VPF Interest Rate

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    It is no secret that merely saving a proportion of your income is not sufficient; it is also necessary to invest said income into profitable avenues. We live in an age where there is no dearth of investment options. You can choose to invest your money in an investment avenue that suits your risk appetite, return expectations, and investment timeline. One such investment option is the Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF).

    What is Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) 

    Voluntary Provident Fund or VPF is a part of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) scheme for people employed in India's organised sector. Any organisation with more than 20 employees is required to be enrolled in the EPF scheme and contribute 12% of an employer's salary (basic salary plus dearness allowance) to the scheme. In addition to the employer's contribution to the EPF, employees are also required to contribute a minimum of 12% of their salary (basic pay plus DA) to the EPF. However, they can choose to increase this contribution by way of Voluntary Provident Fund

    Employees who wish to contribute more than the mandatory amount to the EPF can opt for VPF contributions. Such contributions can be made in their existing PF accounts. Since the EPF is a savings and investment scheme backed by the government of India, the investments are significantly safe and attract a high interest rate. Owing to its array of benefits, the EPF and VPF are counted amongst the preferred investment options in India for salaried employees. The VPF interest rate is determined by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation every year, and the rate for FY 2024-25 stands at 8.25% per annum.

    EPF/ VPF contributions - The Roles of employees and employers 

    In order to understand how the Employee Provident and the Voluntary Provident Fund work, it is critical to understand the respective roles played by employers and employees in the scheme. While organisations that have more than 20 employees must open EPF accounts for each employee, even organisations with lower than that headcount can opt for the EPF (if they fulfill the scheme’s requirements). 

    For organisations with more than 20 employees, a minimum of 12% of basic pay plus dearness allowance for each employee shall be contributed to that employee's EPF account. An equivalent contribution must be compulsorily made by the employee to their EPF account. The employer's contribution is bifurcated as follows:

    • Towards Employees Provident Fund: 3.67%

    • Towards Employees Pension Scheme: 8.33%

    • Towards Employees Deposit Linked Scheme: 0.5%

    If an employee’s salary is less than ₹15,000 per month, their employer can contribute 3.67% of basic pay plus DA to the EPF account. Employees can contribute as much as 100% of their salaries to their VPF account.

    What is VPF interest rate and how is the interest calculated 

    Now that we have discussed the meaning of Voluntary Provident Fund, let us delve into VPF interest rate and the calculation of VPF interest. As stated earlier, the VPF interest rate is determined by the EPFO each year. The interest on VPF is computed on the basis of the following formula:

    VPF interest for a month = VPF opening balance for the month x VPF interest rate / 12

    Since the EPF and VPF contributions are held in the same account, the interest is calculated as following:

    EPF interest for a month = Opening balance of of the account (EPF plus VPF) x EPF interest rate/ 12

    While the interest on EPF and VPF is calculated every month, it is paid out at the end of the financial year by way of a credit to the account. Let us understand the computation of VPF interest with the help of an example. Let's say an employee has a basic salary plus dearness allowance of ₹20,000, then their employer is required to contribute ₹2,400 to their EPF each month, with a matching contribution by the employee. 

    Should the employee decide to make an additional contribution of, say, 6% (₹1,200), here is how the interest calculation would be done. Hence the total monthly contribution to EPF and VPF shall be ₹6,000.

    Month 

    Opening balance of EPF account (including VPF) (₹)

    Interest on EPF and VPF balance (₹)

    April 2024

    0

    0

    May 2024

    6,000

    41 (that is 6,000 x 8.25 / 1200)

    June 2024

    12000

    83

    July 2024

    18000

    124

    August 2024

    24000

    164

    September 2024

    30000

    206

    October 2024

    36000

    248

    November 2024

    42000

    289

    December 2024

    48000

    330

    January 2025

    54000

    371

    February 2025

    60000

    413

    March 2025

    66000

    454

    Total interest for FY 2025-26

     

    2,723

    Historical interest rates for Voluntary Provident Fund 

    The VPF interest rates in India have always been high, making the scheme an attractive investing avenue. The interest rate for FY 24-25 was 8.25% per annum. The following table presents a summary of the VPF interest rate in India over the past decade.

    Year

    VPF interest rate

    2014-15

    8.75% per annum 

    2015-16

    8.8% per annum 

    2016-17

    8.65% per annum 

    2017-18

    8.55% per annum 

    2018-19

    8.65% per annum 

    2019-20

    8.5% per annum 

    2020-21

    8.5% per annum 

    2021-22

    8.5% per annum 

    2022-23

    8.5% per annum 

    2023-24

    8.15% per annum 

    2024-25

    8.25% per annum 

    To sum it up 

    The Voluntary Provident Fund is a relatively safe investment scheme with substantial returns and tax benefits. You can add the VPF to your financial plan and invest your money in a secured yet profitable conduit. Before investing in the VPF, you must read all the terms and conditions of the scheme vis-a-vis lock-in period, interest payouts, partial withdrawal, taxability, etc.

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    Content Partner - Dalal Street Investment Journal Wealth Advisory Private Limited



    This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Market investments are subject to risks. DSIJ Wealth Advisory Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst (Reg. No: INH000006396) and Investment Adviser (Reg. No: INA000001142). Please consult your financial adviser before investing. 

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    Publish Date: 03 Mar 2025

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