A major gift from EPFO: Resolve old penalty cases in minutes through the 'Vishwas Yojana 2026' — learn the complete process..

If your company or establishment is facing any long-standing disputes, penalties, or court cases related to the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), there is no need to worry. The "EPFO Vishwas Scheme 2026"—a special, one-time initiative by the EPFO—can be highly beneficial for you. Through this scheme, you can easily resolve many of your ongoing disputes.

What is the EPFO ​​'Vishwas Scheme'?

This scheme offers a special 6-month window for establishments that are grappling with penalties imposed under Section 14B of the EPF Act. It allows you to permanently close long-pending cases currently being heard in courts or tribunals.

What does this scheme cover?
Cases currently pending in courts or tribunals (litigation).
Cases where a penalty has already been determined but remains unpaid.
Cases where only a notice under Section 14B has been issued.
Pre-adjudication cases where notices have yet to be issued.

Relief on Penalties:
Under the Vishwas Scheme, the penalty amounts have been significantly reduced. According to the new rates:

For a default of less than 2 months: A penalty of only 0.25% per month will be applied.
For a default of 2 to 4 months: A penalty of 0.50% per month will be applied.
For a default of 4 months or more: A penalty of only 1% per month will be applied.
Compared to the standard Section 14B penalties, these reduced rates will provide substantial financial relief to companies.

What are the benefits of the Vishwas Scheme?
Enrolling in the Vishwas Scheme allows you to avail of a significant reduction in penalty amounts. Long-pending legal cases and disputes can be resolved quickly. The entire process is designed to be digital and transparent. System-generated data allows for immediate re-calculation. A digitally signed certificate is provided, which can be used to withdraw cases from courts or the Central Government Industrial Tribunal (CGIT).

How to avail the benefits of this scheme:
First, log in to the EPFO ​​Employer Portal and select the 'Vishwas Scheme'.
Fill out the online form and upload the required documents.
The EPFO ​​will re-calculate the penalty amount based on the new, reduced rates and notify you of the revised amount via SMS or email.
The employer must accept the re-calculated amount online and make the payment within 15 days.

This payment must be made through the payment system linked to the ECR (Electronic Challan-cum-Return) using a specific 'Vishwas ID'.
Once the payment is made, the EPFO ​​will issue a digitally signed 'Vishwas Certificate', which you can submit to the court or CGIT to close your case permanently.
If your organization has any old, pending cases or notices under Section 14B, be sure to take advantage of this limited-time opportunity (6 months). Through this EPFO ​​initiative, you can resolve long-standing legal complications at a minimal cost. Please note that this scheme can only be availed until December 28, 2026.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.