✓ Verified — May 2026 statutory framing · As of 11 May 2026(build). Informed by PIB & Ministry of Labour notifications where the latest ingest includes them.Verified for 2026 by SaaS Compliance Research Team

Last verified for May 2026

Viewed onMay 10, 2026Updated on Data refresh10 May 2026

May 2026 statutory rules — comparison matrix

Editorial audit flags for this hub (not legal advice). Hover a cell for the audit note when present. Regenerate content to refresh rows after schema updates.

Rule	Met
Wage Code — Basic ≥ 50% of CTCSalary structure alignment (framework-dependent).	No
§17(2) — exit / F&F wage timeline48-hour / statutory full-and-final posture in vendor materials.	No
Income Tax Act 2025 — reportingEmployer payroll reporting & digital trust hooks.	No
Maharashtra 50% wage impactState wage-structure narrative for Maharashtra hubs.	No

50% Wage Rule Compliance Checker

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Enter annual figures only (₹ per year). Where the framework applies, Basic should be at least 50% of total annual CTC. Illustrative—not payroll or legal advice.

Total CTC (annual ₹)

Basic pay (annual ₹)

Compliant

Basic meets or exceeds 50% of annual CTC on these numbers.

Live comparison matrix

Six products side-by-side — GST e-invoicing, state PT, ESI/PF, and pricing signals for Maharashtra.

Feature comparison for 6 payroll tools in Maharashtra: GST e-invoicing, state PT, ESI and PF, and pricing clarity
Product	GST e-invoicing	PT automation (state-specific)	ESI / PF filing	Pricing
Zoho	Yes	No or verify with vendor	No or verify with vendor	No or verify with vendor
Keka	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
greytHR	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
RazorpayX Payroll	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Darwinbox	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Akrivia HCM	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Shorthand for Maharashtrabuyers — confirm features and pricing on each vendor’s official site and in trial.

Maharashtra · Construction

Best Construction Software in Maharashtra

361 words · keyword: Best Construction Software in Maharashtra

Expert verdict

For Maharashtra construction firms, selecting HR and payroll software demands rigorous scrutiny of its ability to meet the April 2026 statutory mandates, including the 50% Basic salary rule and expedited F&F settlements. Vendors must demonstrate clear compliance pathways for state-specific regulations and the Income Tax Act 2025 reporting requirements.

Product deep-dive

Side-by-side view for buyers. Logos are placeholders; links may include sponsored tracking. Route purchases via your security and finance review.

Official logo

Zoho

Localization 4/10

Zoho's broad suite offers potential for integrated HR and payroll functions, but specific adherence to Maharashtra's 50% Basic wage rule and the 48-hour F&F settlement mandate requires direct confirmation. Its general compliance claims need granular verification for the construction sector.

Key tech: Offers a comprehensive suite of business applications, potentially allowing for integration with payroll.

Special note for Maharashtra

State PT: verify slabs for your entity in Maharashtra.

Pros

Offers a comprehensive suite of business applications, potentially allowing for integration with payroll.
Known for its user-friendly interface and accessibility.
Provides a platform for managing various business operations.

Cons

Specific details on handling Maharashtra's 50% Basic wage rule are not evident in public materials.
No explicit mention of Section 17(2) F&F settlement timelines or contractor compliance for construction.

Pricing signal: Indicative per-employee or module pricing — confirm on the official site.

Visit site

Official logo

Keka

Localization 6/10

Keka positions itself strongly on payroll compliance across all states, but detailed confirmation of its configuration for Maharashtra's 50% Basic wage rule and the 48-hour F&F settlement is essential. Its broad compliance claims warrant deeper due diligence for the construction sector's specific needs.

Key tech: Claims to handle rules across all 50 states, suggesting a robust compliance framework.

Special note for Maharashtra

Map PT registration + challan calendar for Maharashtra.

Pros

Claims to handle rules across all 50 states, suggesting a robust compliance framework.
Offers payroll automation with a focus on timely payments and compliance.
Provides features for employee onboarding and document management, relevant for construction.

Cons

Public materials do not specifically address the 50% Basic wage impact for Maharashtra or the 48-hour F&F settlement.
Contractor payment compliance for the construction sector is not explicitly detailed.

Pricing signal: Indicative per-employee or module pricing — confirm on the official site.

Visit site

Official logo

greytHR

Localization 7/10

greytHR explicitly mentions addressing the 50% Wage Rule and offers extensive reporting capabilities, aligning with Income Tax Act 2025 expectations. However, direct confirmation on the 48-hour F&F settlement and specific contractor compliance for Maharashtra's construction sector is required for full assurance.

Key tech: Explicitly references the '50% Wage Rule Explained' in its materials, suggesting awareness of this mandate.

Special note for Maharashtra

Confirm ESI/PF edge cases and PT with vendor + CA for Maharashtra.

Pros

Explicitly references the '50% Wage Rule Explained' in its materials, suggesting awareness of this mandate.
Offers comprehensive reporting, potentially supporting Income Tax Act 2025 requirements.
Strong focus on payroll compliance and automation for timely checkouts.

Cons

No explicit mention of the 48-hour mandate for full-and-final settlements.
Specific handling of contractor payments and compliance within the construction sector is not detailed.

Pricing signal: Indicative per-employee or module pricing — confirm on the official site.

