01
Register within 15 days of applicability
Once you cross 10 employees, registration is due within 15 days. Delay can lead to backdated demands for contributions, interest and damages for the entire period since coverage became applicable.
ESIC registration · 2026
ESIC (ESI) registration for businesses in India.
Enrol your establishment with ESIC under the Code on Social Security, 2020 and give your team medical cover and a cash safety net. Regikart's CA and CS team handles establishment registration, employee enrolment and ongoing monthly compliance - starting at Rs 4,999.
Reviewed by CA & CS Team · Regikart
CA-reviewed registrationESI code in a few working daysFree portal registration + ongoing filings
Last updated
28 May 2026
ESIC at a glance
Medical cover plus cash safety net
Mandatory at 10+ employees.
Wage ceiling Rs 21,000 gross (Rs 25,000 if disabled).
4% total rate on gross - 3.25% employer, 0.75% employee.
Register on the ESIC portal within 15 days of applicability.
Fixed quote, before you pay
Get your ESIC registration quote
Leave your name and number. Our team calls you, checks your headcount and what applies to you, and sends a fixed written quote before you pay anything.
- From ₹999, government fees (if any) at actuals
- Registrations, monthly challans and returns on the EPFO, ESIC and state portals handled by our team
- 250+ clients served from Kolkata, Delhi and Bengaluru, and remotely across India
At a glance
10+
Employees - mandatory threshold
4%
Total ESI contribution rate
Rs 21,000
Gross wage coverage ceiling
15 days
Window to register once applicable
Reference card
ESIC registration at a glance
| Governing law | Code on Social Security, 2020 (Chapter IV, in force from 21 November 2025); earlier the ESI Act, 1948 |
| Administered by | ESIC, Ministry of Labour and Employment |
| Mandatory at | 10 or more employees; one or more in a hazardous process; voluntary below 10 |
| Wage limit | Gross up to Rs 21,000 a month (Rs 25,000 if disabled) |
| Contribution | Employer 3.25% plus employee 0.75% of gross wages (since 1 July 2019) |
| Monthly deposit | By the 15th of the following month |
| Registration code | 17-digit ESI code issued by ESIC on registration |
Why it matters
Register on time and count everyone.
The 10-employee threshold is lower than PF, and the count sweeps in contract and part-time workers. Two reasons most employers register late - and pay for it.
02
Count contract and part-time staff
The 10-employee threshold includes permanent, temporary, part-time, contract and probationary workers - including contractor staff deployed at your premises. Excluding them is the most common applicability mistake we see.
03
Employee medical and cash safety net
ESI gives your team full medical care, sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement cover, dependants' benefit, funeral expenses and an unemployment allowance - a genuine retention asset, not just a statutory tax.
04
Lower trigger than PF
PF kicks in at 20 employees but ESI kicks in at 10 in most states. Many founders register for PF and miss ESI by months - that gap turns into interest and damages on every wage cycle.
Who needs ESIC registration
Coverage triggers and what gets swept in.
Coverage is establishment-wide once triggered. You cannot enrol some eligible employees and exclude others on the same payroll. Selective enrolment is one of the most commonly cited inspection findings.
- Factories and establishments employing 10 or more persons (Code on Social Security, 2020; earlier section 1(4) of the ESI Act 1948)
- Shops, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, road transport undertakings and newspaper establishments employing 10 or more
- IT firms, BPOs, private medical and educational institutions and commercial offices employing 10 or more
- Employees earning gross wages up to Rs 21,000 a month (Rs 25,000 for an employee with a disability)
- Contract, casual, part-time workers and apprentices (other than those under the Apprentices Act) meeting the wage ceiling
- Staff in head office, branch office, sales depot or godown connected to a covered establishment
Important: Registration is due within 15 days of becoming applicable. ESI now covers IT firms, BPOs and commercial offices across India, not just factories. Confirm coverage before delaying.
ESIC registration process
Eight steps, one registration partner.
From applicability assessment to inspection-ready vaults - we take the brief once and run every cycle on autopilot.
01
Day 1Confirm applicability
Verify headcount against the 10-employee threshold, and check for any hazardous process. Identify employees within the Rs 21,000 gross wage ceiling, including contract and part-time staff.
02
Days 1 - 2Gather documents
Collect establishment PAN, incorporation or registration document, premises address proof, bank details and the employee list with wages and Aadhaar.
03
Days 2 - 3Portal sign-up
Register the establishment on the ESIC employer portal at esic.gov.in and the Shram Suvidha unified portal under Form 01 (Employer Registration Form).
04
Days 3 - 5Get 17-digit ESI code
Once the establishment details are validated, ESIC issues a 17-digit employer code - your user ID for all future filings, deposits and inspections.
05
Days 5 - 8Enrol each employee
Generate a Form 1 declaration per employee, capture Aadhaar (mandatory) and family details, map dispensary by residence and obtain an IP (Insured Person) number for each.
