India PPF · 7.1% (current quarter) · Tax-free (EEE) maturity & 80C
PPF Calculator
Calculate your Public Provident Fund maturity and tax-free interest at the current 7.1% rate — with yearly or monthly deposits, the 80C tax you save, and exactly when you cross ₹1 crore.
₹1,50,000/year (limit ₹1,50,000).
Current PPF rate: 7.1% (set quarterly by the govt).
15-year lock-in, then extend in 5-year blocks.
Maturity value
100% tax-free₹40,68,209
You invest ₹22,50,000 and earn ₹18,18,209 in interest over 15 years — and pay zero tax on any of it.
Invested
₹22.50L
Interest (tax-free)
₹18.18L
Maturity
₹40.68L
PPF's tax superpower
Tax-equivalent FD rate: a 7.1% tax-free PPF is like a taxable FD paying 10.14% for you — because you keep all of it.
80C tax saved: your ₹1,50,000 contribution cuts this year's tax by ₹46,800 at 30% + cess (old regime only).
Loan available
Years 3–6
Partial withdrawal
From year 7
₹1 crore
Extend / raise deposit
Year-by-year growth
| Year | Invested | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ₹1,50,000 | ₹10,650 | ₹1,60,650 |
| 2 | ₹3,00,000 | ₹32,706 | ₹3,32,706 |
| 3 | ₹4,50,000 | ₹66,978 | ₹5,16,978 |
| 4 | ₹6,00,000 | ₹1,14,334 | ₹7,14,334 |
| 5 | ₹7,50,000 | ₹1,75,701 | ₹9,25,701 |
| 6 | ₹9,00,000 | ₹2,52,076 | ₹11,52,076 |
| 7 | ₹10,50,000 | ₹3,44,524 | ₹13,94,524 |
| 8 | ₹12,00,000 | ₹4,54,185 | ₹16,54,185 |
| 9 | ₹13,50,000 | ₹5,82,282 | ₹19,32,282 |
| 10 | ₹15,00,000 | ₹7,30,124 | ₹22,30,124 |
| 11 | ₹16,50,000 | ₹8,99,113 | ₹25,49,113 |
| 12 | ₹18,00,000 | ₹10,90,750 | ₹28,90,750 |
| 13 | ₹19,50,000 | ₹13,06,643 | ₹32,56,643 |
| 14 | ₹21,00,000 | ₹15,48,515 | ₹36,48,515 |
| 15 | ₹22,50,000 | ₹18,18,209 | ₹40,68,209 |
PPF interest is 7.1% p.a. (set quarterly by the government), compounded annually on the minimum balance between the 5th and last day of each month — so deposit before the 5th to earn that month. Contributions are capped at ₹1,50,000a year (minimum ₹500). PPF is EEE: contributions qualify for Section 80C up to ₹1.5L (old regime only), and both the interest and maturity are fully tax-free. The 15-year term can be extended in 5-year blocks. Monthly figures assume an equal deposit before the 5th each month. Confirm the current rate at nsiindia.gov.in. General information, not financial advice.
Why PPF is the quiet workhorse of Indian savings
The Public Provident Fund is a 15-year, government-backed savings scheme that pays a fixed, quarterly-set rate — 7.1% right now — compounded annually. What makes it special isn't the rate; it's the tax treatment. PPF is one of the very few EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) instruments in India: your contribution is deductible under Section 80C, the interest is tax-free every year, and the entire maturity amount is tax-free too. That triple exemption is why a 7.1% PPF quietly out-earns a higher-headline-rate FD for anyone in a real tax bracket — and this calculator makes that comparison visible instead of hiding it behind a single gross number.
The tax-equivalent rate that changes everything
Here's the insight bank calculators leave out. Because PPF returns are completely tax-free, you should compare them to a taxable option on an after-tax basis. For a 30%-slab investor, a 7.1% tax-free PPF is equivalent to a taxable fixed deposit paying about 10.1% — a rate almost no safe instrument offers. On top of that, the contribution itself saves you up to ₹46,800 in tax a year through the 80C deduction (at the 30% slab on ₹1.5 lakh). The calculator shows both numbers — your tax-equivalent FD rate and your 80C saving — so you can judge PPF against your other choices honestly.
How to actually reach ₹1 crore
"PPF crorepati" isn't a myth — it's just patience plus the maximum deposit. Put in the full ₹1,50,000 a year at 7.1% and your balance crosses ₹1 crore at around year 25, which means taking the account past its first 15 years and extending it in 5-year blocks. The reason it works is tax-free compounding: in the final stretch, the annual interest alone can exceed your ₹1.5 lakh contribution. The three rules are simple — contribute the maximum, deposit before the 5th of each month so every month earns interest, and never let the account lapse. Slide the tenure above to watch exactly when your line crosses a crore.
