As per the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, every employer is required to submit an Annual Return to the Inspector within 30 days after the expiry of the time limit specified in Section 19. The return must contain details of the bonus paid to employees for the accounting year. The bonus amount must be paid in cash to employees within eight months from the close of the accounting year.
Below is the format of Form D, which must be filled out by the employer to comply with the regulations:
FORM D: Annual Return – Bonus Paid to Employees for the Accounting Year Ending on [Insert Date]
| S. No. | Details | Information |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Name of the Establishment and Its Complete Postal Address: | [Insert Establishment Name and Address] |
| 2 | Name of Industry: | [Insert Industry Name] |
| 3 | Name of the Employer: | [Insert Employer Name] |
| 4 | Total Number of Employees: | [Insert Total Employee Count] |
| 5 | Number of Employees Benefited by Bonus Payments: | [Insert Number of Employees] |
Details of Bonus Payment:
| S. No. | Particulars | Amount/Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Total Amount Payable as Bonus under Section 10 or 11 of the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 | [Insert Total Amount of Bonus Payable] |
| 2 | Settlement, if any, Reached Under Section 18(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 with Date | [Insert Settlement Details, if any] |
| 3 | Percentage of Bonus Declared to be Paid | [Insert Percentage] |
Bonus Payment Details:
| S. No. | Particulars | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Total Amount of Bonus Actually Paid | [Insert Amount Paid] |
| 5 | Date on Which Payment Was Made | [Insert Date of Payment] |
| 6 | Whether Bonus Has Been Paid to All Employees? | [Yes/No] |
| 7 | If No, Reasons for Non-Payment | [Insert Reasons] |
| 8 | Remarks | [Additional Remarks, if any] |
Signature:
Signature of the Employer or His Agent:
[Employer’s Signature or Agent's Signature]
[Date of Submission]
Important Points to Remember:
- The Annual Return should be submitted to the Inspector within 30 days from the expiry of the time limit specified under Section 19 of the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965.
- The bonus must be paid in cash within eight months from the close of the accounting year.
- The return must include details of the bonus paid to employees, settlements made under the Industrial Disputes Act, and whether all employees have received the bonus.
- If bonus payments have not been made to certain employees, the reasons for non-payment should be clearly mentioned in the return.
By maintaining proper records and filing the return within the stipulated time, employers can ensure compliance with the Payment of Bonus Act and avoid penalties for non-compliance.
