Public Provident Fund (PPF) is considered as most important and safe amongst all tax saving investments schemes. This scheme is falls under the EEE category i.e. Exempt, Exempt and Exempt which means if you invest in it, you will get a deduction u/s 80C on your income. Further, the interest you earn on it alongwith its maturity proceeds will be tax-free in the hand of investor. This article is covering various points related to PPF scheme.
Page Contents
- Eligibility for Investment in Public Provident Fund (PPF)
- Public Provident Fund (PPF) Investment and Returns
- Continuing PPF after the 15 year period
- Nomination in respect of Public Provident Fund (PPF)
- Loans against Public Provident Fund (PPF)
- Withdrawals from PPF account
- PPF defaults and revival
- PPF tax concessions
- Disadvantages of PPF
- Interest rates over time
Eligibility for Investment in Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Individuals who are residents of India are eligible to open an account under the Public Provident Fund scheme. A PPF account may be opened under the name of a minor or a person of unsound mind by his/her legal guardian. However, each person is eligible for only one account under his/her name.
Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are not eligible to open an account under the Public Provident Fund Scheme. However a resident who becomes an NRI during the 15 years’ tenure prescribed under Public Provident Fund Scheme, may continue to subscribe to the fund until its maturity on a non-repatriation basis.
Public Provident Fund (PPF) Investment and Returns
A minimum yearly deposit of Rs. 500 is required to open and maintain a PPF account, and a maximum deposit of Rs.1,50,000/ can be made in a PPF account in any given financial year. Deposits could be in either one go, or in flexible installments (in multiples of Rs. 50). You could vary the amount and the number of installments, as per your convenience. The credit to the PPF account is made on the date of clearance of the cheque, not on the date of its presentation.
Continuing PPF after the 15 year period
The PPF account is valid for 15 years. The entire balance can be withdrawn on maturity, that is, after 15 years of the close of the financial year in which you opened the account. Once your account expires, you can open a new one. The only limitation is that you cannot withdraw it until seven years are completed, after which 50% of your deposits can be withdrawn, if needed. How to extend PPF account beyond 15 years
PPF account holders have an option of extending their accounts after the 15 year tenure with or without further subscription, for any period in a block of 5 years. The balance in the account will continue to earn interest at normal rate as admissible on PPF account till the account is closed. In case the account is extended without contribution, any amount can be withdrawn without restrictions. However, only one withdrawal is allowed per year.
Nomination in respect of Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Nomination facility is available. In the case of joint nominees, it is possible to allocate the percentage of benefits to each nominee.
Loans against Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Loans can be availed from the 3rd financial year excluding the year of deposit. Amount of such loans must not exceed 25 percent of the amount that stood to the account holder’s credit at the end of the second year immediately preceding the year in which the loan is applied for.
A fresh loan is not allowed when a previous loan or interest is outstanding. Interest is charged at a rate of 1% if repaid within 36 months and at 6% on the outstanding loan after 36 months. The repayment may be made either in lump-sum or in Installments.
The public provident fund is established by the central government. One can voluntarily open an account with any nationalized bank or post office. The account can be opened in the name of individuals including minor.
The minimum amount is Rs.500 which can The rate of interest at present is 7.9% per annum, which is also tax-free. The entire balance can be withdrawn on maturity. Interest received is tax free. The maximum amount which can be deposited every year is Rs. 1,50,000 in an account. The interest earned on the PPF subscription is compounded. Moreover, it has low risk – risk attached is Government risk. PPF is available at post offices and banks.
Withdrawals from PPF account
The entire amount in your account could be withdrawn only on maturity. However, in times of financial crises partial withdrawals are permitted subject to certain ceiling limits. You could withdraw once a year, from the 7th year onwards. Such withdrawals, must not exceed, 50% of the balance at the end of the fourth year, or 50% of the balance at the end of the immediate preceding year, whichever is lower.Tax effect in case of premature closure of PPF Account
PPF defaults and revival
If the PPF account holder fails to deposit the minimum of Rs.500 in a given financial year, the account is considered to be discontinued and also loans and withdrawals are not allowed. However, the interest will continue to accrue, to be paid at the end of the term. This account can be revived on payment of a fee of Rs 50 for each year of default, along with the arrears of subscription of Rs.500 each such year.
PPF tax concessions
1. Benefit u/s 80C – The Investments made in PPF Account are eligible for deduction u/s 80C
2. Tax Free Interest – No Tax is payable on the Interest Earned on PPF Account.
Disadvantages of PPF
The problem with PPF is its lack of liquidity. One can withdraw the investment made in 1st year only in 7th year. However, loan against investment is available from 3rd financial year. If liquidity is not an issue, you should invest as much as you can in this scheme before looking for other fixed income investment options.
Second problem is debasement of currency and governments inflation policy as PPF unlike physical assets will not cover a person for inflation.
