PPF Calculator
See exactly what your Public Provident Fund will be worth at maturity. PPF is India's most tax-efficient risk-free savings vehicle — deposits qualify for Section 80C, interest is tax-free, and maturity is tax-free (the rare EEE category). The default rate (7.1%) matches the latest government notification.
Maturity amount
₹40,68,209
₹1,50,000/year · 7.10% for 15 years
- Total deposited
- ₹22,50,000
- Interest earned
- ₹18,18,209
Deposited vs interest earned
Growth over time
Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Opening | Deposit | Interest | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ₹0 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹10,650 | ₹1,60,650 |
| Year 2 | ₹1,60,650 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹22,056 | ₹3,32,706 |
| Year 3 | ₹3,32,706 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹34,272 | ₹5,16,978 |
| Year 4 | ₹5,16,978 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹47,355 | ₹7,14,334 |
| Year 5 | ₹7,14,334 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹61,368 | ₹9,25,701 |
| Year 6 | ₹9,25,701 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹76,375 | ₹11,52,076 |
| Year 7 | ₹11,52,076 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹92,447 | ₹13,94,524 |
| Year 8 | ₹13,94,524 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,09,661 | ₹16,54,185 |
| Year 9 | ₹16,54,185 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,28,097 | ₹19,32,282 |
| Year 10 | ₹19,32,282 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,47,842 | ₹22,30,124 |
| Year 11 | ₹22,30,124 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,68,989 | ₹25,49,113 |
| Year 12 | ₹25,49,113 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹1,91,637 | ₹28,90,750 |
| Year 13 | ₹28,90,750 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹2,15,893 | ₹32,56,643 |
| Year 14 | ₹32,56,643 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹2,41,872 | ₹36,48,515 |
| Year 15 | ₹36,48,515 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹2,69,695 | ₹40,68,209 |
How it works
PPF compounds annually. If you deposit at the start of the year, the standard closed-form is:
A = R × (1 + r) × ((1 + r)^N − 1) / r
R = annual deposit
r = annual interest rate (decimal: 7.1% → 0.071)
N = tenure in years (minimum 15)Real PPF interest is calculated on the minimum balance between the 5th and the last day of each month. The simplest way to maximise this is to deposit your annual contribution on or before April 5th — the full amount then earns interest for all 12 months. If you spread deposits through the year, each instalment only earns interest from the month following deposit.
Our calculator assumes start-of-year deposits, which matches the optimal strategy and what India Post / SBI / ClearTax PPF calculators show.
How to use
- Set your annual deposit (₹500 to ₹1,50,000). Most savers max it out at ₹1.5L for the full Section 80C benefit.
- Use the default rate of 7.1% — or override it to model what-ifs. Historical PPF rates have ranged from 7.1% to 12% since 1968.
- Pick a tenure. The legal minimum is 15 years; extending in 5-year blocks is where most of the long-term magic happens.
- Try a 25-year PPF: at ₹1.5L/year and 7.1%, you'll cross ₹1 crore — entirely tax-free. That's the power of EEE compounding.
- Compare the "deposited vs interest earned" donut. After 15 years interest typically equals deposits; after 25 years interest is 2-3× the deposits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current PPF interest rate?
The Public Provident Fund interest rate is set quarterly by the Ministry of Finance. The current rate is 7.1% per annum, compounded annually. The rate has been steady at 7.1% since April 2020. You can override the default rate above to model older or hypothetical scenarios.
How much can I deposit in PPF?
Minimum ₹500 per financial year, maximum ₹1.5 lakh per year (across all your PPF accounts combined — including those for minor children). You can deposit in lump sum or in instalments (up to 12 per year). Deposits beyond ₹1.5L don't earn interest and are returned without interest.
When should I deposit to maximise interest?
Interest in a PPF is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and last day of each month. To get full interest on a deposit, make it before the 5th of the month. The most-tax-efficient strategy is to deposit your full ₹1.5L on or before April 5th of each financial year — that way the entire amount earns interest for all 12 months. Our calculator assumes start-of-year deposits, matching this best practice.
Is PPF tax-free?
Yes. PPF qualifies for the most generous Indian tax treatment — EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt): (1) Deposits up to ₹1.5L qualify for Section 80C deduction (Old regime only), (2) Interest earned each year is tax-free, and (3) Maturity amount is tax-free. This makes it one of the best risk-free instruments in India for long-horizon savings.
Can I extend my PPF beyond 15 years?
Yes. After the 15-year maturity, you can extend the account in 5-year blocks indefinitely. You can extend with or without further contributions. With contributions, you can keep depositing up to ₹1.5L/year. Without contributions, the existing balance keeps earning interest tax-free. Extension is a strong option in retirement — most people don't realise how powerful continued compounding is at year 20+.
Can I withdraw or take a loan from PPF?
Loans: From year 3 to year 6, you can take a loan up to 25% of the balance at the end of year 2. Partial withdrawals: From year 7 onwards, you can withdraw up to 50% of the balance at the end of year 4 or the end of the previous year (whichever is lower), once per year. The full balance is only accessible at maturity (year 15) or in extension blocks.
PPF vs ELSS vs NPS — which is best?
All three qualify for Section 80C. PPF is risk-free and predictable (~7.1% guaranteed by GoI). ELSS is equity (12-15% expected long-run, but volatile, 3-year lock-in). NPS adds equity exposure plus an extra ₹50K deduction under 80CCD(1B), but locks money till 60. A balanced approach: max ELSS for growth, fill the rest with PPF for guaranteed compounding. PPF is also a great way to diversify away from market risk inside an otherwise equity-heavy portfolio.