What is Form 11?

When you join a company that the EPF Act, 1952 covers, you must fill out a self-declaration form called Form 11. This form helps you establish your previous record regarding contributions to the EPF.

The form is also key to transferring any previous PF funds to the new PF account. If your new employee was previously a member of the EPF scheme, they would receive the same benefits—but under a new Member ID.

Previously, employees had to fill out Form 13 when they changed jobs or retired. However, with the introduction of a further modified Form 11, they no longer have to complete this additional step.

Significance of Form 11

The Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF) is a government-backed social security scheme that helps you save money for retirement. The government requires both employees and employers to contribute a small amount every month to build up a large nest egg for retirement when you’re older. Form 11 is an integral part of it as it allows employers to check whether their employees are already on board the program or not.

Benefits of Form 11

Form 11 poses the following benefits:

• It allows the Provident Fund Department to create a complete employee information database.
• The form also helps the Provident Fund Department verify and confirm the information in their investigations, accounts, and audits.
• The form can be used to transfer money efficiently from your previous PF account to your present one.

Contents of Form 11

Form 11 has been revised to require employees to provide the following information.

• Employee’s name
• Employee’s DOB
• Employee’s Father’s/Husband’s name
• Their gender
• Contact number
• Employee’s Email ID
• Relationship of an employee with Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme and EPS (Employees’ Pension scheme) whether they were a member of these schemes
• Previous employment details, including UAN, last working day, and scheme certificate number
• Educational credentials
• Marital status
• KYC details, including bank account number, Driving license/election card, etc.
• If an employee is a foreigner, then a passport number is required.

Employers are expected to give a declaration stating specific facts provided by an employee.

• Date of employee joining work
• PF ID number assigned to the employee
• UAN of employee
• Verification of KYC credentials

How to fill out Form 11?

• First, you have to download form 11 from the official EPF website.
• Now, you’ll need to fill in things like your name, father’s or spouse’s name, date of birth, gender, marital status, and contact details like email address and mobile number.
• Now fill up the details of your previous employment and whether you have participated in EPF or EPS. You have to mention details like Previous Provident Fund Account Number, Universal Account Number(UAN), date of exit from previous employment in the format, Pension Payment Order (PPO), and Scheme Certificate No.
• You must attach the self-attested photocopies of your bank account, Aadhaar number, and PAN.
• If you are an international employee and have come to India with a work permit, then you have to mention your origin country, the passport number, and the passport’s validity date.
• You also have to submit a declaration stating that all the information that you have mentioned is true by signing the form and putting the date of the day and place.
• You also must get a declaration from your present employer.
• After you’ve filled out Form 11, give it to your employer. They will sign the form and put their stamp on it and submit it to the regional EPF office.

Employer Responsibilities for Form 11

Employers have the following responsibilities towards filing their employees’ Form 11:

• Ask new hires to fill out and submit Form 11 within one month of entering the company. Upload the information in the UAN portal within twenty-five days from the end of the month.
• Within 15 days of receiving the UAN from EPFO, share the details with your existing EPF members by emailing them and getting their acknowledgment of receipt.
• Within 15 days of receiving this information, you should activate employees’ UANs.
• Ensure that the KYC details of all members are updated within a month of the receipt of UAN.
• Wherever employees do not have an Aadhaar card, their employer must get them to submit an Aadhaar Acknowledgement Slip within one month of receiving their UAN.
• The employer must upload the Aadhaar details of employees on the UAN portal within 15 days of receiving these details.
• Before you submit your PF claim form to the EPFO, make sure all the information on it is correct and up to date.

Form 11 for International Employees

International employee could refer to an Indian citizen is working in another country covered by an agreement between India and that other country regarding Social Security benefits. It could also refer to non-Indian employees working in India with an association covered under the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. These employees are eligible for certain EPF benefits:

1.SSA

A SSA is a symbiotic treaty to ensure that workers are covered by social security in both countries. In return for equal treatment of citizens posted abroad, the agreements protect against duplicate coverage and guarantee continued payment of benefits.

India has signed operating SSAs with Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Denmark, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Austria, Norway, Canada, Portugal, Australia, Japan, and Quebec.

2. Detachment Certificate

Employees who contribute to social security programs in their home countries and have been certified by the issuance of a “Detachment Certificate” for a specified period with respect to the Social Security Agreement between India and the specific country they are working in are called “excluded employees.”

Do international employees qualify for PF in India?

Under the terms of an agreement between India and another country, an Indian worker attains the status of “International Worker” when employed in that country. This status lasts as long as they continue to receive benefits under a social security program covered under the agreement. These international employees do qualify for PF benefits.

• There is no rule saying you must stay in India for a certain period before participating in the Employees’ Provident Fund. Each international worker who meets the eligibility requirements must be registered in the scheme from India’s first day of work.
• Even if a company decides to pay a foreign employee’s salary outside India, the PF provisions will still apply.
• In the case of a split payroll, the PF contribution will be based on total earnings.

Form 11 – FAQs

Is Form 11 mandatory for every employee?

Yes, Form 11 is mandatory for every salaried employee.

Where to find Form 11?

Form 11 can be downloaded in pdf format from the official EPFO website.

Is Form 11 different for new and existing employees?

No. Only one version of Form 11 exists, and it is the same for all employees. Besides, only new hires are supposed to fill form 11.