« Top Headlines » Open DEMAT Account in 24 hrs  How much gold jewellery can you keep at home? Nagpur ITAT explains rules on ownership, gifts, taxability  ?5.31 lakh TDS refund allowed by ITAT Delhi: Why absence of an original ITR did not block the taxpayer  Missed the ITR Filing Deadline? How to Claim Your Income Tax Refund and Correct Mistakes Before December 31, 2026  GST Return Preparation & ITC Analysis with TallyPrime (Hinglish Session)  GST Return Preparation & ITC Analysis with TallyPrime (Hinglish Session)  GST Return Preparation & ITC Analysis with TallyPrime (Hinglish Session)  Income-Tax Department Moves to Bring Greater Certainty to International Tax Cases  ITR Defective Notice for AY 2026-27: Reasons, 15-Day Deadline and What Happens If You Ignore It  ITR Refund Status 2026: How to Track Your Income Tax Refund Online – Step-by-Step Guide  GST Council Explores Andhra Pradesh’s AI-Driven Tax Administration Model  ITR filing 2026: Who must file by August 31? Tax department explains «  Net direct tax receipts dip 13.4% in Dec... I-T dept attaches Pyramid Saimira’s bank accounts... » Four million private PF subscribers may lose tax benefits January, 07th 2009 Over four mn employees affiliated to over 2,500 private provident funds face the threat of losing income tax benefits on their PF contributions, as the government seems to be having second thoughts over giving these bodies permanent recognition. Taking a plea that privately-run PFs are violating investment accounting norms, the Labour Ministry is not inclined to award final approvals to these trusts. Over 2,500 private PFs are operational, but under a temporary recognition given by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The temporary EPFO recognition enables them to qualify for tax exemptions. However, the Income Tax authorities had been warning the privately-run PFs that the tax benefits to their subscribers would be in jeopardy if they did not get a final approval from the Labour Ministry. But the ministry found that several of these funds were not following the norms and not maintaining the accounts as per the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour S K Srivastava said at a PHDCCI function here. "Even today we held a meeting over this. It will take some time for us to formulate how to go about this. Under the circumstances, it seems difficult to allow final approval to any of the trusts unless things are in order," he said. Subscribers to the private PFs are allowed income tax exemptions under section 17(1)-A of the IT Act.