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Anil

Anil Rego  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Mar 31, 2024

Anil Rego is the founder of Right Horizons, a financial and wealth management firm. He has 20 years of experience in the field of personal finance.
He’s an expert in income tax and wealth management.
He has completed his CFA/MBA from the ICFAI Business School.... more
naresh Question by naresh on Feb 23, 2024Hindi
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I am geting salary as director in company,can i pay salary to driver and deduct in salary

Ans: This would depend on whether your company has a company car policy.
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10976 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 03, 2024

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if my basic salary is less than Rs. 15,000.00/ month then is it right to deduct the employer contribution Rs. 1,800.00/-
Ans: Understanding Employer Contribution to Provident Fund for Basic Salary Below Rs 15,000
When your basic salary is less than Rs 15,000 per month, there are specific guidelines for employer contributions to the Provident Fund (PF). Let’s delve into the details to understand whether it is correct to deduct Rs 1,800 as the employer’s contribution.

Basics of Provident Fund Contributions
The Provident Fund is a social security scheme for employees. It ensures savings for retirement. Both the employee and employer contribute to the PF. The contributions are usually a percentage of the employee's basic salary plus dearness allowance (DA).

Contribution Rates
Typically, the employee contributes 12% of the basic salary plus DA to the PF. The employer also contributes 12%, but this is split into two parts: 8.33% goes to the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) and the remaining 3.67% goes to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF).

Specific Case: Basic Salary Below Rs 15,000
If your basic salary is below Rs 15,000, the employer’s contribution to the PF follows a specific structure:

Employee Contribution: 12% of basic salary + DA
Employer Contribution: 12% of basic salary + DA, split between EPF and EPS
Maximum Limit on Employer’s EPS Contribution
For EPS, the employer’s contribution is capped. The maximum salary considered for EPS contribution is Rs 15,000. Thus, 8.33% of Rs 15,000 (which is Rs 1,250) is contributed to EPS. Any amount above this goes to the EPF.

Calculation Example
Let’s assume your basic salary is Rs 12,000 per month.

Employee Contribution: 12% of Rs 12,000 = Rs 1,440
Employer Contribution:
EPS: 8.33% of Rs 12,000 = Rs 999.60 (capped at Rs 1,250 if basic salary is Rs 15,000)
EPF: 3.67% of Rs 12,000 = Rs 440.40
Scenario: Rs 1,800 Employer Contribution
If the employer is contributing Rs 1,800 when your basic salary is less than Rs 15,000, it’s essential to check the distribution between EPS and EPF. It could mean higher contributions towards EPF, which is allowed.

Is Rs 1,800 Deduction Correct?
The correctness depends on how the Rs 1,800 is split:

EPS Contribution: Should be a maximum of 8.33% of Rs 15,000 or Rs 1,250.
EPF Contribution: The remaining amount after deducting the EPS portion from the total 12% of basic salary.
Empathising with Your Concern
Understanding these deductions can be confusing. It’s important to ensure clarity on how your contributions are calculated. Checking your pay slip and the contribution details can help.

Importance of Accurate Deductions
Accurate PF contributions ensure sufficient retirement savings. It also ensures compliance with legal requirements. Any discrepancies can affect your savings and benefits.

Reviewing Your Payslip
Check Basic Salary: Ensure the basic salary mentioned is accurate.
Review Deductions: Verify the PF deductions.
Seek Clarification: If there are discrepancies, discuss with your HR department.
Benefits of PF Contributions
Tax Savings: Both employee and employer contributions qualify for tax benefits.
Retirement Savings: Ensures a corpus for post-retirement life.
Pension: Part of the contribution goes towards pension, providing regular income after retirement.
Analytical Perspective
From an analytical perspective, understanding the PF structure helps in financial planning. Knowing the exact deductions and contributions clarifies your take-home salary and retirement benefits.

Assessment of Employer Contributions
Regularly assessing employer contributions ensures that they align with statutory requirements. This assessment also helps in identifying any errors early, ensuring corrective measures.

Consulting a Certified Financial Planner
A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can provide detailed insights into your PF contributions. They can also help you understand the impact on your overall financial planning and retirement savings.

