NPS Charges 2026: Account Opening, PoP, CRA and Fund Fees
Short answer: signing up, planning and tracking on PensionBox is free. When you invest in NPS through PensionBox, the Point of Presence (PoP) charges allowed by PFRDA apply: a one-time onboarding charge for a new account (₹200 standard, ₹100 for fully digital onboarding, as shown on PensionBox) and 0.20% a year of the money in your account, plus 18% GST. There is no PoP charge on each contribution. Separately, every NPS All Citizen account also pays small CRA and pension fund charges, which are set by PFRDA and collected by those intermediaries.
PoP charges from 1 October 2026 — at a glance
| PoP charge | Amount | How it is collected |
|---|---|---|
| One-time onboarding (new account) | ₹200 standard. ₹100 for fully digital onboarding, as shown on PensionBox | Collected by the CRA by cancelling units, in quarterly instalments (the ₹200 is described as ₹50 a quarter), and paid to the PoP after the quarter in which you were onboarded |
| Annual charge | 0.20% a year of the money in your account | Adjusted through the NAV and paid to the PoP every quarter |
| Each contribution (SIP or one-time) | No PoP charge | – |
| Dormant account | No annual charge | Dormant means no contribution for four quarters in a row, counted across all your NPS accounts under the same PAN |
| Withdrawal or exit | No PoP charge | The 2026 circular has no exit charge |
Additionally, a GST of 18% is levied on these charges.
These are the charges a PoP can collect under PFRDA circular PFRDA/2026/46/REG-POP/08, dated 28 August 2026. PensionBox works as a technology platform and partner with Zerodha Broking Ltd, the PoP, as a pension agent under the PFRDA (Point of Presence) Regulations. PFRDA allows a reduced ₹100 onboarding charge when an account is opened fully digitally, without any face-to-face meeting. Accounts opened on PensionBox are fully digital, and the onboarding charge shown when you sign up is ₹100.
CRA and pension fund charges (separate from PoP charges)
Every NPS All Citizen account, wherever it is opened, also pays these charges. They are not PoP charges. Check a scheme’s fee before you invest.
| Who charges it | Charge | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CRA (Protean, KFintech or CAMS, whichever keeps your account) | Account (PRAN) opening | ₹35 to ₹40, one time |
| CRA | Annual account maintenance | ₹57.63 to ₹69 a year |
| CRA | Each transaction, including contributions | ₹3.36 to ₹3.75 |
| Pension fund manager | Investment management fee | 0.04% to 0.12% a year for the standard schemes, depending on the fund’s size. Schemes launched under the Multiple Scheme Framework can charge up to 0.30% a year |
| NPS Trust | Expense reimbursement | 0.003% a year |
CRA charges are deducted from your account by the CRA by cancelling units. Fund manager and NPS Trust charges are built into the NAV, so you don’t pay them separately. Figures are as listed by NPS Trust on its Charges under NPS page (October 2026), before GST, and can change; your CRA’s website has the latest.
What PensionBox itself charges
| Service | Charge |
|---|---|
| Signing up, retirement planning and tracking an existing NPS account | Free |
| Contributing to NPS through PensionBox | No PensionBox fee. Only the charges above apply |
| Withdrawing from your NPS Tier II account on PensionBox | No exit fee |
| PF assistance: merging or transferring PF, PF withdrawal, advance claims, data correction, two-UAN cases | ₹500 to ₹5,000 depending on the case, plus 18% GST. You see the exact amount before you pay |
| Call request for PF help | Free |
How much will I pay in PoP charges? A worked example
Let’s assume you open a new NPS account through PensionBox and it holds ₹50,000.
| First year | From the second year | |
|---|---|---|
| One-time onboarding charge | ₹100 | – |
| Annual charge (0.20% of ₹50,000) | ₹100 (₹25 a quarter) | ₹100 (₹25 a quarter) |
| GST (18%) | ₹36 | ₹18 |
| PoP charges, total | ₹236 | ₹118 |
The annual charge moves with the value of your account: if it holds ₹1,00,000, it is ₹200 a year (₹50 a quarter), plus GST. CRA and pension fund charges are over and above these amounts.
Other rules worth knowing
- Minimum contribution: ₹250 when the account is opened, and ₹10 for every contribution after that.
- NPS Tier II account: the same 0.20% annual charge applies. There is no separate charge for opening it.
- eNPS accounts: if you opened your account directly on eNPS and contribute through eNPS or D-Remit, no PoP charges apply. If your account was opened through a PoP, PoP charges apply even when you later contribute through eNPS or D-Remit.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a charge every time I contribute to NPS?
There is no PoP charge on a contribution. The CRA does charge a small amount per transaction (₹3.36 to ₹3.75, depending on the CRA), which it deducts from your account.
Why is the onboarding charge ₹100 and not ₹200?
PFRDA sets ₹200 as the standard one-time onboarding charge. It allows a reduced ₹100 when the account is opened fully online, without a face-to-face meeting. Accounts opened on PensionBox are fully digital, and the onboarding charge shown when you sign up is ₹100.
Do I pay the annual PoP charge if I stop contributing?
If no contribution is made for four quarters in a row (counted across all your NPS accounts under the same PAN), the account is treated as dormant and the annual PoP charge is not taken while it stays dormant.
Is GST included in these charges?
No. 18% GST is added on top of the PoP charges, and taxes also apply on top of the CRA charges.
Our transparency policy
We want you to know exactly what you pay before you invest. PensionBox does not charge a fee on NPS contributions; the only charges are the regulatory PoP, CRA and pension fund charges listed above, and the fee for PF assistance, which you see before you pay.
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PensionBox simplifies the National Pension System(NPS), the government's pension scheme for private employees both for retail users and HRs/companies.
If you don’t have an NPS account, you can simply open your pension account within 2 minutes and if you have NPS PRAN already, you will be able track, invest and manage everything free of charge with best user experience.
We never touch or hold your money directly, your investments go safely to your chosen pension fund through approved channels.
We are built with Zerodha as POP , ensuring transparency, data security, and peace of mind. Your retirement savings are protected by regulation and secured by technology.
That’s why, PensionBox brings transparency, zero charges, timely support and freedom to select any pension fund so that you get the best experience investing in NPS & be better future ready.
That’s not it, we help you & your company together to maximise contribution and tax savings with minimal charges & best user experience.
If you are an existing zerodha user then you get a fast login or sign up using kite ID.
Once you are onboarded with kite ID, you get free access to
- Open NPS in 2 minutes
- Track existing NPS
- POP shift or CRA shifting
- Invest in one time or create SIP in NPS
- Withdraw NPS requests & instant withdraw tier 2
- Create your dream retirement plan
- Open NPS Vatsalya for your kid
- Share with HR (To unlock more tax benefits)
- Employer Contribution:
- Contributions made by your employer to your NPS account are tax-free up to 14% of your basic salary under Section 80CCD(2). Do connect us with your HR to enable this for you.
Tax Benefits in Old Tax Regime - Self-Contribution:
- Deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh under Section 80C.
- Additional deduction of ₹50,000 under Section 80CCD(1B) — exclusive to NPS investments!
- This allows you to claim a total deduction of up to ₹2 lakh every year on your NPS contributions.
- Employer Contribution:
- Contributions made by your employer to your NPS account are tax-free up to 10% of your basic salary (Basic + DA) under Section 80CCD(2). Do connect us with your HR to enable this for you.
- This is over and above your personal deduction limits, giving you extra tax efficiency.
Feel free to book a free call to learn more about NPS, NPS Vatsalya, Corporate NPS & PensionBox or contact the support team.
