The Public Provident Fund is India's most popular government-backed long-term savings scheme. Contributions qualify for Section 80C deduction (up to ₹1.5 lakh/year), interest is compounded annually and fully tax-free, and the maturity amount is exempt from income tax. The account can be extended in 5-year blocks indefinitely after the initial 15-year period.
PPF interest is compounded annually and credited at the end of each financial year. The interest for a given month is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of that month — which is why depositing before the 5th of each month maximises your annual interest. The formula for PPF maturity amount is:
A = P × [((1 + i)n − 1) ÷ i]
where A = maturity amount, P = annual investment, i = annual interest rate, n = number of years.
After the mandatory 15-year lock-in, your PPF does not close automatically. You can extend the account in blocks of 5 years — indefinitely. In each extension block, you may continue making fresh deposits (and earn interest on them) or opt for a “no-deposit” mode where the existing corpus continues to compound without new contributions. The extension request must be submitted within one year of the maturity date.
| Feature | PPF | SSY | ELSS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest / Returns | 7.1% p.a. | 8.2% p.a. | 12%+ (market-linked) |
| Risk | None | None | Moderate–High |
| Lock-in | 15 years | 21 years | 3 years |
| Tax Benefit (80C) | Yes (EEE) | Yes (EEE) | Yes (returns taxable) |
| Who can invest | Anyone | Girl child (under 10) | Anyone |
You need four inputs: your PPF account opening date, current PPF balance, monthly contribution amount (max ₹12,500/month), and the date from which you will start contributing. The interest rate defaults to 7.1% p.a. (FY 2026-27) but can be changed.
PPF uses the future value of annuity formula: M = P × [(1+i)^n – 1] / i × (1+i), where P = annual contribution, i = annual interest rate (7.1%), and n = remaining years to maturity. Interest is compounded annually and credited on 31 March each year.
Yes. Enter your original account opening date and your current balance. The calculator will correctly compute the remaining tenure and maturity date (15 years from the opening date) and project your final corpus.
The government caps PPF deposits at ₹1.5 lakh per financial year (₹12,500/month). Excess deposits earn no interest and are returned without penalty. The 80C deduction is also limited to ₹1.5 lakh per year.
PPF offers fully tax-free maturity (EEE status) with government-guaranteed 7.1% returns and no market risk. NPS offers higher potential returns (10–12% historically for equity allocation) but only 60% of the corpus is tax-free at maturity and annuity income is taxable. PPF is better for capital safety; NPS for higher long-term growth.
Yes. PPF enjoys triple tax exemption (EEE status): contributions qualify for Section 80C deduction, interest earned is tax-free, and the entire maturity amount is exempt from income tax — including for NRIs holding existing accounts.
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Disclaimer: Returns are not guaranteed or assured. The calculator's accuracy is not warranted. Before making any investment decisions, please seek advice from your financial advisors.