ESIC return filing is the process of submitting details of the employees covered under the Employee’s State Insurance (ESI) scheme, along with their contributions and other relevant details, to the ESIC authorities. The return needs to be filed on a half-yearly basis, i.e., for the period of April to September and October to March.

The following are the steps involved in ESIC return filing:

1. Generate the ESIC challan: The employer needs to generate the ESIC challan for the relevant period from the ESIC portal. The challan will contain details of the employees’ contributions and the employer’s contributions.

2. Deposit the ESIC contributions: The employer needs to deposit the ESIC contributions for the relevant period by using the challan generated on the ESIC portal.

3. Submit the ESIC return: The employer needs to submit the ESIC return online through the ESIC portal within 42 days of the end of the relevant half-yearly period. The return will contain details of the employees covered under the ESI scheme, their contributions, and other relevant details such as changes in employment status.

4. Obtain the ESIC certificate: Once the ESIC return is filed and the contributions are deposited, the employer can obtain the ESIC certificate, which serves as proof of compliance with the ESIC regulations.

It is important to note that non-compliance with ESIC return filing and payment of contributions can lead to penalties and legal action. Therefore, it is important for employers to ensure that they file their ESIC returns and deposit their contributions on time.