Employee welfare deductions clarified: new limits, timing and eligibility for employer contributions under Clause 29.
Clause 29 prescribes conditions and limits for deducting employer contributions to recognized provident funds, approved superannuation funds, pension schemes (subject to a uniform percentage of salary including dearness allowance), and approved gratuity funds, sets the due date rules for employee contributions, and restricts deductions for provisions or contributions unless expressly authorised, thereby clarifying and refining the deductibility regime compared with current Sections 36 and 40A.

Employee welfare deductions clarified: permitted employer contributions to approved funds subject to prescribed limits and arm's-length scrutiny.
Deductions for employer contributions to specified employee welfare vehicles are permitted only when made to recognised or approved funds and in accordance with prescribed limits, timing and conditions; provision-only gratuity reserves are generally non-deductible unless conditions are met, and contributions to other funds or trusts are disallowed except as expressly allowed or required by law.