06
By 15thFirst contribution deposit
Apply 3.25% (employer) + 0.75% (employee) on gross wages, generate the challan and deposit by the 15th of the following month. Download and retain the paid challan.
07
Days 10 - 15Issue ESI cards
Each insured employee gets an ESI card (e-Pehchan) for accessing medical care at ESI dispensaries and hospitals. We help your HR roll this out.
08
ContinuousSet up ongoing compliance
Hand over monthly contribution filing, half-yearly Form 5 returns and inspection-ready registers (wage, attendance and accident) to our payroll desk.
Crossed 10 employees recently?
Get ESI compliant the right way.
We assess, register, enrol and set up your monthly compliance in one engagement.
Documents required
What you'll need to register.
We send a checklist customised to your headcount and industry on engagement. Here is the baseline list.
Establishment-level
- PAN of the establishment
- Certificate of incorporation, partnership deed or registration document
- Address proof of the premises (utility bill or rent agreement)
- Cancelled cheque or bank account details
- List of directors, partners or proprietor with ID proofs
- Memorandum and articles of association (for companies)
Employee-level
- Full list of employees with date of joining
- Gross monthly wages per employee (basic + allowances + overtime)
- Aadhaar number for each covered employee
- PAN, bank details and residential address
- Family details (spouse, children, dependants)
- Photograph for ESI card generation
Premises and operations
- Date of commencement of business
- Nature of business activity
- Power consumption details (for factories)
- Shop and Establishment registration (where applicable)
- GST registration certificate
- Wage register and attendance register format
ESI benefits for employees
More than a statutory tax - a real safety net.
ESI is a self-financing social security scheme that gives covered employees and their dependants medical care and a stack of cash benefits. For the wider employer obligations under the labour codes, see labour law compliance.
Medical care
Full medical care for the insured employee and their dependants at ESI dispensaries, hospitals and tied-up private hospitals - inpatient, outpatient, diagnostics and medicines.
Sickness benefit
Cash payment during certified sickness for up to 91 days a year - approximately 70 percent of average daily wages, payable after the qualifying contribution period.
Maternity benefit
Paid leave for eligible insured women for up to 26 weeks at the full average daily wage rate, plus a confinement allowance and free medical care.
Disablement benefit
Temporary disablement benefit at 90 percent of wages during recovery from employment injury, and permanent disablement benefit as a monthly pension based on loss of earning capacity.
Dependants' benefit
Monthly payment to dependants in cases of death due to employment injury, plus funeral expenses up to Rs 15,000 paid to whoever incurs them.
Unemployment allowance
Under the Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana, up to 50 percent of average daily wages for up to 2 years on involuntary loss of employment, with linked skill upgradation.
Regikart ESIC registration services
What we handle - end to end.
From first registration to inspection support, every touchpoint of your ESI compliance lives with our payroll desk.
- Establishment registration with ESIC and issuance of the 17-digit code
- Employee enrolment with Aadhaar and IP number generation within 10 days of joining
- Monthly contribution computation and deposit by the 15th
- Half-yearly returns - filed by 11 November and 11 May under Regulation 26
- Wage, attendance and accident register upkeep for inspections
- Response to ESIC notices, inspections and damages demands
- Multi-state coverage codes and sub-code management for branch operations
- Annual labour-law audit and ESI compliance gap report
Common challenges
Five issues we fix on every engagement.
Each one is avoidable, each one is expensive, and each one shows up in ESIC inspection reports across industries.
01
Wrong state threshold
The threshold is 10 employees under the Code on Social Security, and one employee is enough in hazardous processes. We check headcount and processes before confirming applicability so you do not over- or under-register.
02
Excluding contract workers
Contract and part-time staff count toward the headcount and must be enrolled if they meet the wage ceiling. Many founders count only permanent payroll. We assess the true headcount including contractor deployments. Using a contractor? See contract labour licence.
03
Wage base errors
ESI is on gross wages, not basic. That includes overtime, dearness allowance, conveyance and attendance bonus. Calculating on basic alone is the single most common under-deduction surfaced at inspection.
04
Missed monthly deadline
Once registered, the contribution must reach ESIC by the 15th of the following month. Interest at 12 percent per annum starts on the 16th and damages of 5 to 25 percent apply on continued default. We never miss the date.
05
Single registration for multi-state ops
Each state with a covered establishment needs its own coverage code or sub-code depending on ESIC sub-regional jurisdiction. A single pan-India registration is a growing-company error we fix proactively.
Fees
Transparent registration fees.
