If you want to build a solid fund for a secure future and retirement, there’s no better option than the Public Provident Fund (PPF). This scheme, run by the Government of India, not only guarantees 100% security for your money but also has the potential to build a substantial corpus over the long term. At current interest rates, if you invest ₹90,000 annually, you’ll have a substantial corpus of ₹24,40,926 in your hand after 15 years.
Most importantly, this entire corpus is completely tax-free. In this article, we’ll understand how the power of compounding transforms a small investment into a substantial corpus and why PPF remains the preferred choice of Indian families even today.
The True Truth of Compounding
The biggest strength of the PPF scheme is compounding (compound interest). In the first 5-6 years, the interest amount won’t seem very large because the principal amount is small. But as the years pass, interest on previous years’ interest also begins to accrue, growing your funds at a rapid pace. This is why those who stop investing or withdraw money midway miss out on the true benefits of compounding. Fund growth is fastest in the final five years, so patience is the key to earning in PPF.
The Amazing Benefits of PPF
PPF is considered one of India’s safest and most tax-friendly schemes because it falls under the EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) category. This means you receive tax benefits at three different levels. First, you receive a full income tax exemption on investments up to ₹1.5 lakh annually under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
Second, the interest accrued in your account each year is completely tax-free. And third, after 15 years, when you withdraw your maturity amount of over ₹24 lakh, you don’t have to pay even a single ₹1 tax to the government. Furthermore, since this is a scheme directly guaranteed by the Government of India, there’s no risk of your money sinking.
How an annual investment of ₹90,000 becomes ₹24.40 lakh
PPF is simple and transparent, but its true impact is evident over time. When you deposit a fixed amount every year, the government pays annual interest, which is added to your principal. For example, if you invest ₹90,000 annually (which is just ₹7,500 monthly), your total deposit over a 15-year investment period will be ₹13,50,000.
At the current interest rate of 7.1%, this deposit will earn you a net interest of ₹10,90,926. Thus, your maturity amount will increase to ₹24,40,926 after 15 years. As you can see, you’re earning over 80% interest on your deposit, making it a powerful long-term wealth creator.
Is the money locked for 15 years
People often have the misconception that PPF funds are completely locked for 15 years, but in reality, this scheme is quite flexible. It offers several options to provide relief in times of financial crisis. Between the third and sixth year of account opening, you can take a loan against your deposit at a very low interest rate.
Furthermore, from the seventh year onwards, you can withdraw a portion of your funds (partial withdrawal) for special needs, such as children’s higher education or illness. However, the full corpus’s true benefits are realized only if you let it grow undisturbed for 15 years.
What to do after 15 years
When your PPF account matures after 15 years, you can withdraw your entire ₹24.40 lakh balance and close it. However, if you don’t need the money immediately, you can extend it in blocks of 5 years each. You have the option of continuing to receive interest on the old balance without depositing any new funds or continuing to grow the account by making new investments. Many people maintain this account until retirement, allowing their corpus to reach ₹50 lakh or even ₹1 crore.