EPFO 8.25% interest rate: When will the money be transferred to your account?
EPFO has issued an official circular directing all the regional offices to immediately start the process of crediting 8.25 per cent interest in the accounts of members. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has given the approval of the Central Government, after which this process has started.
Earlier it was estimated that the interest could accrue by the end of June 2026, but now the process has officially started and the interest amount will start appearing in the accounts of most account holders during July 2026. EPFO has recently completed massive database consolidation and software upgrade, which is expected to make the process of depositing interest faster this time as compared to previous years.
EPF Interest Rate 2025-26: How much interest will you get?
EPFO has retained the interest rate at 8.25 per cent for the financial year 2025-26. This is the third consecutive year that 8.25 per cent interest is being received on EPF.
EPF interest rates for the last few years:
2025-2 -6 8.25%, 2024-25 - 8.25%, 2023-24 - 8.25%, 2022-23 - 8.15%, 2021-22 - 8.10%, 2020-21 - 8.50%
This rate is much better than other government savings schemes and fixed deposits, which makes EPF a great option for retirement savings.
How is EPF interest calculated?
The interest on EPF is calculated on the basis of monthly running balance, but it is credited to the account once annually.
The formula for calculating interest:
The monthly interest rate = EPF balance × (annual interest rate ÷ 12)
The interest is calculated on the total balance every month - which includes the employee's contribution, employer's contribution and the balance already in the account.
As an example:
If you have ₹5 lakh deposited in your EPF account, then the interest for one year at the rate of 8.25% will be around ₹41,250. On a balance of ₹10 lakh, interest of about ₹82,500 can be added.
Delay in payment of interest: What will be the damage?
The question often comes to the mind of EPF members that if there is a delay in the deposit of interest, will they be at a loss? The answer is - no.
The provisions of paragraph 60
As per Paragraph 60 of the EPF Scheme, 1952, the interest is calculated on the monthly running balance even if it is credited at the end of the year. This means that even if the interest is delayed by a few months, the member gets the full interest and does not incur any loss.
EPFO officials say that the delay in the deposit of interest is only the delay in appearing in the passbook, in fact, the benefit of interest is fully given to the member
How to check EPF balance and interest credit?
Once the interest is credited, you can check your EPF balance in four ways:
1) EPFO portal
Go to the official website of EPFO
Login with your UAN, password and captcha code.
Click on 'Passbook' option
On credit of interest, the last entry reads "Int. Updated up to 31/03/2026 "
The UMANG app
Download UMANG app and login with your registered mobile number
Search for EPFO in the search bar
Click on View Passbook
Missed call 3.
Give a missed call to 9966044425 from your registered mobile number
In a few minutes, you will get the information of EPF balance through SMS.
SMS 4.
Type "EPFOHO UAN" and send it to 7738299899.
How to confirm EPF interest credit?
Once the interest is credited to your account, you can confirm it in the following ways:
Check your passbook: If the interest has been credited, the last entry reads "Int. Updated up to 31/03/2026 "or similar message will appear
Email / SMS notifications: An SMS or email notification is also sent by EPFO when the interest is credited.
Check your balance: If your EPF balance is higher than before, then understand that the interest has been credited
Do you know if the interest rate has changed for EPF members?
No, the interest rate for 2025-26 has been retained at 8.25%. This is the third consecutive year that 8.25 per cent interest is being received on EPF.
Will everyone get the same amount of money?
Interest is not credited to the accounts of all members simultaneously. This happens at different times in a phased manner, but this time it is expected to be faster than previous years.
Do you get interest on inactive accounts?
If there has been no deposit in an EPF account for 36 months (3 years) and the member has not retired, then such accounts become inoperative and do not earn interest.
Technical Upgrades of EPFO: Why is it special?
This time EPFO has made massive technological improvements to speed up the interest credit process:
Database Consolidation: EPFO has upgraded its database so that records of crores of members can be updated simultaneously
The software modernization: With the new software system, the process of interest calculation and credit has become faster than before
The expedited process: Earlier, interest credit used to take 1-2 months, but this time the process is likely to be completed soon
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the interest rate fixed by EPFO for FY 2025-26?
A: The EPFO has fixed an interest rate of 8.25 per cent for 2025-26, which has been retained for the third consecutive year.
Q: When will EPF interest be credited?
A: EPFO has started the process of depositing interest. Interest will be reflected in the accounts of most members during July 2026.
Q: What will be the loss in case of delay in payment of interest?
A: No, according to Paragraph 60 of the EPF scheme, the interest is calculated on the monthly running balance, so even if there is a delay, the member gets the full interest.
Q: How to check EPF balance?
A: You can check the balance through the EPFO portal, UMANG app, missed call (9966044425) or SMS (EPFOHO UAN to 7738299899).
Conclusion
EPFO's decision to deposit 8.25 per cent interest for crores of members is a big relief. This is the third consecutive year that the EPF is getting such a good interest rate, which is very attractive compared to other government savings schemes.
With the technological upgradation of EPFO, the interest is expected to accrue faster this time, and the interest amount will be visible in the accounts of most of the members during July 2026.
If you have an EPF account, do not forget to check the updated balance through the EPFO portal, UMANG app or through a missed call. And remember - you will get full interest even if there is a slight delay in the interest deposit, there is no harm in it.
Have you checked your EPF balance? How much did you gain after the interest was credited? Be sure to tell us in the comments!
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