PPF Calculator

PPF Calculator - Calculate Your Public Provident Fund Maturity

The Public Provident Fund, or PPF, is a government backed savings scheme where tax free interest compounds for at least 15 years. This calculator estimates what your account will be worth at maturity based on the amount you deposit each year and the applicable interest rate. It also takes into account an important detail that can affect your interest earnings: when your deposit is made during the month.

What Is PPF (Public Provident Fund)?

PPF is a long term savings account offered through post offices and banks and backed by the Government of India. It has EEE status, meaning the interest you earn and the maturity amount are tax free, while your deposits can qualify for a deduction under Section 80C if you file under the old tax regime.

The interest rate is set by the Finance Ministry and reviewed every quarter. It is 7.1% a year for the July to September 2026 quarter, where it has stayed since April 2020. The rate can change from one quarter to the next, so check the latest notification when planning your investment.

Unlike EPF, which is primarily built through employment based contributions, PPF is open to eligible resident Indian individuals, including self employed people and homemakers. If you are salaried, you can also compare your PPF savings with your EPF Calculator to see how the two accounts contribute to your long term savings.

What Are the 15-Year Lock-In and Extension Rules for PPF?

A PPF account matures 15 years after the end of the financial year in which you opened it, so the actual waiting period can be slightly longer than 15 years. Before maturity, you can borrow against the balance from the third to the sixth financial year. From the seventh financial year, you can make one partial withdrawal each year, subject to the applicable withdrawal limits.

At maturity, you generally have three choices. You can close the account and withdraw the full maturity amount. You can continue the account without making further deposits, in which case it continues to earn interest and allows withdrawals subject to the applicable rules. Alternatively, you can extend the account with deposits by submitting the prescribed form within the specified period after maturity. The applicable withdrawal limits depend on the extension option you choose.

As an illustration, depositing Rs 1.5 lakh a year for 15 years at 7.1%, with each deposit made before 5 April, builds roughly Rs 40.7 lakh from Rs 22.5 lakh deposited. If the amount is then left untouched for another 10 years and the rate remains at 7.1%, it could grow to around Rs 80.8 lakh. The interest rate is reviewed quarterly, so treat these figures as estimates.

What Are the Minimum and Maximum Yearly PPF Investment Limits?

You can deposit a minimum of Rs 500 and a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh in a financial year. The Rs 1.5 lakh limit applies to the total deposits made in your own PPF account and accounts opened on behalf of a minor where you are the guardian.

The amount deposited above the applicable annual limit does not qualify for PPF interest or tax benefits. The Rs 1.5 lakh limit under Section 80C is also shared with other eligible investments and payments such as EPF, life insurance premiums and ELSS.

PPF provides a government backed return, while ELSS is market linked and has a different risk and lock in structure. If you want to compare the two, our ELSS funds module and ELSS funds guide explain how ELSS works.

Why Does Investing Before the 5th of the Month Matter for PPF?

PPF interest is calculated every month based on the lowest balance in the account between the 5th and the last day of that month, and the interest is credited annually. A deposit made after the 5th generally does not contribute to the balance used for calculating that month's interest, so the deposit starts earning interest from the following month.

For example, one month's interest on Rs 1.5 lakh at 7.1% is Rs 887.50. A deposit made on 4 April could therefore earn approximately Rs 10,650 over the following year, while the same deposit made on 6 April could earn approximately Rs 9,763, assuming the rate remains unchanged. The difference is about Rs 888.

If you invest monthly, the same principle applies to each deposit. Making contributions before the 5th can help ensure the amount is included when interest is calculated for that month. If you make one annual deposit, the beginning of April is particularly relevant.

PPF is one of several small savings schemes whose rates are reviewed by the government every quarter. If you are saving for a daughter's education or marriage, you can also explore our Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Calculator to understand how that scheme works.

FAQs

How is PPF maturity amount calculated?

PPF interest is calculated each month based on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of the month and is credited annually. The calculator applies the assumed interest rate to your deposits over the investment period and estimates the balance at maturity. Since the PPF interest rate can be revised every quarter, the calculated maturity amount is an estimate.

What is the current PPF interest rate?

The PPF interest rate is 7.1% a year for the July to September 2026 quarter and has remained unchanged since April 2020. The government reviews small savings interest rates every quarter, so check the latest notification before making long term calculations.

Can I extend my PPF account after 15 years?

Yes. A PPF account can be extended in blocks of five years. You can continue the account without making new deposits and continue to earn interest, subject to the applicable rules. If you want to continue making deposits, you need to submit the prescribed form within the specified period after maturity. The withdrawal rules depend on the extension option selected.

Why does investing before the 5th of the month matter?

PPF interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and the end of the month. A deposit made after the 5th generally does not earn interest for that month. For example, at an assumed 7.1% rate, missing the cutoff on a Rs 1.5 lakh deposit could mean approximately Rs 888 less interest for that year.