Visit site

Official logo

RazorpayX Payroll

Business banking–adjacent payroll narrative for Indian entities; suits teams already on Razorpay rails.

Key tech: Strong when finance already standardises on Razorpay

Special note for Maharashtra

Map PT + labour filings for Maharashtra against RazorpayX payroll scope on vendor docs.

Pros

Strong when finance already standardises on Razorpay
Modern automation story for payouts and vendor bills
Clear India GTM alongside payment products

Cons

Depth vs dedicated HCM suites needs buyer diligence
Statutory edge cases: confirm with payroll specialists
Best fit when banking + payroll consolidation is a goal

Pricing signal: Indicative per-employee or module pricing — confirm on the official site.

Visit site

Official logo

Darwinbox

Enterprise HR cloud with payroll and compliance modules for distributed workforces.

Key tech: Scales to complex org design and policies

Special note for Maharashtra

Validate PT, LWF, and state rules for Maharashtra in your Darwinbox contract scope.

Pros

Scales to complex org design and policies
Employee experience and mobile apps emphasized
Configurable compliance for multi-country firms

Cons

Enterprise deals are typically longer-cycle
India statutory detail varies by module rollout
Integration planning with finance stack is key

Pricing signal: Indicative per-employee or module pricing — confirm on the official site.

Visit site

Official logo

Akrivia HCM

HCM platform with India payroll and statutory automation positioning for mid-market.

Key tech: India-centric compliance messaging

Special note for Maharashtra

Confirm slab updates and filing calendars for Maharashtra on Akrivia's roadmap.

Pros

India-centric compliance messaging
Mid-market friendly packaging vs global megavendors
Configurable pay structures for wage-code debates

Cons

Brand footprint smaller than category leaders—reference customers matter
API / integration depth: confirm for your stack
State nuances require joint sign-off with vendor PS

Pricing signal: Indicative per-employee or module pricing — confirm on the official site.

Visit site

Ops compliance checklist

For Maharashtra · Construction (general guidance, not a substitute for professional sign-off).

Map Professional Tax, TDS, and PF/ESI touchpoints to your payroll run calendar in Maharashtra.
For Maharashtra construction: contractor ledgers, site rolls, and labour-welfare / BOCW-aligned pay evidence trails.
Before connecting HR to Slack, Jira, finance, or POS, map data flow and have vendor DPA/NDA in place.
Keep auditable challans, return filings, and integration logs for HR–finance data flows.
Clarify SEZ, STPI, or other location-based positions with a qualified tax advisor (context: Maharashtra).

In-depth analysis

Scroll with the table of contents. Insights reference typical Maharashtra payroll patterns—treat as prompts for validation, not legal fact.

Jump to

Navigating Maharashtra Construction Payroll Compliance: An April 2026 Audit Perspective

For businesses operating in Maharashtra's construction sector, robust payroll and labour-compliance software is not merely an operational tool but a critical safeguard against statutory penalties. The complexities of Indian labour laws, particularly concerning wage structures, employee exits, and state-specific regulations, demand software solutions that are not only efficient but also demonstrably compliant with the latest legal frameworks. As of April 2026, a primary focus for statutory auditors and procurement experts is ensuring that software solutions can accurately manage the 50% Basic salary component mandated by the Wage Code, which directly impacts provident fund (PF) and gratuity calculations. Failure to configure payroll systems to adhere to this CTC split can lead to significant under-declarations and subsequent liabilities.

Furthermore, the full-and-final (F&F) settlement process for exiting employees is under increased scrutiny. Section 17(2) of labour law dictates timely disbursement of all dues. Our audit framework stresses the importance of software that facilitates an expedited settlement, ideally within a 48-hour window, to align with the spirit of this provision. For Maharashtra, specific attention must be paid to the 50% wage impact on CTC configurations, ensuring that software settings reflect this requirement. While the research does not explicitly detail the Karnataka PT (Amendment) Act 2026, any vendor claiming pan-India coverage must demonstrate its ability to adapt to such state-level legislative nuances. The Income Tax Act 2025 also introduces enhanced employer reporting obligations, making digital trust and accurate data management for deductions and proof-of-investment paramount. Software must therefore possess capabilities to support these digital reporting mandates.

Automation versus manual risk is a stark dichotomy in this context. Manual ESI, PF, and Professional Tax (PT) calculations are prone to human error, leading to non-compliance. For construction projects, managing contractor payments and compliance adds another layer of complexity that requires specialized handling. The transition from manual processes to integrated software solutions mitigates these risks, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to legal mandates, including the critical Section 17(2) F&F timeline.

Category Technical Maturity: 8/10. The market offers sophisticated HR and payroll solutions, but deep statutory integration, particularly for niche sectors like construction in specific states, requires rigorous validation.

How we compared these tools

The matrix and cards reflect public product claims, help-center depth, and our editorial review—not a statutory audit. We look for the same levers a buyer should: can payroll handle India statutory pillars end-to-end, and how painful is the path to correct remittance, proofs, and exports?

Security & data handling
We prefer vendors that are explicit about data residency, access controls, and audit logs—especially for salary and KYC.
Localization (India + state context)
India payroll is a blend of Center and state rules. We score how well each product explains PT/ LWF/ state-specific nudges vs generic global HR.
Ease of use for admins and employees
Bulk edits, off-cycle runs, and employee self-serve (mobile) reduce support load—important at 200+ people.