PPF Calculator
See exactly how your Public Provident Fund deposits compound into a government-guaranteed, tax-free corpus — year by year over 15 to 50 years.
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Deposits vs Interest
Total Deposits
₹7.50L (55%)
Interest Earned
₹6.06L (45%)
Your PPF maturity after 15 years
₹13.56L
81% wealth gained on your deposits
Total Deposited
₹7.50L
Interest Earned
₹6.06L
Maturity Amount
₹13.56L
Corpus Growth
Wealth ProjectionYearly Breakdown
| Year | Deposited | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Yr 1 | ₹50,000 | ₹53,550 |
| Yr 2 | ₹1.00L | ₹1.11L |
| Yr 3 | ₹1.50L | ₹1.72L |
| Yr 4 | ₹2.00L | ₹2.38L |
| Yr 5 | ₹2.50L | ₹3.09L |
| Yr 6 | ₹3.00L | ₹3.84L |
| Yr 7 | ₹3.50L | ₹4.65L |
| Yr 8 | ₹4.00L | ₹5.51L |
| Yr 9 | ₹4.50L | ₹6.44L |
| Yr 10 | ₹5.00L | ₹7.43L |
| Yr 11 | ₹5.50L | ₹8.50L |
| Yr 12 | ₹6.00L | ₹9.64L |
| Yr 13 | ₹6.50L | ₹10.86L |
| Yr 14 | ₹7.00L | ₹12.16L |
| Yr 15 | ₹7.50L | ₹13.56L |
What Is the Public Provident Fund?
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is India's most trusted long-term savings scheme, backed by the Government of India and regulated by the Ministry of Finance. Unlike EPF, PPF is open to every Indian citizen — salaried employees, self-employed professionals, freelancers, and homemakers alike. You can open a PPF account at any post office or designated bank branch with as little as ₹500 per year.
PPF carries the coveted EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) tax status — your deposits qualify for Section 80C deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh per year, the interest earned at the current PPF interest rate of 7.1% per annum is completely tax-free, and the entire maturity corpus is tax-free on withdrawal. No court attachment order can touch your PPF balance either, making it one of the safest wealth-building instruments available in India. Use our PPF calculator to see exactly how your deposits compound over 15 to 50 years.
How PPF Interest and Compounding Work
Annual deposit: You deposit between ₹500 and ₹1,50,000 per financial year into your PPF account in up to 12 instalments.
Interest calculation: PPF interest is calculated on the minimum balance between the 5th and last day of each month — deposit before the 5th to maximise every month's interest.
Year-end crediting: Interest is credited to your account at the end of each financial year (31 March), and itself earns interest in subsequent years — true compounding.
15-year lock-in: Your PPF account matures after 15 full financial years. Early withdrawal is not permitted except for specific medical and educational emergencies after year 7.
Extension in blocks of 5 years: After 15 years you can extend indefinitely in 5-year blocks — with or without fresh deposits — letting compounding at PPF interest rate continue tax-free.
Why PPF Is India's Safest Tax-Free Investment
EEE Tax Status — Triple Exemption
Section 80C deduction on deposits, zero tax on interest earned, and the full PPF maturity amount is tax-free. No other government-backed instrument matches this.
Government Guarantee — Zero Default Risk
PPF is a sovereign instrument. Your principal and interest are backed by the Government of India — it cannot default, unlike corporate FDs or bonds.
7.1% Tax-Free Returns
The current PPF interest rate of 7.1% p.a. is tax-free. A bank FD at 7.5% in the 30% tax bracket yields only 5.25% post-tax — PPF beats it by 185 basis points net.
Open to All — Not Just Salaried
Self-employed professionals, freelancers, and homemakers with no EPF access can build a government-backed retirement corpus through PPF.
Loan Against PPF Balance
From year 3 to year 6 you can take a loan against your PPF balance at a nominal 1% interest rate — useful liquidity without breaking long-term compounding.
Attachment-Proof Savings
PPF balances are protected under the PPF Act — they cannot be seized by courts or creditors, making them ideal for business owners managing financial risk.
Who Should Use This PPF Calculator?
Self-employed professionals and freelancers who have no access to EPF and need a government-backed, tax-free alternative for long-term retirement savings.
Salaried employees who have maxed out their EPF contributions and want additional Section 80C savings at a guaranteed, tax-free rate above post-tax FD returns.
Parents opening a PPF account in a minor child's name — starting at birth gives a 15-year PPF maturity corpus ready exactly when higher education costs arrive.
Risk-averse savers who want zero market risk and zero default risk with better post-tax returns than bank fixed deposits — the PPF interest rate of 7.1% beats most FD rates after tax.
Business owners and entrepreneurs who want an attachment-proof savings vehicle that courts and creditors cannot seize, providing a secure personal financial foundation.
How to Use This PPF Calculator
Enter your Yearly Investment Amount — how much you plan to deposit each financial year. Maximum is ₹1.5 lakh per year. Enter your actual planned amount for the most accurate projection.
Set the PPF Interest Rate — defaults to 7.1% (current government rate). Adjust down to 6.5% for a conservative estimate or up if you expect the rate to rise.
Choose your Investment Duration — minimum 15 years (PPF lock-in). Use 20, 25, or 30 years to see how the extension blocks dramatically accelerate your corpus.
Read your results — maturity amount, total interest earned, year-by-year growth chart, and the deposits vs interest split appear instantly.
Smart Strategies to Maximise Your PPF Corpus
Deposit Before the 5th of Every Month
PPF interest is calculated on the minimum balance between the 5th and last day of the month. Depositing your annual amount as a lump sum before April 5th means you earn interest for all 12 months that year — depositing on April 6th costs you one full month of interest on the entire amount.
Always Extend — Never Let It Lapse
The 15-year maturity is just the starting line, not the finish line. Extending for two 5-year blocks (to year 25) can roughly triple your corpus compared to closing at year 15. The government guarantee continues, the tax-free status continues, and compounding accelerates on a much larger base.
Open One Account per Family Member
You can contribute up to ₹1.5 lakh per year to your own account. You can also open a PPF account in your minor child's name — but the ₹1.5 lakh limit is shared across both accounts combined. A spouse can open their own independent account with a separate ₹1.5 lakh limit, doubling your family's Section 80C PPF capacity.
Use PPF as the Risk-Free Anchor of Your Portfolio
PPF delivers 7.1% tax-free with zero market risk and zero credit risk — equivalent to a pre-tax return of ~10% for someone in the 30% bracket. Pair it with equity mutual funds for growth: let PPF be your guaranteed floor while equities aim for alpha above it.
Partial Withdrawal Is Available from Year 7
After completing 6 full financial years, you can withdraw up to 50% of the balance at the end of the 4th preceding year. This partial withdrawal is tax-free and doesn't close your account — giving you emergency liquidity without sacrificing long-term compounding.
Frequently Asked Questions about PPF
Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a government-backed long-term savings scheme open to all Indian citizens. You deposit between ₹500 and ₹1.5 lakh per financial year, earn a government-declared interest rate (currently 7.1%), and the account matures after 15 years. Interest is compounded annually and credited to your account at the end of each financial year. The entire maturity corpus — principal plus all interest — is completely tax-free under the EEE regime.
Disclaimer: These tools provide estimates based on the inputs provided. Results are for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Please consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized guidance.