Monthly vs yearly, and the 5th-of-the-month rule
PPF interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and the last day of each month. The practical consequence is real money: a deposit made on the 6th earns nothing for that month, while the same deposit on the 4th earns a full month's interest. If you invest a lump sum, putting it in before 5 April earns the most for the year. If you invest monthly, deposit before the 5th every month. The calculator lets you model both yearly and monthly contributions — a yearly lump sum deposited early slightly beats the same total spread monthly, because more of your money is earning interest sooner.
Liquidity: loans and partial withdrawals
PPF's 15-year lock-in scares some savers off, but it's more flexible than it looks. Between years 3 and 6 you can take a loan against your balance at a low rate. From year 7you can make one partial withdrawal a year (up to 50% of the balance at the end of the fourth preceding year). And premature closure is allowed in genuine hardship cases — serious medical treatment, higher education, or becoming an NRI — with a small interest penalty. So while PPF rewards leaving the money alone, you're not completely locked out if life intervenes.
Worked example: ₹1,50,000 a year for 15 years
The growth. Invest the maximum ₹1,50,000 every year at 7.1% for the full 15-year term. You contribute ₹22.5 lakh in total, and it grows to about ₹40,68,209 — roughly ₹18.18 lakh of interest, every rupee of it tax-free.
The tax angle. Each year that ₹1.5 lakh also cuts your tax bill by up to ₹46,800 (at the 30% slab) through Section 80C — so the government effectively subsidises your saving on the way in, and never taxes it on the way out. Compared with a taxable FD, that 7.1% tax-free rate is like earning 10.1% pre-tax.
Going for the crore. Keep going past 15 years — extend in 5-year blocks and keep depositing ₹1.5 lakh — and your PPF crosses ₹1 crore at around year 25, then keeps compounding tax-free. Change the contribution, rate or tenure above and the maturity, the 80C saving and the crore milestone all update instantly.
Frequently asked questions
How much will I have in PPF after 15 years?
It depends on your yearly contribution. Investing the maximum ₹1,50,000 a year for 15 years at the current 7.1% rate grows to about ₹40,68,209 — of which roughly ₹18.18 lakh is tax-free interest on ₹22.5 lakh invested. At ₹1,00,000 a year you'd have about ₹27.12 lakh, and at ₹50,000 a year about ₹13.56 lakh. Because PPF compounds annually and the maturity is completely tax-free, the effective return beats most taxable options. Enter your own amount above for an exact figure.
How can I make ₹1 crore in PPF?
By contributing the maximum and extending the account. Investing ₹1,50,000 every year at 7.1%, your PPF crosses ₹1 crore in about 25 years — so beyond the initial 15-year term you extend it in 5-year blocks (two extensions). The maths is powerful because all the interest is tax-free and compounds annually: in the later years the interest alone can exceed your contribution. Start early, always deposit before the 5th of the month, and never skip a year, and the ₹1 crore target is very reachable. Use the tenure slider above to see the year you cross it.
Is PPF better than FD?
For long-term, safe money, usually yes — because of tax. A fixed deposit's interest is taxed at your slab, so a 7% FD is really about 4.9% after tax for a 30%-slab investor. PPF's 7.1% is completely tax-free, which is equivalent to earning about 10.1% in a taxable FD for the same investor — plus the contribution earns an 80C deduction. The trade-offs: PPF has a 15-year lock-in and a ₹1.5L annual cap, while FDs are flexible and liquid. For an emergency fund use an FD; for long-term tax-free wealth, PPF is hard to beat.
Is PPF better than SIP in mutual funds?
They do different jobs. PPF is debt — guaranteed, government-backed, tax-free, but capped at about 7% and locked for 15 years. An equity SIP is market-linked: historically higher long-term returns (often 10–12%+), but with volatility and no guarantee, and equity gains above ₹1.25 lakh a year are taxed at 12.5%. The grown-up answer is usually both: PPF for the safe, tax-free core of your portfolio and SIPs for long-term growth. Compare PPF's tax-free maturity here against potential SIP returns in our SIP calculator before deciding the split.
What is the maximum and minimum I can invest in PPF?
You must deposit at least ₹500 in a financial year to keep the account active, and you can invest up to ₹1,50,000 a year — this is a per-person limit that includes any account you run for a minor. You can deposit it as a single lump sum or across the year, but any amount above ₹1.5 lakh in a year earns no interest and isn't eligible for the 80C deduction, so there's no benefit to exceeding the cap. Depositing before the 5th of each month ensures that month counts for interest.
Can I withdraw money from PPF before 15 years?
Partly, yes. A PPF account has a 15-year lock-in, but partial withdrawals are allowed from the 7th year (one per year, capped at 50% of the balance at the end of the 4th preceding year). You can also take a loan against the balance between years 3 and 6. Full premature closure is permitted only in specific cases — serious illness, higher education, or a change in residency status — and with a small interest penalty. For genuine flexibility before then, the loan and partial-withdrawal options are the usual routes.
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