New Delhi, July 7 -- EPF members keenly await the interest credit by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) every financial year. But EPFO often delays crediting it, throwing many into tax trouble.

To be sure, if your contribution to EPF is more than Rs.2.5 lakh in a year ( Rs.5 lakh for government employees), the interest earned on the excess attracts tax deducted at source (TDS). The TDS rate is 10% if your EPF account is linked to your Permanent Account Number (PAN) and 20% if it is not. The TDS is not deducted in case taxable interest is less than Rs.5,000.

The delay in crediting interest to EPF accounts creates confusion for members about the correct financial year in which to report and pay tax on the taxable interest. ...