The Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) is a long-term saving scheme offered in India. It allows salaried individuals to contribute additional funds towards their retirement savings along with the mandatory contributions made to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). VPF is available to any salaried employee in India. There is no requirement for employer participation, so employees can choose to contribute voluntarily.
Contributions towards VPF are tax-deductible up to a certain limit, and employees have the freedom to choose their contribution amount towards the VPF. The interest rate of the Voluntary Provident Fund is set by the government. The VPF interest rate of the previous financial year (2023-2024) was 8.15% p.a.
Features of Voluntary Provident Fund
The Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) is an extension of the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) scheme that offers employees an opportunity to enhance their retirement savings. This voluntary investment option allows individuals to contribute beyond the mandatory EPF limits, providing greater financial security for the future.
The table below presents the primary features of the Voluntary Provident Fund.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Any salaried employee in India |
| Contribution | Voluntary, chosen by the employee |
| Employer Contribution | Not mandatory, employee contributes alone |
| Tax Benefit | Tax-deductible up to ₹1.5 lakh per year (under Section 80C) |
| Interest Rate | Set by the government, same as EPF interest rate |
| Lock-in Period | 5 years, similar to EPF |
| Maturity & Withdrawal | Tax-free withdrawal after 5 years, with exceptions |
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List of Banks That Offer VPF Services
VPF contributions are managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and can only be opened through your employer. However, some banks act as authorized agents for the EPFO and allow you to manage your EPF and VPF accounts online.
The table below presents a list of some of the major banks that act as authorized EPFO agents.
| State Bank of India (SBI) | ICICI Bank |
| HDFC Bank | Axis Bank |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | Bank of Baroda |
| Canara Bank | Union Bank of India |
| Punjab National Bank (PNB) | Bank of India (BOI) |
Eligibility Criteria for Voluntary Provident Fund
The Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) is an excellent way for salaried individuals in India to boost their retirement savings. There are specific requirements you need to fulfill to invest in VPF.
The table below presents the eligibility criteria for the Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF).
| Eligibility Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Employment Type | Salaried employee in India |
| EPF Account | Must have an existing and active Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) account |
| Employer Participation | Not mandatory. VPF contributions are solely from the employee. |
| Minimum Contribution | No minimum contribution amount |
| Maximum Contribution | No upper limit on employee contribution. However, the total contribution (including employer’s contribution) to EPF and VPF together cannot exceed 100% of your basic salary and dearness allowance. |
Voluntary Provident Fund Calculator
There are online VPF calculators that calculate the maturity amount of your VPF yourself because the interest is compounded monthly. These calculators typically ask for the following inputs:
- Monthly VPF contribution: This is the amount you plan to contribute to your VPF account every month.
- Interest rate: The current VPF interest rate is declared annually by the government. You can find the latest rate on the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) website or use a calculator with a pre-filled rate.
- Payment duration: This is the number of years you plan to contribute to your VPF account.
Once you input this information, the calculator will estimate the maturity amount of your VPF account based on the compound interest formula.
VPF Rules & Regulations
The standard EPF contribution is fixed at 12% of the basic salary but VPF enables employees to contribute up to 100% of their basic salary, subject to certain conditions. Let’s take a look at the few rules and regulations of the Voluntary Provident Fund.
Eligibility Criteria for VPF Contributions
- Only salaried individuals enrolled with the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) can avail of the VPF scheme. It’s not available for self-employed individuals or those in the unorganized sector.
- Organizations with 20 or more employees on their payroll must open EPF accounts for their employees. These employees are then eligible for VPF.
- Even in companies with less than 20 employees, VPF eligibility depends on whether they offer the EPF scheme.
Rules to Contribute in VPF
- There is no minimum or maximum VPF contribution limit.
- You can contribute up to 100% of your basic salary and dearness allowance (DA) towards VPF.
- Employers are not obligated to contribute to your VPF account.
- Once you start contributing, there’s a lock-in period of 5 years. You cannot discontinue contributions or withdraw funds during this period.
Rules & Regulations for VPF Withdrawal
- Full withdrawal is usually allowed only after reaching 58 years old.
- Partial withdrawals are possible for specific reasons (marriage, medical needs, house purchase, children’s education) after a certain period (usually 5 years from the first contribution).
VPF Tax Benefits
VPF is designed to have a no-to-minimum tax liability for your VPF investments. Check VPF tax benefits from below:
- VPF falls under the EEE tax category. So, contributions, interest earned, and maturity amount are exempt from income tax, subject to certain conditions.
- If you withdraw money within five years of starting your VPF, the interest earned on your contributions will be taxable.
Contributions you make towards your Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. There is a limit on the total amount you can deduct under Section 80C, and the current limit is ₹1.5 lakh per financial year. So, any money you put into your VPF account can help you reduce your taxable income by up to ₹1.5 lakh, which can bring down the amount of income tax you have to pay.
Process to Withdraw Money From a VPF Account
Withdrawing money from a VPF account depends on a few factors, mainly the duration of your contributions and the reason for withdrawal. Here is the list of requirements and procedures to withdraw money from a VPF account.
General Requirements for VPF Withdrawal
- You need Form 31 for withdrawal, obtainable from your HR or the EPFO website.
- A formal request letter outlining your intent to withdraw is required.
- KYC documents like PAN, Aadhaar, and bank details are necessary.
Methods to Withdrawal VPF
There are two main ways to initiate VPF withdrawal.
- Through Employer (UAN Portal): If your employer offers an online EPF portal linked to your UAN (Universal Account Number), you can submit the withdrawal request electronically through the portal. This might be the fastest option.
- Directly to EPFO: If your employer doesn’t have an online portal or your UAN isn’t linked, you can submit the withdrawal application directly to the regional EPFO office. Get the application form attested by a bank officer, magistrate, gazetted officer, or other authorized person before submission.
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Besides VPF, you can also check and invest in other saving schemes with better returns. Check the table below with links for details:
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