Registering with ESIC is free. The real cost is the 3.25 percent employer contribution; the Regikart professional fee covers registration and ongoing compliance.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Government registration on ESIC portal | Free |
| Regikart professional fee for ESIC registration | Rs 4,999 onwards |
| Monthly contribution and challan filing support | Rs 999 onwards / month |
| PF + ESIC + payroll compliance bundle | Rs 2,499 onwards / month |
All fees and charges listed are indicative only and do not constitute a binding offer. Final amounts may vary depending on the volume of work and the complexity involved.
PF vs ESI
How ESI registration differs from PF registration.
Both are statutory payroll registrations. Threshold, wage base, rate and purpose are different - employers usually research both together.
| Point | PF (EPF) | ESI |
|---|---|---|
| Governing law | Code on Social Security, 2020 (earlier EPF & MP Act 1952) | Code on Social Security, 2020 (earlier ESI Act 1948) |
| Mandatory at | 20 or more employees | 10 or more |
| Wage basis | Basic + DA, ceiling ₹25,000 (₹15,000 before 17 Sep 2026) | Gross wages, limit Rs 21,000 |
| Employee share | 12 percent | 0.75 percent |
| Employer share | 12 percent (3.67% EPF + 8.33% EPS) | 3.25 percent |
| Purpose | Retirement, pension, insurance | Medical and cash benefits |
| Code length | Establishment code via EPFO | 17-digit ESI code from ESIC |
After registration - what next
The recurring cycle once you are registered.
| Recurring event | Frequency and date |
|---|---|
| Apply for ESI registration on portal | Within 15 days of becoming applicable |
| Receive 17-digit ESI employer code | Usually within a few working days |
| Enrol each new employee | Within 10 days of joining |
| Deposit monthly contribution on portal | By the 15th of the following month |
| File half-yearly Form 5 (April to September) | By 11 November |
| File half-yearly Form 5 (October to March) | By 11 May |
| Maintain wage, attendance and accident registers | Continuous - kept at the premises |
| Respond to ESIC inspection notice | Within the timeline mentioned (usually 7 to 15 days) |
Why employers choose Regikart
CA-led registrations, not data-entry shortcuts.
Most ESI registrations are handled by junior executives who treat it as a portal upload. Regikart's payroll desk is run by qualified CAs and CSs with statutory-payroll specialism.
CA and CS led
Every registration and ongoing filing reviewed by a qualified professional. A Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) heads the accounting and payroll compliance team for ESIC, EPF and PT.
3-office presence across India
Headquartered in Kolkata with operational offices in Delhi and Bengaluru. Local handling for ESIC sub-regional offices and state labour departments.
Payroll across industries
From small teams to larger manufacturing units across IT, manufacturing, logistics, retail and healthcare. We know the state-by-state quirks.
Inspection-ready files
Every client gets a digital compliance vault with the registration certificate, all monthly challans, Form 6 register, Form 5 half-yearly returns and inspection responses.
Transparent pricing
Fixed registration fee, fixed monthly retainer - no per-employee top-ups, no surprise charges for half-yearly filings. What you sign is what you pay.
End-to-end labour compliance
Beyond ESI, we cover PF, professional tax, Shops and Establishment registration, labour welfare fund and POSH compliance under one engagement.
ESIC registration FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Still unsure about applicability, wage limits or the registration timeline? Talk to our team and a CA will assess your headcount and quote scope.
Still have questions?
Tell us about your case and our team will walk through it and outline next steps.
Talk to our team →ESIC registration is the process of enrolling an establishment with the Employees' State Insurance Corporation under the Code on Social Security, 2020 (earlier the ESI Act 1948). It lets covered employees access medical, sickness, maternity and other benefits, and gives the establishment a 17-digit ESI code number that becomes the user ID for all future filings.
Related compliance services
Bundle ESI with the rest of your payroll stack.
View all tax servicesESIC Return Filing
Monthly contributions by 15th + half-yearly Form 5 reconciliation.
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Payroll Services
End-to-end monthly payroll with PF, ESI and TDS.
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Professional Tax
State levy on salaries - registration, monthly returns and payment.
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Shop and Establishment
State labour registration for shops, offices and commercial premises.
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About Regikart
A CA & CS firm built for payroll compliance.
Regikart is a CA and CS firm headquartered in Kolkata with operational offices in Delhi and Bengaluru. We offer end-to-end compliance services covering accounting, GST, income tax, payroll, ROC and MCA, audit, GSTAT litigation and business registrations. Founded by a Fellow Chartered Accountant, the firm serves 250+ clients across India with a CA and CS-led service model.
Our payroll and statutory compliance desk, led by Regikart's CA team, handles ESIC registration, EPF registration, professional tax, TDS on salaries and labour welfare compliance for businesses from small startups to larger manufacturing units.
First step is an assessment call
Start your ESIC registration today.
Tell us your headcount, state, and current payroll setup. We will tell you exactly what is needed, what it costs and what risk you are carrying today.
Applicability assessmentWritten scope before we startKolkata · Delhi · Bengaluru