In an electric power steering apparatus, a steering torque is detected by a torque sensor, and a motor which generates steering assist power is controlled so that steering assist power is generated in accordance with basic assist torque which corresponds to the detected steering torque. The phase of the output signal of the torque sensor is caused to vary by a phase control element. The phase control characteristic of the phase control element is altered in accordance with the judgment results of a steering state judgment element as to whether the steering state is a return steering state or positive steering state, so that, in the frequency response characteristic of the output to input of the torque sensor, the gain at the higher frequency band where the frequency is greater than a set value is reduced in the return steering state in comparison to the positive steering state.