PPF Calculator — Public Provident Fund Calculator India FY 2026-27
Calculate PPF maturity value, interest earned, and year-wise returns at 7.1% interest rate. Updated for FY 2026-27. Includes year-wise breakdown, tax saving estimate, and EEE tax status explained.
How to Use This PPF Calculator — 4 Steps
What is PPF (Public Provident Fund)?
Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a government-sponsored long-term savings and investment scheme introduced in India in 1968. Governed by the PPF Scheme 2019 (which replaced the original PPF Scheme, 1968), it is operated through designated post offices and most public and private sector banks. The scheme is backed by the Government of India, making it one of the safest investment instruments in the country with zero credit risk.
PPF stands apart from most other fixed-income instruments because of its EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) tax status — contributions are tax-deductible under Section 80C, annual interest is tax-free, and the entire maturity amount is tax-free. This triple tax exemption, combined with compound interest over 15+ years, makes PPF one of the most tax-efficient wealth-building tools available to salaried employees and self-employed individuals in India.
Who typically uses PPF? PPF is most popular among risk-averse investors who want guaranteed, inflation-beating, tax-free returns without market exposure. It is particularly valuable for: (1) salaried employees who want to complement their EPF with additional tax-free savings, (2) self-employed professionals and freelancers who don't have access to EPF, (3) parents building a corpus for a child's education or marriage, and (4) investors approaching retirement who want a guaranteed, government-backed savings component.
The power of 15-year compounding. At 7.1% annual interest, ₹1,50,000 invested each year for 15 years grows to approximately ₹40.68 lakh — of which ₹22.5 lakh is your own investment and ₹18.18 lakh is pure interest. That's a growth of 1.81x. If you extend for another 5 years (20 years total), the corpus grows to roughly ₹66 lakh — a 2.9x growth on the same ₹30 lakh invested. This exponential growth in the later years is the hallmark of long-term compound interest.
PPF and the deposit-before-5th rule. PPF interest is calculated monthly on the lowest balance between the 5th and last day of each month. Depositing your annual ₹1,50,000 before April 5 ensures you earn interest on the full amount for April. Depositing on April 6 means you earn zero interest for April. Over 15 years, this discipline can meaningfully improve your final corpus through compounding — making timing one of the simplest ways to optimise your PPF returns.
PPF Interest Rate History — 2012 to 2026
The Ministry of Finance revises PPF interest rates quarterly, though rates have historically remained stable for extended periods. The current rate of 7.1% has been unchanged since April 2020 — over 6 years. Before that, rates were as high as 8.8% in 2012-13. Understanding this history helps set realistic expectations for long-term planning.
| Period | Interest Rate |
|---|---|
| Apr 2026 – Jun 2026Current | 7.1% |
| Apr 2020 – Mar 20266 years unchanged | 7.1% |
| Oct 2019 – Mar 2020 | 7.9% |
| Jul 2019 – Sep 2019 | 7.9% |
| Apr 2019 – Jun 2019 | 8.0% |
| Oct 2018 – Mar 2019 | 8.0% |
| Apr 2018 – Sep 2018 | 7.6% |
| Jan 2018 – Mar 2018 | 7.6% |
| Jul 2017 – Dec 2017 | 7.8% |
| Apr 2017 – Jun 2017 | 7.9% |
| Apr 2016 – Mar 2017 | 8.1% |
| Apr 2015 – Mar 2016 | 8.7% |
| Apr 2014 – Mar 2015 | 8.7% |
| Apr 2013 – Mar 2014 | 8.7% |
| Apr 2012 – Mar 2013 | 8.8% |
Source: Ministry of Finance, Government of India notifications. Rates are per annum.
PPF Calculation Formula Explained
The PPF maturity formula for a lump sum annual deposit is based on compound interest:
Our calculator uses year-by-year iteration (opening balance → add deposit → compute interest → get closing balance) which gives identical results and is easier to verify. The year-by-year approach also lets us show you exactly how much interest you earn each year — not just the final total.
Note on monthly vs annual compounding. The actual PPF scheme calculates interest on the lowest balance between the 5th and last day of each month, credited annually. Our calculator (like all major PPF calculators) uses annual compounding for clarity. The difference between the two methods is less than 0.5% of the final corpus — negligible for planning purposes.
PPF Tax Benefits — EEE Status Explained
Deposits up to ₹1,50,000/year are fully deductible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. At the 30% slab, this saves ₹46,800 in taxes annually (including cess). Available only under the old tax regime.
The annual interest credited to your PPF account is completely exempt from income tax under Section 10(11). Unlike FD interest which is taxable, PPF interest never enters your taxable income — in any year, under any regime.
The entire maturity amount — both principal and accumulated interest — is tax-free when withdrawn. No capital gains tax, no TDS, nothing. ₹40+ lakh received at maturity is 100% in your hands.
PPF Withdrawal & Loan Rules
🏦 Loan Against PPF (Years 3–6)
Loans are available from the 3rd financial year to the end of the 6th financial year.
