ESI Return Filing
Periodic ESI contribution returns filed against your monthly wage records.
Once your establishment is covered by ESI, contributions are payable monthly and returns follow the scheme’s two fixed contribution periods. The filing is what links each employee’s contribution to their insurance number, and therefore to their entitlement to benefit.
That link is the reason accuracy matters more than the amounts suggest. An employee whose contribution is not correctly reported may be refused medical or cash benefit when they need it, and the employer can then be made directly liable for what the scheme would have paid.
Choose a package
PF & ESI NIL Compliance
₹9,404 plus GST
- Nil provident fund returns filed for twelve months
- Nil ESI returns filed for twelve months
- For Companies with ZERO employees
Payroll Processing
₹12,254 plus GST
- Attendance tracking
- Employee self-service access
- 12 Months Managed Payroll Service
- HR support throughout the year
- Upto 20 Employees
PF & ESI Compliance
₹17,004 plus GST
- Nil provident fund returns filed for twelve months
- Nil ESI returns filed for twelve months
- Up to 20 Employees
The contribution periods
ESI runs on two contribution periods each year — April to September and October to March. Each has a corresponding benefit period, which is what governs an employee’s eligibility to claim.
Contributions are remitted monthly by the due date, and the return for each contribution period is filed after it closes.
Who is covered in a given month
- Employees drawing wages up to the prescribed ceiling are covered
- An employee whose wages rise above the ceiling mid-period stays covered until the end of that contribution period
- Contract and casual workers engaged through a contractor are generally covered, and the principal employer bears responsibility
- Employees above the ceiling from the outset are excluded from contribution
- Apprentices under the Apprentices Act are treated separately
What late or wrong filing costs
- Interest on delayed contributions, from the due date
- Damages on a graded scale depending on the length of the delay
- Direct liability for benefits an employee could not claim because of a reporting failure
- Prosecution in cases of persistent default
- Difficulty at inspection, where records and returns do not reconcile
How we handle it
- 1 Identifying covered employees We determine who is covered for the month against the wage ceiling, including anyone whose wages changed mid-period.
- 2 Computing contributions Employer and employee shares are computed on the wages actually paid.
- 3 Monthly remittance The challan is generated and the contribution remitted within the due date.
- 4 Filing the return The return for the contribution period is filed once the period closes.
- 5 Employee records New joiners are registered, exits recorded, and insurance numbers verified so benefits are not blocked.
Frequently asked questions
What are the contribution periods?
April to September and October to March. Each has a matching benefit period that governs when an employee can claim, which is why correct reporting matters.
An employee’s wages went above the ceiling mid-period. Do I stop deducting?
No. They remain covered until the end of that contribution period, and contributions continue until it closes.
Are contract workers my responsibility?
Generally yes. The principal employer is responsible for ensuring contributions are paid for contract workers engaged in the establishment, even where a contractor employs them.
What if I pay late?
Interest runs from the due date and damages are levied on a graded scale. In serious cases you can also be made directly liable for benefits the employee was denied.
Do I file if no employee was covered that month?
A nil return should still be filed so no default is recorded against the employer code.
What is not included. Government fees, statutory charges, stamp duty, court and registry fees, digital signature costs and any third-party professional charges are separate and payable at actuals. GST applies on professional fees where indicated. Prices shown are indicative and may change without notice; we confirm the total in writing before any work begins — see our terms on pricing.
Talk to us about ESI Return Filing
Share your requirement and our team will confirm the documents needed, the exact charges and a realistic timeline — usually the same working day.
- Expert document checking before submission
- Regular status updates on WhatsApp
- Transparent professional charges
- Assistance in Marathi & English
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