EPF has issues. Can you say No to it?

The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), managed by the EPFO, is a mandatory retirement savings scheme for employees in India’s organized sector, with both employer and employee contributing 12% of salary each month. In 2025, the salary cap for contributions is being removed, allowing higher savings, and ATM-based withdrawals are being introduced for faster access to funds. EPF contributions qualify for tax deductions under Section 80C and the interest earned is largely tax-free, making it a valuable tool for retirement planning and social security. Each member is assigned a Universal Account Number (UAN) for easy tracking and management of their provident fund, and withdrawals are permitted for specific life events or after retirement