Rajkumar Anguluri·Software Engineer · Founder, Artha Engine·Last reviewed 8 April 2026·Methodology
Independent decision-support tool. Artha Engine is not a financial services provider, does not sell loans or insurance, and has no commission relationships with banks or insurers.
PPF Calculator
Will 15 years of PPF actually build a meaningful tax-free corpus? See the maturity amount, what drives it, and whether maxing the ₹1.5L cap is worth it for you.
PPF details
PPF caps contributions at ₹1.5L per year and has a 15-year minimum tenure.
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PPF maturity amount
₹40.7L
₹40.68L tax-free corpus
Over 15 years at 7.1%, your ₹22.5L contribution becomes ₹40.68L — entirely tax-free.
PPF is a solid fixed-income backbone, but pair it with equity for long-horizon growth.
Total contribution
₹22.5L
Interest earned
₹18.2L
Maturity amount
₹40.7L
Tax saved via 80C
₹45K
Assumes 30% marginal rate in the old regime.
PPF balance over time
Contributions + interest compounded annually.
Benchmarks
Max out at ₹1.5L/year
You
₹40.7L
Benchmark
₹40.7L
Fully uses the 80C window; PPF interest is tax-free.
Extend by 5 years
-38.9%You
₹40.7L
Benchmark
₹66.6L
PPF can be extended in 5-year blocks after the 15-year lock-in.
If PPF rate rose by 1%
-8.3%You
₹40.7L
Benchmark
₹44.4L
Government resets PPF rate quarterly — shows rate sensitivity.
What moves the result most
Holding everything else fixed, here is how the headline shifts when each input swings by a typical range.
You're using the full ₹1.5L 80C limit via PPF
PPF is one of the best uses of the 80C window — tax-free interest, tax-free maturity (EEE), backed by the Government of India.
Next best actions
The result hints at what to look at next. Each link carries your current numbers so you never re-enter them.
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At a glance
- What it does
- Projects the maturity of a Public Provident Fund (PPF) account at the current government rate, with the ₹1.5L annual cap enforced.
- Current rate
- 7.1% per year (Q4 FY 2025-26, subject to quarterly revision by the Ministry of Finance).
- Typical output
- ₹1.5L/year for 15 years at 7.1% becomes ~₹40.68L, all tax-free under Section 10(11).
- Best used for
- Building the debt portion of a long-term portfolio with guaranteed, tax-free, Government-backed returns.
How It Works
This is the drill-down layer. The flagship flow leads with a recommendation, and this page lets you inspect the underlying model.
- Each year: balance += contribution, then balance += balance × rate.
- Contributions are capped at ₹1.5L/year combined across all PPF accounts.
- Returns are tax-free under Section 10(11) — EEE status (contribution exempt, interest exempt, maturity exempt).
Assumptions
The recommendation stays blunt, but the assumptions remain visible.
- Interest is compounded annually on the end-of-year balance (a simplification of the actual monthly minimum-balance rule).
- The government revises the PPF rate quarterly; this tool uses a fixed rate for the full tenure.
- 80C tax savings assume a 30% marginal rate and full claim in the old regime.
FAQ
The follow-up questions people usually ask after the main recommendation is already clear.
Is PPF really the best tax-free investment?
For debt-allocation it's close to best — Government backing, tax-free interest, and full Section 80C benefit. The downside is a 15-year lock-in and the ₹1.5L annual cap.
Can I extend PPF beyond 15 years?
Yes — PPF can be extended in 5-year blocks indefinitely. You can choose to continue contributing or keep the balance and earn interest without new deposits.
What happens if I contribute more than ₹1.5L?
Banks reject contributions above the cap, and this calculator automatically caps the input. There's no penalty — the extra just doesn't go in.
Sources & references
Every formula and assumption above is grounded in these authoritative sources.
Related tools & decisions
Keep going from here — each link carries the same cluster context.
What to do next
Comparison pages
PPF vs EPF — Which Tax-Free Debt Wins?
Should you top up PPF or let EPF do the heavy lifting? See how both government-backed vehicles compare for the same annual contribution, what the rate gap means over time, and which lock-in suits your timeline.
SIP vs PPF — Which Long-Horizon Winner?
Should your long-term savings go into an equity SIP or tax-free PPF? See projected wealth for both, what drives the gap, and when PPF's guaranteed return is the smarter bet.
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NPS vs PPF in 2026: Which Should You Invest In?
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Calculations and decision frameworks, not personalised financial advice. The numbers on this page are based on the inputs you supplied and the regulatory rules in effect when this page was last reviewed. They are not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold, port, or surrender any specific financial product. Consult a SEBI-registered investment advisor, a qualified tax professional, or a licensed insurance broker before acting on a financial decision involving your money.
Artha Engine is an educational decision-support website. We do not offer loans, sell insurance, distribute mutual funds, provide regulated investment advice, collect loan applications, or receive commissions from banks, insurers, AMCs, brokers, or other financial providers. References to RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, Income Tax Department, or other authorities are source citations only. Artha Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any government authority, regulator, bank, insurer, AMC, or broker. Artha Engine does not charge users fees for using calculators, comparison tools, articles, or financial health scoring. Mailing address: India.
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