FINAL ESI RETURN
The Final ESI (Employee’s State
Insurance) Return is a critical compliance document under the Employees’ State
Insurance Act, 1948, which ensures that an employer has fulfilled all statutory
obligations related to employee health insurance before ceasing operations or
liability. It serves as a conclusive statement reflecting all contributions
made by both the employer and employees towards the ESI Scheme, which provides
medical, sickness, maternity, and disability benefits to insured workers and
their families. This return typically includes vital details such as the
Employee Insurance Number (IP Number), period of employment, gross wages,
deducted ESI contributions, and total employer contributions up to the date of
cessation. It also accounts for any arrears, corrections, or omitted entries
from previous filings, ensuring that the final record submitted to the
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is complete and accurate. The
filing of the final ESI return becomes mandatory when an employer closes the
business, cancels ESI registration, or when there are no employees under ESI
coverage due to organizational restructuring or cessation of employment
contracts. It serves as a confirmation to ESIC that all contributions,
including pending or delayed payments, have been duly remitted and reconciled.