Delayed PF deposits? EPFO offers lower penalties under VISHWAS 2026 scheme, but employers must apply by 28 December

Livemint reported that the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has opened a one-time settlement window called VISHWAS 2026 for employers with pending provident fund damage disputes. Under it, eligible employers can settle these disputes at reduced rates, starting at 0.25% per month, and the window closes on 28 December 2026. The report says interest and PF dues are also part of the scheme, though it gives no further figures. In plain terms, the EPFO runs the provident fund, the retirement savings that employers and employees both pay into. Damage is the charge the EPFO can levy on an employer for delays in depositing those contributions. A one-time settlement means a single window to clear old disputes instead of contesting them. The report does not say how many employers are covered or the total amount involved.

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