EPFO keeps EPF interest at 8.25% for FY 2025-26 — here's when it hits your account
The Central Board of Trustees' rate has finance ministry concurrence and an EPFO circular dated 1 July 2026. Here's the timeline and how to check your passbook.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has kept the interest rate on EPF deposits unchanged at 8.25% for FY 2025-26 — the third year running at this level. Over 7 crore contributing members will see the credit reflect in their passbooks once processing completes.
The approval timeline
Interest rate changes go through three steps before they reach your account:
| Step | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| CBT recommendation | 2 March 2026 | EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees, chaired by the Labour Minister, fixed the rate at its 239th meeting |
| Finance Ministry concurrence | 8 June 2026 | Department of Economic Affairs approved the CBT’s proposal |
| EPFO circular | 1 July 2026 | Official order issued to credit 8.25% for FY 2025-26 |
Rate history: no change in three years
| Financial Year | EPF Rate |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 8.25% |
| 2024-25 | 8.25% |
| 2023-24 | 8.25% |
| 2022-23 | 8.15% |
The rate has held steady since FY 2023-24, after stepping up from 8.10% in FY 2021-22.
How the interest works — and when you’ll see it
EPF interest is computed monthly on your running balance (8.25% ÷ 12 ≈ 0.688% a month), but it is credited to your account only once a year, effective 31 March of the financial year. Because the CBT rate needs finance-ministry sign-off first, the actual passbook update typically lands a few months later — which is why FY 2025-26’s interest is only being processed now, in July 2026.
To check whether your account has been credited:
- Log in to the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal or the UMANG app.
- Download your updated e-passbook — the interest line will show against 31 March 2026.
- If it hasn’t appeared yet, the credit is done in batches, so check again after a few weeks.
Why this matters for your planning
EPF remains one of the few instruments still paying north of 8% with sovereign-backed safety, ahead of most bank fixed deposits and comparable to schemes like PPF. If you’re comparing long-term, low-risk options for retirement savings, it’s worth lining EPF up against the PPF calculator and current bank FD rates to see where your money works hardest.
Sources: Business Standard — Govt ratifies 8.25% EPF interest rate for FY’26, DD News — EPFO retains 8.25% interest rate on PF deposits, ClearTax — EPF interest rate history. Verify your own credit via the EPFO Member Portal.
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