How to Calculate PPF Maturity Amount
Estimate your PPF returns in 4 simple steps.
Annual Investment
Enter the amount you plan to invest each year (max ₹1.5 Lakh).
Interest Rate
Enter the current PPF interest rate (currently 7.1% for 2026).
Tenure
Set the investment period (minimum 15 years, extendable in 5-year blocks).
View Results
See your total investment, interest earned, and maturity amount with year-wise breakdown.
What does this tool do?
This free PPF Calculator helps you estimate the maturity amount and total interest earned on your Public Provident Fund (PPF) investment in India. PPF is a government-backed, tax-free savings scheme with a 15-year lock-in period. It offers EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) tax benefits — your contribution qualifies for Section 80C deduction, the interest earned is tax-free, and the maturity amount is also tax-free. Enter your annual investment amount, current PPF interest rate, and tenure to see year-by-year growth and final corpus value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is PPF interest calculated?
PPF interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of each month, and compounded annually. This means deposits made before the 5th of any month earn interest for that entire month. The current PPF interest rate is 7.1% per annum (2026).
What is the maximum PPF investment per year?
The maximum deposit allowed in a PPF account is ₹1.5 Lakh per financial year. The minimum deposit required is ₹500 per year to keep the account active. You can make deposits in lump sum or up to 12 installments per year.
Is PPF interest tax-free?
Yes. PPF enjoys EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) tax status. Your contribution up to ₹1.5 Lakh qualifies for Section 80C deduction, the interest earned is completely tax-free, and the maturity amount is also fully tax-exempt.
What is the PPF lock-in period?
PPF has a mandatory lock-in period of 15 years from the date of account opening. After 15 years, you can either withdraw the full amount or extend the account in blocks of 5 years (with or without contributions).
Can I withdraw money from PPF before maturity?
Partial withdrawal is allowed from the 7th financial year onwards. You can withdraw up to 50% of the balance at the end of the 4th year or the preceding year, whichever is lower. Complete premature closure is allowed only under specific conditions like serious illness.
How much will I get if I invest ₹1.5 lakh per year in PPF?
If you invest the maximum ₹1.5 Lakh per year for 15 years at the current rate of 7.1%, your total investment of ₹22.5 Lakh will grow to approximately ₹40.7 Lakh at maturity — earning about ₹18.2 Lakh in tax-free interest.
Can I have more than one PPF account?
No. An individual can hold only one PPF account. Having multiple accounts is not allowed under PPF rules. If a second account is discovered, it will be merged with the primary account or closed.
Is PPF better than Fixed Deposit?
PPF offers tax-free returns with EEE benefit, while FD interest is fully taxable. At 7.1% tax-free, PPF's effective return is equivalent to about 10% pre-tax return for someone in the 30% tax bracket. However, FD offers more liquidity with shorter lock-in periods.
Can NRIs open a PPF account?
No. NRIs cannot open new PPF accounts. However, if you had a PPF account before becoming an NRI, you can continue it until maturity (15 years) but cannot extend it beyond that.
Is this PPF calculator free?
Yes. This calculator is completely free, requires no sign-up, and works on all devices. All calculations are performed locally in your browser.
Mastering the Public Provident Fund (PPF)
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is India's most popular long-term savings scheme. Backed by the Government of India, it offers absolute capital safety and guaranteed tax-free returns. Whether you are building a retirement corpus, saving for your child's education, or aiming for long-term wealth, this guide covers everything you need to know about PPF calculation, rules, and withdrawal strategies.
The "5th of the Month" Rule
PPF interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th day and the last day of the month. If you deposit money on the 6th, that deposit will not earn interest for the current month.
To maximize your returns: Always make your monthly contributions between the 1st and the 5th of the month. If making a lump-sum annual investment (up to ₹1.5 Lakh), deposit it before April 5th of the financial year to earn interest on the full amount for the entire year.
Key PPF Guidelines
- 15-Year MaturityCan be extended indefinitely in blocks of 5 years.
- Deposit LimitsMinimum ₹500/year. Maximum ₹1,50,000/year.
- EEE Tax StatusExempt on Investment (80C), Interest, and Maturity.
How is PPF Interest Calculated?
While PPF interest is compounded annually and credited to your account on March 31st every year, the calculation actually happens on a monthly basis.
The formula for calculating PPF maturity is based on the compound interest formula:
F = P × [((1 + i)^n - 1) / i]
- F = Maturity Value
- P = Annual Instalment
- n = Number of years (15)
- i = Interest rate (7.1% / 100)
Historical PPF Rates
| Period | Interest Rate |
|---|---|
| 2020 - Present | 7.10% |
| 2019 - 2020 | 7.90% |
| 2018 - 2019 | 8.00% |
| 2017 - 2018 | 7.60% |
| 2016 - 2017 | 8.10% |
PPF vs Fixed Deposit (FD)
Investors often compare Public Provident Fund and Bank Fixed Deposits. While FDs offer flexibility in tenure, PPF wins on tax efficiency and long-term compounding. Here is a detailed comparison:
| Feature | PPF | Fixed Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Exemption | EEE (Exempt on Investment, Interest, Maturity) | Taxable (TDS applicable on interest) |
| Interest Rate | Floating (Govt determined quarterly) | Fixed at the time of booking |
| Lock-in Period | 15 Years | 7 days to 10 years (Tax Saving FD is 5 years) |
| Risk Level | Zero Risk (Sovereign Guarantee) | Very Low Risk (DICGC insured up to ₹5 Lakh) |
| Loan Facility | Available from 3rd to 6th financial year | Available (Overdraft against FD) |
| Premature Closure | Allowed after 5 years under strict conditions | Allowed (with penalty) |
Withdrawals, Loans & Extension Rules
Loan Facility
You can take a loan against your PPF balance between the 3rd and 6th financial year of opening the account.
The maximum loan amount is 25% of the balance at the end of the second year preceding the year of application.
Partial Withdrawals
Partial withdrawals are allowed from the 7th financial year onwards. You can withdraw once every year.
You can withdraw up to 50% of the balance at the end of the 4th preceding year, or 50% of the balance at the end of the immediate preceding year, whichever is lower.
Extension Post 15 Years
Upon maturity after 15 years, you have three options: close the account, extend it without contributions (earning interest), or extend it with contributions.
Extensions happen in blocks of 5 years indefinitely.
