What this calculates
Enter how much you deposit in your Public Provident Fund each year and for how long, and this works out the maturity value at the current PPF rate — or any rate you choose — with the total deposited, the interest earned and a year-by-year chart.
The formula
Each year
balance = (last year's balance + this year's deposit) × (1 + rate)
In one step
maturity = deposit × ((1 + r)ⁿ − 1) ÷ r × (1 + r)r is the yearly rate as a decimal (7.1% is 0.071) and n the number of years. This assumes each deposit is made by 5 April, so it earns interest for the whole year; interest is credited at the end of each financial year, rounded to the rupee.
Worked example
Kept going to 25 years, the same deposits grow to about ₹1.03 crore. ₹1,000 a month (₹12,000 a year) for 15 years grows to about ₹3.25 lakh.
When to use it, and the mistakes to avoid
Use it to plan long-term, tax-free savings for retirement or a child's future, to compare PPF with an FD or SIP, or to see what extending a maturing account is worth.
The mistakes that cost the most:
- Depositing after the 5th. A deposit on 6 April misses April's interest; one at the end of March earns nothing for that year.
- Going over ₹1.5 lakh. The excess earns no interest.
- Missing the ₹500 minimum. The account becomes inactive until revived with a penalty.
- Assuming the rate is fixed. It is reset every quarter; the result changes if it moves.
- Closing at 15 years without thinking. Extending keeps tax-free compounding going.
FAQ
What is the PPF interest rate now?
7.1% a year for October-December 2026, compounded yearly. The Ministry of Finance reviews it every quarter; it has stayed at 7.1% since April 2020. Change the rate in the calculator to try another.
How much will ₹1.5 lakh a year in PPF grow to?
About ₹40.68 lakh after 15 years at 7.1%, if each deposit is made by 5 April. You put in ₹22.5 lakh, so ₹18.18 lakh is interest. Extended to 25 years, it grows to about ₹1.03 crore.
Why should I deposit before the 5th?
PPF interest for each month is worked out on the lowest balance between the 5th and the end of the month. Money that arrives after the 5th earns nothing for that month. Depositing the whole year's amount by 5 April earns interest on it for all twelve months.
How much can I put in PPF?
At least ₹500 and at most ₹1,50,000 in a financial year, in one go or in instalments. Money above the limit earns no interest.
Can I keep my PPF going after 15 years?
Yes. When the account matures after 15 years it can be extended in blocks of five years, with or without new deposits, as many times as you like.
Is PPF interest taxable?
No. PPF interest and the maturity amount are tax-free. Under the old tax regime, deposits of up to ₹1.5 lakh a year can also be claimed as a deduction.