Conclusion
To conclude, if your basic salary is less than Rs 15,000, the employer's contribution should align with the statutory guidelines. Rs 1,800 as an employer contribution can be correct, depending on the split between EPS and EPF. Regular review and consultation with a CFP can ensure accurate contributions and optimal retirement savings.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10976 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 21, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 21, 2026Hindi
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I’m a 35-year-old salaried professional aiming to build a long-term investment portfolio over the next 10 years, with a monthly investment budget of around Rs 15,000. I'm tempted to buy silver as an investment because silver prices today (Rs 330 per gram) look much more 'affordable' than gold prices today approx 15000 per gram). But I also know that price per gram doesn’t reflect actual returns when comparing silver vs gold investment performance. Is viewing silver as a cheaper investment option a mental trap for small investors, or does investing in silver genuinely offer better upside potential in the long run?
Ans: You are thinking in the right direction. You are questioning the price tag, not getting carried away by it. This itself shows maturity and long-term thinking. Many investors do not pause at this stage. You deserve appreciation for that clarity.

» Price per gram versus wealth creation reality
– Seeing silver at Rs 330 per gram and gold at around Rs 15,000 per gram creates a strong emotional pull
– Our mind feels silver is “cheap” and gold is “expensive”
– This is a mental shortcut, not an investment logic
– Wealth grows by percentage return over time, not by how many grams we can buy
– One gram at Rs 100 that grows slowly can underperform one gram at Rs 10,000 that grows steadily

» Why silver looks attractive but behaves differently
– Silver has a dual role: precious metal and industrial metal
– Industrial demand makes silver prices volatile and cyclical
– When the economy slows, silver demand can fall sharply
– This leads to long periods of price stagnation
– For a salaried professional with monthly investing, such swings can test patience

» Gold and silver are not growth assets
– Both gold and silver do not create earnings or cash flow
– Their value depends mainly on demand, inflation fear, and currency movement
– Over long periods, they protect purchasing power but rarely multiply wealth
– Expecting strong upside from silver over 10 years is usually unrealistic
– This is especially true when the goal is disciplined monthly investing

» Is silver a mental trap for small investors
– Yes, for many investors it is
– “I can buy more grams” gives psychological comfort
– But comfort does not equal better returns
– Silver often underperforms expectations when held for long durations
– Storage cost, purity issues, and liquidity challenges further reduce actual benefit

» Does silver have any role at all
– Silver can be used as a small diversification tool
– It should never be the core of a long-term portfolio
– Allocation should be limited and purpose-driven
– Treat it as a hedge, not a growth engine
– Overexposure can slow overall portfolio progress

» Better alignment with your 10-year goal
– At age 35, your biggest strength is time
– Regular monthly investing suits growth-oriented assets
– Actively managed equity mutual funds suit this phase well
– Active fund managers can adapt to market changes and protect downside
– This flexibility matters more than metal price movements

» Why market-linked metal products are not ideal substitutes
– They closely track metal prices without adding value
– No active decision-making or downside control
– Returns depend only on price cycles
– This makes long-term compounding weak
– Actively managed funds aim to grow wealth, not just track prices

» Risk, emotion, and discipline
– Silver prices can move sharply up and down
– Such movement can tempt investors to time the market
– Timing mistakes hurt long-term results
– Simple, steady investing works better than reacting to metal prices
– Discipline matters more than affordability

» Tax and liquidity awareness
– Physical silver has making charges and selling spreads
– Tax treatment can reduce post-tax returns
– Liquidity is not always smooth during urgent needs
– These frictions are often ignored at the buying stage

» 360-degree portfolio thinking
– Your Rs 15,000 monthly budget is a powerful habit
– Focus on assets that reward time and consistency
– Use metals only as support, not as drivers
– Growth assets should do the heavy lifting
– Review allocation periodically with a Certified Financial Planner

» Final Insights
– Silver looking affordable is largely a mental illusion
– Long-term wealth is built by return quality, not unit price
– Silver does not offer reliable long-term upside for salaried investors
– Limited exposure is fine, dependency is not
– Staying focused on growth-oriented investing will serve your 10-year goal far better

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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