offers a Unified Registration Package that handles both PF and ESI simultaneously, ensuring your labor law compliance is 100% complete in one go.

Universal Account Number (UAN) Portability:

The UAN is a lifetime number for an employee. When you register your business with EPFO, you can easily “link” new employees using their existing UANs. This seamless portability reduces HR paperwork and ensures employees can track their total savings across different employers through the UMANG app or EPFO portal.