PF ESI software for contractors
Every month you must work out PF and ESI for each worker. ContractPay does the maths and makes the PF ECR file and the ESI upload file. You upload them on the portals and pay.
PF and ESI rates today
Here are the rates you need. PF wages means Basic plus DA, plus any part added back under the 50% rule.
| Item | Worker pays | Employer pays |
|---|---|---|
| PF (EPF) | 12% of PF wages | 12% of PF wages, split as below |
| EPS (pension) | Nil | 8.33% on wages up to ₹25,000 (at most ₹2,083) |
| EPF part of employer share | Nil | The rest of the 12% (3.67% when wages are up to ₹25,000) |
| EDLI (insurance) | Nil | 0.5% on wages up to ₹25,000 |
| PF admin charges | Nil | 0.5% on wages up to ₹25,000 (at least ₹500 a month) |
| ESI | 0.75% of gross wages | 3.25% of gross wages |
After age 58, there is no EPS. The full employer 12% goes to EPF.
Rates as of 21 October 2026. Check with your auditor if you are not sure.
New PF limit: ₹25,000 from 17 September 2026
The PF wage ceiling (the top limit for PF wages) was ₹15,000 from 2014. From 17 September 2026 it is ₹25,000 a month.
PF is now compulsory for workers with PF wages up to ₹25,000. Above that, PF may be limited to ₹25,000.
September 2026 is a split month
- 1 to 16 September: use the old ₹15,000 limit.
- 17 to 30 September: use the new ₹25,000 limit.
In ContractPay, the PF limit follows the wage month by itself: ₹15,000 up to August 2026, the two-part split for September 2026, and ₹25,000 from October 2026. A client with its own different limit keeps it. Months you already approved do not change.
ESI rules you should know
Who is covered
Workers earning up to ₹21,000 a month. For a person with disability, up to ₹25,000. A rise to ₹30,000 has been talked about, but it is not notified.
Low daily wage
If the average daily wage is ₹176 or less, the worker pays nothing. The employer still pays 3.25%.
Two periods
April to September and October to March. A worker who crosses ₹21,000 mid-period stays covered till it ends.
Due dates and UAN
| Work | Where | Last date |
|---|---|---|
| File PF ECR and pay challan | EPFO Unified Portal (employer login) | 15th of next month |
| Pay ESI | ESIC portal | 15th of next month |
ECR means Electronic Challan cum Return. It is the monthly PF return file. You file the ECR first, then pay the challan online.
Each worker needs a UAN (Universal Account Number). It is the worker's PF number for life. Make sure every worker has a UAN before you file PF.
What ContractPay makes for you
| File | What you do with it |
|---|---|
| PF ECR text file | Upload it on the EPFO Unified Portal. |
| PF check Excel | Look through each worker's PF figures before you upload. |
| ESI file | Your ESI figures for the month. |
| ESI Portal Upload file (.xls) | Upload it on the ESIC website. |
The software does not file or pay for you. It makes the files. You log in to the EPFO and ESIC portals, upload them and pay there.
New to the upload? Read our step by step guide on how to upload the PF ECR file.
One month of PF and ESI, step by step
- Add attendance. Upload the client's attendance Excel, or type the days on the salary sheet.
- Check the settings. Each client has its own PF and ESI settings. If a client has its own PF limit, make sure it is right.
- Approve the month. Pre-approval checks catch common errors. Then the figures are locked.
- Download the files. Get the ECR text file, check Excel, ESI file and ESI upload file.
- Upload and pay. Use the EPFO and ESIC portals by the 15th of the next month.
Want to test one worker first? Try our free PF ESI calculator. To learn the maths, read how to calculate PF for contract workers.
Price and free trial
You pay per live worker per month. Up to 100 workers ₹40, 101 to 300 ₹30, 301 to 1,000 ₹25, more than 1,000 ₹24. GST is extra.
No setup fee. No yearly lock-in. Try it free for 30 days with no card. Sample workers are already inside to try. Start your free trial.
Questions people ask
Does ContractPay upload my ECR file to EPFO?
No. It makes the ECR text file and a check Excel. You upload the file on the EPFO Unified Portal and pay the challan yourself.
Does the software use the new ₹25,000 PF limit?
Yes. It picks the limit by wage month: ₹15,000 up to August 2026, the split for September 2026, and ₹25,000 from October 2026. Months you already approved stay as they were.
How do I handle September 2026?
ContractPay works it out in two parts, as EPFO says: 1 to 16 September on ₹15,000 and 17 to 30 September on ₹25,000, each on a 30-day basis. Check with your auditor if you are not sure.
Is the ESI limit now ₹30,000?
No. A rise to ₹30,000 has been talked about, but it is not notified. Use ₹21,000 for now.
What is the last date for PF and ESI?
Both are due by the 15th of the next month. File the ECR and pay PF on the EPFO portal, and pay ESI on the ESIC portal.
Run this month’s salary the easy way
30 days free. No card needed. Send your Excel and we set up your first client free.