Updated 20 October 2026 (4 Kartik 2083). Checked against the Contribution-based Social Security Act 2074 (as amended in 2082), SSF’s operation procedures, SSF’s Social Security Day 2082 press release, SSF’s Retirement Fund Procedure 2083, the Employees Provident Fund’s official website, the Citizen Investment Trust’s official website, and the Finance Bill 2083.
Nepal has three big long-term savings institutions that people mix up all the time: the Social Security Fund (सामाजिक सुरक्षा कोष, SSF), the Employees Provident Fund (कर्मचारी सञ्चय कोष, EPF) and the Citizen Investment Trust (नागरिक लगानी कोष, CIT). They overlap in places, but they were set up for different jobs. This guide compares them side by side and explains which one applies to you.
The one-table answer
| SSF | EPF | CIT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Contribution-based Social Security Act 2074 | Employees Provident Fund Act 2019 BS | Its own Act and schemes |
| Who it mainly serves | Private and formal-sector workers, plus informal, self-employed and foreign-employment contributors; public institutions joining since 2082 | Government, public enterprise and private-sector employees with provident fund accounts; contributory pension for federal and public-sector staff appointed from 2076/77 | Anyone who opens a scheme; employers can run retirement funds for staff |
| Nature | Social security: insurance-style schemes plus old-age pension | Provident fund and contributory pension fund | Savings and investment schemes, including retirement and pension products |
| Contribution | 31% of basic salary in the formal sector (11% worker, 20% employer) | Set by the EPF Act and the employee’s service terms | Depends on the scheme you choose |
| Protection bundled in | Medical, maternity, accident, disability and dependent-family schemes | Medical reimbursement, accident, maternity, child care and funeral benefits, according to EPF | Mainly savings; CIT also runs a term life insurance product for public servants |
| Lifelong pension | Yes: pension account plus returns divided by 160 from age 60 | Contributory pension for covered public staff | Through its Citizen Pension Scheme |
SSF in brief
The SSF formal-sector contribution is 31% of basic salary. Under SSF’s operation procedure, 1.20% goes to medical, health and maternity, 0.80% to accident and disability, 0.67% to dependent family and 28.33% to old age, of which 20% goes to the pension account and 8.33% to the retirement benefit account.
To get a monthly pension you must be 60 with at least 180 months of contributions. If you reach 60 with fewer months, you choose between a lump sum and the pension.
SSF’s November 2025 press release dates the schemes: formal sector from 2075 Mangsir 11, foreign employment from 2079 Chaitra 8, informal and self-employed from 2080 Shrawan 31, and the public sector from 2082 Baisakh 1. It says 33 public institutions had joined, with others in progress.
EPF in brief
EPF describes itself as a statutory institution under the Employees Provident Fund Act 2019 BS that manages provident fund and contributory pension accounts for employees in government, public enterprises and the private sector. Under the Pension Fund Act 2075, EPF runs the contributory pension scheme for employees of the federal government and public institutions appointed from fiscal year 2076/77. EPF also says it is an approved retirement fund under the Income Tax Act 2058, so contributions qualify for tax deductions, and that it offers medical reimbursement, accident, maternity, child care and funeral benefits to its members.
CIT in brief
The Citizen Investment Trust’s website lists these schemes: the Employees Saving Growth Retirement Fund, a gratuity and pension fund, the Investor Retirement Fund Scheme, the Citizen Unit Scheme, the Citizen Pension Scheme, and term life insurance for public servants. CIT is mostly voluntary: you choose a scheme and how much to save, or your employer uses CIT to run a staff retirement fund.
Public-sector workers and SSF
SSF’s November 2025 press release says a notice in the Nepal Gazette brought all kinds of employees of public institutions, corporations, boards, authorities, committees and similar bodies, including permanent, temporary, contract and wage staff, into SSF, and that 33 public institutions had joined by then. The amended Social Security Act also now defines government service and says that, for people in government service or paid from government funds, the office concerned will deduct and deposit contributions as prescribed. If you work for a public body, ask your administration which fund your post belongs to.
So which one are you in?
- Private company employee: SSF is your system. Employers covered by the Act must list workers and deposit 31% of basic salary each month (is SSF mandatory?).
- Civil servant or public-sector employee: your provident fund and, if appointed from 2076/77, contributory pension are usually with EPF. Some public institutions have moved staff into SSF since 2082 Baisakh 1, so check your appointment terms.
