New Delhi, April 2 -- The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) is often viewed as a tool for long-term savings, primarily designed to secure an employee's retirement. It also offers provisions for accessing funds before retirement, especially for emergencies or significant life events like marriage, higher education, and medical (illness) expenses.

While this flexibility is a great relief during critical times, it's important to understand the rules, limits, tax implications, and the overall impact of such withdrawals on long-term financial security.

To access EPF funds for marriage or higher education, the rules are quite strict. Sanjay Kesari, former regional commissioner of Provident Fund, highlighted a crucial requirement-an employee mus...