PPF Calculator
Enter annual contribution and tenure to calculate your PPF maturity value, total interest earned tax-free, and the 80C tax savings over the full investment period.
PPF Calculator
Calculate Public Provident Fund maturity value with annual contributions — tax-free on all three counts.
| Year | Contribution | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yr 1 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹10,650 | ₹1.61 L |
| Yr 2 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹22,056 | ₹3.33 L |
| Yr 3 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹34,272 | ₹5.17 L |
| Yr 4 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹47,355 | ₹7.14 L |
| Yr 5 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹61,368 | ₹9.26 L |
| Yr 6 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹76,375 | ₹11.52 L |
| Yr 7 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹92,447 | ₹13.95 L |
| Yr 8 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,09,661 | ₹16.54 L |
| Yr 9 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,28,097 | ₹19.32 L |
| Yr 10 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,47,842 | ₹22.30 L |
| Yr 11 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,68,989 | ₹25.49 L |
| Yr 12 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,91,637 | ₹28.91 L |
| Yr 13 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹2,15,893 | ₹32.57 L |
| Yr 14 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹2,41,872 | ₹36.49 L |
| Yr 15 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹2,69,695 | ₹40.68 L |
About PPF Calculator
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is one of the few truly risk-free, tax-free, government-backed long-term savings instruments available to Indian residents. It is classified as EEE — Exempt-Exempt-Exempt: your annual contribution is deductible under Section 80C (up to ₹1.5 lakh per year), the interest earned is completely tax-free, and the maturity amount is also exempt from tax. No other comparable instrument — not FDs, not debt mutual funds, not NPS — offers all three exemptions simultaneously.
The PPF interest rate is set by the central government on a quarterly basis, though it has remained at 7.1% since April 2020. Historically, PPF rates ranged from 8% to 12% in the 1980s–90s and were around 8%–8.7% through the 2000s. The current 7.1% is near historical lows but still competitive with post-tax returns from FDs (a 7% FD taxed at 30% gives only 4.9% post-tax — versus PPF's tax-free 7.1%). The government reviews PPF rates quarterly, so the actual rate over your 15-year tenure will vary from today's rate.
The lock-in rules of PPF are strict: the mandatory minimum tenure is 15 financial years (counted from the year of account opening, not the date of first deposit). After 15 years, you can either close the account and withdraw everything or extend it in blocks of 5 years each — 20 years, 25 years, and so on. During the extended period, you can continue making contributions (with or without contributions, as you choose). Many wealth advisors recommend extending the PPF for 5–10 extra years after the initial 15, as the compounding in later years is far more powerful than in early years.
PPF deposits can be made in a lump sum or in up to 12 installments per year. To maximize interest earnings, deposit before April 5 every year — PPF interest is calculated on the minimum balance between the 5th and last day of each month. If you deposit ₹1.5 lakh before April 5, you earn interest on the full ₹1.5 lakh for the entire April month. If you deposit after April 5, you forfeit April's interest on that amount. Over 15 years, this timing difference can add ₹30,000–₹50,000 to your maturity value.
How to Use the PPF Calculator
Set your annual investment — the amount you plan to invest in PPF each year. The statutory maximum is ₹1,50,000 per year. The minimum is ₹500 per year (accounts with no minimum deposit become inactive).
Adjust the PPF rate if needed — the current government rate is 7.1%. You can model scenarios with higher (8%–9%) or lower (6%–6.5%) rates to see how rate changes affect your maturity value.
Choose the tenure — 15 years (mandatory minimum), 20 years (1 extension block), or 25 years (2 extension blocks). The maturity value roughly doubles between 15 and 25 years due to compounding.
Read the results — total maturity value, total invested, interest earned, estimated 80C tax savings (at 30% slab), and wealth multiplier (maturity ÷ total invested).
Check the year-wise table — track how your PPF balance builds year by year. Notice how interest earned accelerates in later years as the compounding base grows.
Pro Tips
PPF interest is computed on the minimum balance between the 5th and last day of each month. By depositing your ₹1.5L before April 5, you earn interest on the full amount for all 12 months of that year. Depositing after April 5 means you lose April's interest on your fresh contribution — ₹1.5L × 7.1% ÷ 12 = ₹887.50 lost for one late deposit. Over 15 years, this adds up.
The real wealth in PPF accumulates in years 15–25. At ₹1.5L/year at 7.1%: 15-year maturity ≈ ₹40.7L. 20-year maturity ≈ ₹66.6L. 25-year maturity ≈ ₹1.03Cr. The extra 10 years add ₹63 lakhs — more than the 15-year total — because the compounding base is now massive.
Parents can open PPF accounts in the name of minor children (at post offices or nationalised banks). The combined limit of ₹1.5L/year applies per adult guardian — the guardian's own PPF plus the minor's PPF together cannot exceed ₹1.5L. However, once the child turns 18, they become the account holder and can invest their own ₹1.5L/year independently. Starting at birth gives 18+ years of head start before the child even begins their own investments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PPF and who can open an account?
The Public Provident Fund is a long-term savings scheme backed by the Government of India, launched in 1968. Any Indian resident individual can open a PPF account — salaried employees, self-employed, and retired individuals are all eligible. NRIs are not eligible to open new PPF accounts, though existing accounts opened before becoming an NRI can be maintained until maturity (but cannot be extended). Accounts can be opened at any nationalised bank (SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, etc.), selected private banks (ICICI, Axis), or Post Office. Only one PPF account per individual is allowed. Joint accounts are not permitted.
Can I take a loan against my PPF balance?
Yes. PPF allows loans from the 3rd year to the 6th year of the account. The loan amount can be up to 25% of the balance at the end of the 2nd year preceding the loan year. The loan must be repaid within 36 months. The interest rate on PPF loans is 1% above the PPF deposit rate — currently 8.1%. After year 6, you cannot take loans but can make partial withdrawals instead. Partial withdrawals are allowed from year 7 onwards: up to 50% of the balance at the end of the 4th year or the previous year, whichever is lower.
How does the PPF interest calculation work?
PPF interest is calculated monthly on the minimum balance between the 5th day and the last day of each month, but credited to the account only once a year — at the end of the financial year (March 31). The formula: monthly interest = minimum monthly balance × annual rate ÷ 12. All monthly interest amounts are summed and credited in March. This is why depositing before April 5 is critical — your deposit earns interest for the full April month. If you deposit on April 6, you miss April's interest on that amount entirely, because the minimum balance for April is calculated based on what was in the account on April 5.
What happens at maturity after 15 years?
At the end of 15 financial years, you have three choices: (1) Full withdrawal and account closure — receive the entire maturity amount tax-free. (2) Extension with contributions — continue investing up to ₹1.5L/year for another 5 years (20 years total), earning 7.1% on the growing balance. (3) Extension without contributions — keep the balance in the PPF, earn 7.1% interest on the existing balance, make no new deposits, and withdraw at any time during the extension. Option 3 is often underrated — your large 15-year corpus continues compounding tax-free without any mandatory action.
Is PPF better than ELSS for 80C investments?
They serve different risk-return profiles. ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme) has a 3-year lock-in and has historically returned 12%–16% p.a. over long periods — significantly more than PPF's 7.1%. ELSS gains above ₹1.25L/year are taxed at 12.5% LTCG. PPF offers a guaranteed 7.1% (risk-free, government-backed) with complete tax exemption. For young investors (20–35) with 15+ year horizons, ELSS is typically superior for wealth creation. For conservative investors, retirees, or those with 100% capital protection requirements, PPF is ideal. The optimal 80C strategy for most people: split ₹1.5L between ELSS (for growth) and PPF (for stability).
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