About the PPF Calculator
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a government-backed long-term savings scheme with a 15-year lock-in, available at post offices and most banks. This PPF calculator projects the maturity value of your account, the total you deposit and the interest earned, with a year-wise table that shows how the balance builds up over the full tenure, including five-year extensions.
PPF is widely used by self-employed professionals, business owners and salaried people who want a safe, long-term component in their savings, often alongside EPF or as a substitute for it. Because deposits, interest and maturity proceeds have enjoyed favourable tax treatment, it is also a common tax-planning tool. The calculator shows what a steady yearly deposit becomes over 15 years or more.
The outcome depends on the yearly deposit, the interest rate and the tenure. The rate is notified by the government every quarter, so the actual figure will vary over the life of the account; the rate field is editable for that reason. Interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the fifth and the last day of each month, so depositing early in the financial year earns more.
How to use it
- 1Enter the amount you will deposit each year, between ₹500 and ₹1,50,000.
- 2Check the interest rate and edit it if the notified rate has changed.
- 3Choose the tenure: 15 years, or longer in blocks of five years.
- 4Read the maturity value and open the year-wise table to follow the balance.
How this is calculated
Closing balance for a year = (opening balance + deposit for the year) × (1 + r) r = PPF interest rate ÷ 100. The deposit is assumed to be made at the start of each financial year, so it earns interest for the full year, and interest is compounded annually. Repeating this for every year gives the maturity value: M = D × [((1 + r)^n − 1) ÷ r] × (1 + r), where D = yearly deposit and n = number of years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current PPF interest rate?
The PPF rate is notified by the Ministry of Finance every quarter along with other small savings schemes, so it can change. The calculator is pre-filled with a recent rate, but you should check the current rate on the National Savings Institute website or with your bank, and edit the field if it has changed.
How much can I deposit in PPF in a year?
The scheme sets a minimum and a maximum deposit for each financial year, currently ₹500 and ₹1,50,000, and deposits can be made in a lump sum or in instalments. These limits are set by the government and may be revised. Amounts deposited above the maximum do not earn interest.
Why should I deposit before the 5th of April?
PPF interest for a month is calculated on the lowest balance between the fifth and the last day of that month. A deposit made on or before 5 April earns interest for the whole financial year. The calculator assumes this, so deposits made later in the year, or monthly, will earn slightly less than shown.
Can I extend my PPF account after 15 years?
Yes. After the 15-year term the account can be extended in blocks of five years, with or without further deposits, by informing the bank or post office within the prescribed time. The longer tenures in the calculator assume that you continue depositing the same amount every year during each extension.
Is PPF maturity tax-free?
PPF has long had exempt status: interest and maturity proceeds have been tax-free, and deposits have qualified for deduction under the old tax regime within the overall limit popularly known as Section 80C. Tax provisions are revised from time to time, so confirm the current position before relying on it for tax planning.