New Delhi, Aug. 22 -- An Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account does not necessarily stop earning interest when an employee leaves a job or retires. The point at which interest stops depends on the member's age and when the account becomes classified as inoperative.

The distinction matters for employees who leave their jobs before the usual retirement age, as well as those who retire after 55 and leave their EPF balance untouched.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), in its latest clarification, said an EPF account becomes inoperative and stops earning interest after the applicable three-year period following retirement for members retiring at or after 55. EPFO's FAQ also clarifies that members retiring before 55 can contin...