February is one of the most compliance-heavy months for Indian employers. Multiple annual returns, professional tax remittances, and labour law filings fall due across states under the Minimum Wages Act, Contract Labour Act, Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, Payment of Wages Act, and allied laws.
Missing even a single due date can invite penalties, inspections, and audit observations. This blog presents a state-wise compliance calendar for February 2026, helping employers, HR teams, and compliance professionals stay on track.
Why February 2026 is Critical for Employers
- High volume of annual and unified returns
- Multiple Contract Labour & ISMW Act filings
- Professional Tax remittances across states
- Factories Act & Shops Act annual returns
- Increased scrutiny during year-end audits
Proactive planning is essential to avoid last-minute compliance risks.
Compliance Calendar – February 2026 (Key State-wise Due Dates)
State-wise Labour Law Compliances
| State | Due Date | Applicable Act | Compliance / Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 10 Feb | PT Act, 1987 | Monthly PT Remittance & Return (Form V) |
| 15 Feb | ISMW Act, 1979 | Annual Return (Form XXVIII) | |
| Gujarat | 01 Feb | Minimum Wages Act, 1948 | Unified Annual Return (Form III) |
| 01 Feb | Factories Act, 1948 | Annual Return (Form 24) | |
| 15 Feb | Contract Labour Act, 1970 | Annual Return (Form XXV) | |
| 15 Feb | Payment of Wages Act, 1936 | Annual Return (Form IV) | |
| Haryana | 01 Feb | Minimum Wages Act, 1948 | Annual Return (Form III) |
| 15 Feb | Contract Labour Act, 1970 | Annual Return (Form XXI) | |
| Kerala | 05 Feb | Shops Welfare Fund Act | Monthly Contribution (Form 5 & 6) |
| 15 Feb | CLRA Act, 1970 | Annual Return (Form XXV) | |
| 15 Feb | ISMW Act, 1979 | Annual Return (Form XXIV) | |
| Maharashtra | 01 Feb | Shops & Establishments Act, 2017 | Annual Return (Form R) |
| 15 Feb | Contract Labour Act, 1970 | Annual Return (Form XXI) | |
| 29 Feb | PT Act, 1975 | Monthly PT Return & Remittance (Form IIIB) | |
| West Bengal | 01 Feb | Minimum Wages Act, 1948 | Unified Annual Return (Form III) |
| 15 Feb | EPF Act, 1952 | Monthly PF Contribution | |
| 15 Feb | ESI Act, 1948 | Monthly ESIC Contribution | |
| Tamil Nadu | 01 Feb | Minimum Wages Act, 1948 | Annual Return (Form III) |
| 15 Feb | CLRA Act, 1970 | Annual Return (Form XXV) | |
| 15 Feb | ISMW Act, 1979 | Annual Return (Form XXIV) | |
| Punjab | 29 Feb | Punjab State Development Tax Act | Monthly PT Return (Form PSDT-8) |
| Delhi | 01 Feb | Payment of Wages Act, 1936 | Annual Return (Form IV) |
| 01 Feb | Minimum Wages Act, 1948 | Annual Return (Form III) |
Source: Compliance Calendar – February 2026 02-2026 Compliance Calendar Feb…
Common Labour Laws Triggering February Returns
- Minimum Wages Act, 1948
- Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970
- Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979
- Payment of Wages Act, 1936
- Factories Act, 1948
- State Professional Tax Acts
- ESIC & EPF monthly compliances
Who Should Pay Special Attention?
✔ Factories & manufacturing units
✔ Establishments engaging contract labour
✔ Multi-state employers
✔ HR & payroll teams
✔ Compliance and audit professionals
Compliance Risks of Missing February Deadlines
- Monetary penalties
- Labour inspections
- Show-cause notices
- Audit non-conformities
- Loss of statutory compliance score
How Sankhla Corporate Services Can Help
At Sankhla Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd., we support employers with:
- ✔ State-wise labour law compliance tracking
- ✔ Annual & unified return filing
- ✔ Contract Labour & ISMW compliance
- ✔ PT, PF & ESIC end-to-end support
- ✔ Audit-ready documentation
Stay compliant. Stay protected.
Conclusion
February 2026 is a high-risk compliance month. A structured compliance calendar and expert support can help employers avoid penalties and ensure peace of mind.
Bookmark this Compliance calendar and plan filings well in advance.
