What Is Taxation Rule of Contribution to PF?

The basic rules of income tax regarding provident fund are as under:
•    The contribution to provident fund by employee is eligible for deduction u/s 80C. Employer’s contribution is not taken for deduction purpose.
•    All payments by provident fund is tax free in case of Central/state provident fund.
•    The contribution by employers in excess of 12 % recognized PF is taxable salary of the employee.
•    The interest paid by recognised provident fund in excess of 9.5 % is also taxable income of the employee.
•    In case an employee is member of unrecognised PF and when it is recognised by Commissioner of Income Tax, the accumulated balance is transferred to reocgnised PF. That amount which has been transferred from unrecognized to recognize is also taxable in hands of employees and added to gross income.
•    If you are member of an unrecognized PF, the employer's contribution is not taxable, but when it is paid to you, the amount pertaining to employers contribution paid (principal + interest) is taxed under the head "salary" as income in lieu of salary. The interest on employee's contribution is taxed under income from other sources.