01
Monthly Deadlines
TDS by 7th, PF by 15th, ESI by 21st, Professional Tax, payslip issuance, attendance records. Every recurring monthly task with the exact deadline and legal reference.
Labour Law Compliance Checklist Free PDF for Indian Employers
Every monthly, quarterly, and annual deadline you need to meet. PF by the 15th. ESI by the 21st. TDS by the 7th. Bonus by 30-Nov. Form 16 by 15-Jun. 60+ compliance tasks, all in one printable checklist. Updated for FY 2025-26.
- Monthly deadlines: TDS (7th), PF (15th), ESI (21st), Professional Tax, payslips
- Quarterly and annual: Form 24Q, Form 16, bonus payment, POSH report
- Event-based: new joiner tasks, exit checklist, workplace incident reporting
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Petpooja presents
Labour Law Compliance Checklist
For Indian Employers
60+
Compliance tasks · PDF
FY 2025-26
What's Inside
Everything you need to stay compliant all year.
02
Quarterly Filings
Form 24Q (TDS returns), ESI half-yearly returns, GST return deadlines. Exact due dates for each quarter of FY 2025-26.
03
Annual Compliance
Form 16 (15-Jun), bonus payment (30-Nov), POSH annual report (31-Jan), licence renewals, minimum wage updates. Organised by quarter.
04
Event-Based Tasks
New joiner: PF registration, ESI registration, appointment letter. Employee exit: F&F settlement, EPFO exit date, gratuity. Workplace incident: ESIC accident report.
05
Penalty Reference Table
What happens if you miss each deadline. Interest rates, fines, imprisonment terms. All in one table so you know the cost of delay.
06
State-Specific Notes
Professional Tax rates and S&E licence rules for 10 major states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and more.
Why This Matters
Missing One Deadline Can Cost You Lakhs
A restaurant owner in Pune missed the PF deadline by 12 days. The EPFO charged interest under Section 7Q plus damages under Section 14B. Total penalty: Rs.47,000 on Rs.1,20,000 of PF contributions. That's a 39% penalty for being less than two weeks late.
Indian labour law has over a dozen separate compliance obligations with different deadlines, different portals, and different penalties. PF and ESI alone require monthly deposits, periodic returns, and employee-level record keeping. Add TDS, Professional Tax, bonus, gratuity, POSH compliance, and Shop & Establishment renewals, and you're looking at 60+ tasks spread across the year.
The penalties are real. Late TDS attracts 1.5% interest per month. Late Form 16 costs Rs.100/day per certificate. Non-payment of bonus can mean imprisonment. And for PF and ESI defaults, personal liability extends to directors and partners.
This checklist puts every deadline in one printable document. Print the monthly page and pin it near your accounts desk, share the full PDF with your accountant, or set phone reminders from it. Whatever works. Just don't miss another deadline.
Sample Preview
A quick look at what's inside the checklist.
Here's a preview of what you'll get:
Monthly: TDS deposit by 7th (Section 192), PF by 15th (EPF Act S.6), ESI by 21st (ESI Act S.39), Professional Tax (varies by state), payslips (Payment of Wages Act).
Quarterly: Form 24Q deadlines (31-Jul, 31-Oct, 31-Jan, 31-May), ESI half-yearly returns (12-Nov, 12-May).
Annual: Form 16 by 15-Jun, bonus by 30-Nov, POSH report by 31-Jan, PF annual return by 25-Apr, licence renewals.
Event-based: New joiner (EPFO within 15 days, ESIC within 10 days), exit (F&F within 30 days, gratuity within 30 days).
Penalties: Full table with interest rates, fines, and imprisonment terms for every compliance type.
... plus state-specific Professional Tax rates and S&E licence rules for 10 major states.
Key Stats
The cost of missing compliance deadlines.
1.5%/month
Interest on late TDS deposit. Calculated from the date of deduction to the date of deposit. On a Rs.50,000 monthly TDS liability, one month's delay costs Rs.750.
Source: Income Tax Act, Section 201(1A)100%
Maximum damages the EPFO can charge on late PF deposits under Section 14B. In practice, damages range from 5% to 100% depending on the delay period.
Source: EPF Act 1952, Section 14B₹50K
Maximum penalty for not having a POSH Internal Committee or not filing the annual report. Repeated offence can lead to cancellation of business licence.
Source: POSH Act 2013, Section 26Never miss a compliance deadline.
Download the free Labour Law Compliance Checklist. 60+ tasks. Print it, pin it, share it with your team.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
What are the key monthly deadlines for Indian employers?
Three critical monthly deadlines: TDS deposit by the 7th (Section 192, Income Tax Act), PF deposit and ECR filing by the 15th (EPF Act), and ESI deposit by the 21st (ESI Act). Additionally, payslips must be issued monthly (Payment of Wages Act) and Professional Tax deposited per your state's schedule. Use our free TDS calculator to get the right monthly amount.
When must Form 16 be issued to employees?
By 15-Jun of the following financial year, per Section 203 of the Income Tax Act. For FY 2025-26 salaries, Form 16 must be issued by 15-Jun-2026. Late issuance attracts a penalty of Rs.100 per day per certificate under Section 272A(2). Use our TDS calculator to get the numbers right before generating Form 16.
What is the penalty for late PF deposit?
Two separate charges: interest under Section 7Q of the EPF Act (currently at the rate notified by EPFO), plus damages under Section 14B which can go up to 100% of the arrears depending on the delay period. For example, a delay of 2-4 months attracts 10% damages, while delays over 6 months can attract 25-100%. The EPF compliance rules are strict.
When must annual bonus be paid?
Within 8 months of the close of the accounting year, per Section 19 of the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. For businesses with an April-March financial year, that means bonus must be paid by 30-Nov. The minimum is 8.33% for employees earning up to Rs.21,000/month. Use our bonus calculator to get the exact amount.
What compliance is needed when an employee exits?
Process Full & Final Settlement within 30 days (earned leave, pro-rata bonus, notice pay). Mark exit date on EPFO portal within 2 days. Pay gratuity within 30 days if 5+ years of service. Issue relieving letter on the last working day. Our F&F calculator and exit checklist cover every step.
About Petpooja
Petpooja is India's leading SME business software suite, trusted by 1,50,000+ businesses across restaurants, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. From billing and payroll to task management and procurement, Petpooja helps Indian businesses run better, every day.
Automate compliance for your entire team
Petpooja Payroll auto-calculates PF, ESI, TDS, and PT every month. Generates ECR files, payslips, and Form 16. Tracks every deadline so you don't have to. See how our salary structure guide explains the full compliance picture.
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