What is ECR (Electronic Challan cum Return)?
Short answer
The ECR is the monthly PF return and payment file employers upload to the EPFO portal. Each line is one member’s wages and contributions.
The file
- It is a text file with one line per member and eleven fields separated by #~#: UAN, name, gross wages, EPF wages, EPS wages, EDLI wages, employee contribution, pension contribution, the EPF–EPS difference, non-contributory days and refund of advances.
- Amounts are whole rupees.
- It is due, with the payment, by the 15th of the next month.
In AdviHR
AdviHR generates the ECR 2.0 file from payroll and warns about missing UANs and members aged 58 or over. It has not yet been accepted by the live EPFO portal, so check it there first.
Frequently asked questions
What format is the ECR file?
A text file, one member per line, eleven fields separated by #~#, with no header row.
Related terms
How sure are we? These figures use the same rules AdviHR payroll applies. We publish what has been checked against an official source and what has not, on the statutory accuracy page.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm against the official notification and your adviser.