- Self-employed or informal worker: SSF has dedicated schemes (self-employed guide).
- Anyone wanting extra savings: CIT schemes can sit on top of SSF or EPF.
Can you have all three?
Yes, it is common. A private-sector worker can be in SSF through the job and also save in a CIT scheme. A civil servant with EPF can run a side business and join SSF as self-employed. What you cannot do is enrol the same job in two funds for the same purpose: the job’s fund follows the law that covers it.
What happens to old provident fund money when you join SSF?
SSF’s operation procedure says workers with provident fund or gratuity built up before joining SSF can transfer it into SSF from a date set by the SSF board, under sections 52(5) and 53(5) of the Labour Act 2074. A worker who does not want to transfer can take the money personally or keep it in the existing retirement fund.
New in FY 2083/84, SSF’s Retirement Fund Procedure 2083 let retirement funds approved by the Inland Revenue Department, and running when the Finance Act 2082 started, join SSF by the end of Asar 2083 with a lump-sum transfer.
The real differences that matter
- Protection: SSF builds medical, accident and family cover into every contribution. EPF offers some benefits of its own. CIT is mainly a savings vehicle.
- Longevity: an SSF pension continues for life. A lump sum can run out.
- Access to money: CIT is usually the most flexible, EPF allows loans and withdrawals under its rules, and SSF is designed to stay locked until retirement.
- Tax: the Finance Bill 2083 says the 1% first-band income tax is not charged on individuals who contribute to SSF. EPF and approved retirement funds offer deductions on contributions. Limits change with each Finance Act (tax deductions in FY 2083/84).
Need help with SSF registration, KYC or claims?
Digital Solution helps with SSF registration, KYC updates, contribution records and claim documents, online and step by step. SSF सम्बन्धी काममा सहयोग चाहिए सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस्।
Frequently asked questions
Is SSF the same as सञ्चय कोष?
No. सञ्चय कोष is the Employees Provident Fund, which manages provident fund and contributory pension accounts. SSF is the separate contribution-based social security fund created under the Social Security Act 2074.
Can a private company choose EPF instead of SSF?
Coverage follows the law, not the employer’s preference. Employers covered by the Social Security Act must list their workers with SSF. Ask SSF how existing provident fund arrangements are treated.
Which fund gives better returns?
They are different products, so compare carefully. SSF’s credited return was 7.5% for 2080/81 according to its annual report, and lower after that (SSF interest rate). EPF and CIT announce their own rates.
I moved from a government job to a private job. What happens?
Your EPF balance stays with EPF under its rules, and your new private job enrols you in SSF. The two accounts do not merge automatically.
Do I need CIT if I am already in SSF?
Not necessarily. CIT is optional. Some people use it as an extra, more flexible savings layer on top of SSF.
Conclusion
SSF is the social security system for private, informal, self-employed and migrant workers, EPF manages provident funds and contributory pensions mainly for public-sector staff, and CIT offers voluntary savings and retirement schemes. Know which one your job puts you in, keep that account healthy, and use the others only if they fit your goals.
Sources
- Social Security Fund, Contribution-based Social Security Act 2074 (as amended in 2082): https://ssf.gov.np/list/act_regulation/contribution-based-social-security-act-2074
- Social Security Fund, Social Security Scheme Operation Procedure 2075 with fifth amendment: https://ssf.gov.np/list/act_regulation/social-security-operation-procedure-2075-with-5th-ammendment
- Social Security Fund, Press release on Social Security Day 2082 (27 November 2025): https://ssf.gov.np/list/press_release/press-release
- Social Security Fund, Retirement Fund (Operation and Management) Procedure 2083: https://ssf.gov.np/list/act_regulation/retirement-fund-operation-and-management-procedure-2083
- Social Security Fund, Annual report 2080/81: https://ssf.gov.np/list/annual-reports/annual-report-2080-81
- Employees Provident Fund, About us (accessed 20 October 2026): https://epf.org.np/about-us
- Citizen Investment Trust, Schemes and programmes (accessed 20 October 2026): https://nlk.org.np/page/schemes-programs
- Ministry of Finance, Finance Bill 2083: https://mof.gov.np/content/1742/economic-bill–2083/
Digital Solution Pvt. Ltd. is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with SSF, EPF or CIT; confirm rules for your account with the fund concerned (SSF: ssf.gov.np, hotline 1116).
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
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