Maximum loan: 25% of the balance at the end of the 2nd year preceding the year of application.
Interest rate: 1% above PPF rate (currently 8.1%).
Repayment: Within 36 months. Failure to repay in time increases rate to 6% above PPF rate.
Frequency: Second loan available only after first is fully repaid, and within the loan window.
💸 Partial Withdrawal (From Year 7)
Partial withdrawals are allowed from the 7th financial year onwards.
Maximum amount: Lower of: (a) 50% of balance at end of Year 4, or (b) 50% of balance at end of the preceding year.
Frequency: Only once per financial year.
Tax: Withdrawal amount is completely tax-free.
Note: Withdrawn amount does not reduce your future ₹1,50,000 deposit limit.
PPF Account Extension After 15 Years
At the end of the 15-year lock-in, your PPF account does not automatically close. You have a full year after the maturity date to decide what to do. Your three options:
Withdraw & Close
Withdraw the entire corpus tax-free and close the account. If you need the funds or have better investment opportunities, this is straightforward. You can always open a new PPF account after closing.
Extend with Deposits
Submit Form H within 1 year of maturity. Continue making deposits of ₹500–₹1,50,000 annually for the next 5 years. Interest continues at prevailing PPF rate. One partial withdrawal per year allowed. Most tax-efficient option if you don't need the money.
Extend without Deposits
Do nothing — the account automatically extends without contributions. The existing corpus continues to earn interest at the PPF rate. No fresh deposits needed. One withdrawal per year (full amount can be withdrawn with no restrictions on minimum). Ideal if you want a safe parking for existing wealth.
PPF vs FD vs NPS vs ELSS — Full Comparison
PPF is not the right choice for everyone. The comparison below shows when PPF wins and when alternatives may be better for your specific situation and risk tolerance.
| Feature | PPF | Bank FD | NPS | ELSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interest/Returns | 7.1% (fixed) | 6–7% (fixed) | 8–12% (market) | 12–15% (market) |
| Lock-in Period | 15 years | 5 years (tax-saving) | Till age 60 | 3 years |
| Tax on Investment | 80C (₹1.5L) | 80C (₹1.5L) | 80C + 80CCD(1B) extra ₹50K | 80C (₹1.5L) |
| Tax on Returns | Tax-free | Fully taxable | Partially taxable | LTCG above ₹1.25L @ 12.5% |
| Tax on Maturity | Tax-free | Taxable | 60% free, 40% annuity taxable | Taxable |
| Tax Status | EEE ✅ | EET | EET (partial) | EET |
| Risk | Zero (Govt) | Very Low | Medium–High | High |
| Min Investment | ₹500/year | ₹1,000–₹10,000 | ₹500/month | ₹500 (SIP) |
| Max Investment | ₹1,50,000/year | No limit | No limit | No limit |
| Best For | Risk-averse, long-term | Short–medium term | Retirement | Wealth creation |
PPF Deposit Strategy — Maximise Your Returns
The single most impactful strategy to optimise PPF returns is the "deposit before the 5th" rule. PPF interest is computed on the minimum balance in your account between the 5th and the last day of each month. This means:
Lump sum vs monthly deposits: A lump sum deposit before April 5 is always better than spreading across 12 months, because the full amount earns 12 months of interest. However, if you don't have the full ₹1,50,000 available in April, monthly deposits are perfectly fine — the difference is smaller than most people assume.
Setting up a SIP for PPF: Some banks allow automatic monthly transfers to PPF. If you can automate this, set it for the 1st or 2nd of each month to ensure it reaches your PPF account by the 5th. This is the most practical approach for salaried employees who receive monthly salaries.
Who Can Open a PPF Account?
✅ Eligible
- →Indian residents (citizens)
- →Salaried employees (private and government)
- →Self-employed professionals and freelancers
- →Homemakers with income from any source
- →Parents/guardians opening accounts for minor children
- →Individuals with existing EPF accounts (PPF is additional)
❌ Not Eligible
- ×Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) — cannot open new accounts
- ×HUFs (Hindu Undivided Families) — since 2005
- ×Trusts and other entities
- ×Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and OCIs
- ×Existing account holders (only one account per individual)
PPF Calculator — 15 Frequently Asked Questions
What is PPF (Public Provident Fund)?
What is the current PPF interest rate in 2026?
How is PPF interest calculated?
What is the PPF maturity period?
Can I extend my PPF account after 15 years?
What is the minimum and maximum deposit in PPF?
What are the tax benefits of PPF?
When can I withdraw money from PPF?
Can I take a loan against my PPF account?
What happens if I don't deposit the minimum ₹500 in a year?
Can NRIs open a PPF account?
Is PPF better than Fixed Deposit?
What is the best time to deposit money in PPF?
Can I open more than one PPF account?
Is PPF interest taxable under the new tax regime?
How does the PPF calculator work?
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This PPF calculator runs entirely in your browser using React state. Your investment figures are never sent to any server. PPF rates and rules verified against the PPF Scheme 2019, Ministry of Finance notifications, and Income Tax Act provisions as of FY 2026-27.