Interest rates over time
- 01.04.1986 to 14.01.2000………………………… 12.0%
- 15.01.2000 to 28.02.2001……………………….. 11.0%
- 01.03.2001 to 28.02.2002 ………………………. 9.5%
- 01.03.2002 to 28.02.2003 ……………………….. 9.0%
- 01.03.2003 to 30.11.2011………………………… 8.0%
- 01.12.2011 to 31.03.2012………………………… 8.6%
- 01.04.2012 to 31.03.2013………………………… 8.8%
- 01.04.2013 onward………………………………… 8.7%
- 2014 – March 2016…………………………………..8.7%
- April 2016 – June 2016…………………………….8.1%
- July 2016 – September 2016……………………..8.1%
- October 2016 – December 2016…………………8.0%
- January 2017 – March 2017………………………8.0%
- April 2017 – June 2017……………………………..7.9%
- July 2017 – September 2017………………………7.8%
- October 2017 – December 2017………………….7.8%
- January 2018 – March 2018………………………7.6%
- April 2018 – June 2018……………………………..7.6%
- July 2018 – September 2018………………………7.6%
- October-December, 2018………………………….8%
- January –March, 2019……………………………8%
- April –June, 2019………………………………..8%
- July – September, 2019………………………7.9%
Source- Wikipedia
(Republished With Amendments)
Dear Sir,
I have been investing regularly in PPF under my children’s accounts. Now one of my children is working and will be liable to pay IT. Can she claim the deduction under section 80C for the amount that I have invested into her PPF account?
Many thanks in advance.
A good and very useful article. Thanks to the author. I would like to know how the interest is credited in the following situation.
1. PPF account operated in Post Office and transferred to SBI on 15/07/2013.
2. Balance as on 31/03/2013 is 12,00,000 in Post Office.
3. Interest is credited on 31/03/2013 by post office.
4. A/c is transferred to SBI on 15/07/2013.
5. Interest will be credited by SBI on 31/03/2014.
My doubt is regarding the interest between 01/04/2013 and 14/07/2013. Who (Post Office or SBI)will give the interest for that period and how?
Regarding death claim form in PPF (comments of Mr Smehta on this page) I would request him to check the following webpages for the form:
onlinesbi.com/sbi/downloads/PPF/FORM-G_(PPF%20DECEASED%20CLAIM).pdf
indiapost.gov.in/pdfForms/PPFClaim.pdf
Can you please provide a copy of the death claim form by nominees….from POst office/state bank PPF account…..can you please help…
Pls advice it is possible to transfer public provident fund account from one post office to another post office
THIS IS SAFEST INVESTMENT WITH RESEANOABLE INTEREST RATE IF YOU LOOK FOR LONGTERM
ONE OF BEST SCHEAM WITHOUT ANY RISK.
sir,
upto what age one can register with PPF
after giving one or two instalments one dies what shall be mode of return of the amount deposited
Thanks
Good article. It is unfortunate not many youngsters know this investment. A systematic,long term,guaranteed investment with compound interest and EEE benefit! To reap maximum benefits one should deposit every month before 5th. If possible deposit entire Rs.1 lakh before April 5th (if your salary is more. Or one can deposit monthly. KEEP THE PASS BOOK UPDATED WITH SIGNATURE OF THE RECEIVING POST OFFICE OR BANK. In case of change in address keep it updated.
Whether total deposit by father can be made in PPF account for self – Rs. 100000/- , For minor Rs. 50000/- means total of both account deposit exceeding Rs.100,000/- in a year?
A good article. Thanks. Maybe addition of rules on transfer of a PPF a/c from one office to another, would have made the article more complete.
dear sir,
under which section,the interest earned under ppf account, is exempted from income tax
regards – n.k.chaudhary
The maximumlimit of deposit is of Rs.100000/- in a year in one PPF account. Similarly, the maximum limit for deduction under section 80C of Income Tax Act is also Rs.100000/-. Please advise whether the guardian father or mother can deposit Rs.100000/- in one year in his / her PPF account and also can deposit separate amount of Rs.100000/- in the PPF opened for minor child.
Superb and very useful. Expected the same in coming future also.
Thanks & regards.
S. rAvi Chandian
This article has covered all aspects of PPF accounts.Here only the minus points like lack liquidity,non-coverage of inflation in fixing interest rate are openly covered. Thanks for good and factual article.
I had opened a PPF account in the name of my minor son in March 1986. I have been regularly contributing to the account since then. In 2010, we completed the formality of allowing my son to operate the account on his own, since he had turned major by that time. Since then I have stopped contributing to the account and my son is now contributing regularly from his income. I request if somebody can confirm that this transition of account from me to my son and his contributions now onwards, is regular as per procedure. I understand that since account has already completed 15 years from the date of its opening, my son will need to extend the period every five years, for as many blocks as he wishes, to be able to contribute regularly.