PPF Calculator
Public Provident Fund — 15-year lock-in, tax-free interest, sovereign-backed. Enter your yearly deposit and see exactly what matures, year by year.
Your deposits
PPF matures at 15 years. After that it extends only in blocks of 5 years.
Result
Assumes one deposit made at the start of each financial year and a constant rate. The government revises the PPF rate quarterly, so real returns will vary.
Year-by-year balance
| Year | Opening | Deposit | Interest | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
How PPF interest is calculated
Closing balance = (Opening balance + Deposit) × (1 + r)
Interest compounds annually, not monthly — that is what makes PPF slower than it looks in year one and dramatically faster in year twelve. In practice the department credits interest on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of each month, so depositing before the 5th of April earns you a full extra year of interest on that instalment.
Why PPF still matters
- EEE tax status — the deposit qualifies under Section 80C, the interest is tax-free, and the maturity amount is tax-free. Very few Indian instruments do all three.
- Sovereign backing — the return is not market-linked, so it does not fall in a bad year.
- Creditor protection — a PPF balance cannot be attached under a court decree for debt.
The trade-off is liquidity. Partial withdrawal is allowed only from year 7, and a loan against the balance only between years 3 and 6. Treat PPF as the fixed-income anchor of a portfolio, not as an emergency fund.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I deposit in PPF every year?
Minimum ₹500 and maximum ₹1,50,000 per financial year, across all PPF accounts you hold (including one opened for a minor child). Deposits above the ceiling earn no interest and are simply returned. You can pay in one lump sum or in up to 12 instalments.
What is the current PPF interest rate?
The Ministry of Finance revises small-savings rates every quarter. PPF has ranged between roughly 7.1% and 8% over the last decade. The calculator pre-fills the current rate, but you can change it to model a different assumption — over a 15-year term the rate will almost certainly change several times.
When can I withdraw from PPF?
Full withdrawal is allowed only at maturity, after 15 completed financial years. Partial withdrawal is permitted from the 7th year, capped at 50% of the balance at the end of the 4th preceding year. A loan against the balance is available between years 3 and 6. Premature closure is allowed only for serious illness, higher education or a change of residence status.
Is PPF interest really tax-free?
Yes. PPF has EEE (exempt-exempt-exempt) status: the deposit qualifies for deduction under Section 80C, the annual interest is exempt, and the maturity amount is exempt. Note that the 80C deduction is only available under the old tax regime.
What happens after 15 years?
You can withdraw everything, or extend in blocks of 5 years — with or without further contributions. If you extend with contributions you must submit Form H within one year of maturity. If you simply leave the account alone, it keeps earning interest and you may withdraw once a year.
Track your PPF alongside everything else.
Money Track's Assets module keeps PPF, EPF, FDs and mutual funds in one net-worth roll-up.
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