How to check PPF balance Online? (Public Provident Fund)

Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a long-term savings plan in India that was government supported and provided tax incentives under section 80C and tax free returns. The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is still among the most preferred ones when it comes to safe and disciplined long-term investing in India.

PPF comes with tax free returns, capital security and growth of compound over 15 years and is supported by the Government of India. Your salary employee, self-employed professional or a parent wanting to send your children to school, knowing what is PPF account and how it functions can allow you to make wiser financial choices.

This detailed guide by Trendy Traders Academy will address all that you want to know about PPF withdrawal rules, how to check PPF balance, what is PPF account, EPF vs PPF, and how to use a PPF maturity calculator to get an idea of your corpus. It is all about the Indian market and has real examples and insights to be put to action.

What is PPF Account?

Public Provident Fund (PPF) account is a long-term small savings scheme introduced by the Government of India in 1968. It promotes disciplined savings that have guaranteed returns, and tax incentives.

Key Features of PPF

Minimum investment: ₹500 per year
Topmost investment: 1.5 lakh every year.
Term: 15 years (renewable periodically in 5 years)
Interest rate: It is declared by the Government of India quarterly.
This is a very low risk level (sovereign guarantee).
Tax benefit: In Section 80C.
Returns: Completely tax-free

PPF is based on EEE (Exempt-exempt-exempt) tax model:

Investment is a tax deductible.
Interest earned is tax-free.
The maturity amount is tax-free.

Example

Assuming that Rohan in a PPF account earns an average interest rate of 7.1 a year and invests 1.5 lakh in this account per year over 15 years, he would be in a position to earn a sum of about 40 lakh at the end of his investment period through the power of compound interest.

How Does PPF Work?

PPF works on the principle of annual compounding. Interest is calculated monthly on the lowest balance between the 5th and last day of the month, and credited annually.

To maximize returns:

Deposit before the 5th of every month.
Prefer lump sum investment at the beginning of the financial year (April).

PPF Interest Rate in India

The Government of India revises PPF interest rates every quarter. Historically, PPF rates have ranged between 7% and 8%.

Though the rate is not fixed permanently, it is generally higher than traditional savings accounts and competitive with fixed deposits, especially considering tax-free returns.

How to Check PPF Balance?

Many investors ask: how to check PPF balance easily?

Methods to Check PPF Balance in India

Net Banking

Log in to your bank’s net banking portal.
Go to “Accounts” or “PPF Account.”
View balance and transaction history.

Mobile Banking App

Open your bank’s mobile app.
Select PPF account from the account list.

Post Office Account

Visit your branch.
Update your passbook.

Missed Call or SMS (Some Banks)

Linked mobile number required.

Example

If you opened your PPF account in SBI, you can check your PPF balance via SBI YONO app under “Deposits.”

PPF Withdrawal Rules

Understanding PPF withdrawal rules is crucial before investing.

1. Partial Withdrawal

Allowed after completion of 5 financial years.
Maximum 50% of the balance at the end of the 4th year or preceding year (whichever is lower).

Example

If your balance after 4 years is ₹5 lakh, you can withdraw up to ₹2.5 lakh in the 6th year.

2. Premature Closure

Allowed after 5 years for specific reasons:

Higher education
Medical emergency
Change in residency status

Penalty: 1% reduction in interest rate.

3. Maturity Withdrawal

After 15 years:

Withdraw full amount tax-free.
Or extend in 5-year blocks (with or without contribution).

PPF Maturity Calculator: How It Helps?

A PPF maturity calculator estimates your total corpus based on:

Annual investment
Tenure
Interest rate

Example Calculation

Investment: ₹1.5 lakh per year
Interest rate: 7.1%
Tenure: 15 years

Estimated maturity value: Approx ₹40-42 lakh

If extended for another 5 years without contribution, the corpus can grow significantly due to compounding.

EPF vs PPF: What’s the Difference?

Many investors confuse EPF vs PPF. Let’s clarify.

Feature	EPF	PPF
Full Form	Employee Provident Fund	Public Provident Fund
Eligibility	Salaried employees	Any Indian resident
Managed By	EPFO	Government of India
Contribution	Mandatory (employer + employee)	Voluntary
Tenure	Till retirement	15 years
Interest	Decided by EPFO	Decided quarterly
Tax Benefit	Yes	Yes

Key Difference

EPF is employer-linked.
PPF is individual-controlled.

Example: If Priya works in an MNC, she automatically contributes to EPF. If she wants additional safe tax-saving investment, she can open a PPF account separately.

Who Should Invest in PPF?

PPF is ideal for:

Risk-averse investors
Parents planning children’s education
Individuals seeking tax-saving under Section 80C
Self-employed professionals without EPF

It may not be suitable for:

Investors seeking high returns
Short-term financial goals

Tax Benefits of PPF in India

PPF offers triple tax exemption:

Deduction under Section 80C (up to ₹1.5 lakh).
Interest is tax-free.
The maturity amount is tax-free.

For someone in the 30% tax bracket, PPF’s effective post-tax return is significantly higher than many fixed-income instruments.

PPF vs Fixed Deposit

Feature	PPF	FD
Tax on Interest	No	Yes
Lock-in	15 years	Flexible
Risk	Sovereign	Bank risk
Returns	Moderate	Moderate

For long-term tax-efficient investing, PPF generally wins.

Can NRIs Invest in PPF?

Existing accounts can continue till maturity.
New accounts cannot be opened by NRIs.

How to Open a PPF Account in India?

You can open a PPF account in:

Major banks (SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank)
Post offices

Documents Required

PAN card
Aadhaar card
Address proof
Passport-size photograph

Practical Indian Example

Let’s consider Anil, aged 30. He invests ₹1.5 lakh annually in PPF for 15 years at 7.1%.

By age 45:

Total investment: ₹22.5 lakh
Maturity value: Approx ₹40 lakh

If he extends it till age 55:

Corpus can cross ₹65 lakh without increasing annual contribution.

This is the power of compounding in a tax-free environment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Investing after the 5th of month.
Ignoring nomination details.
Closing prematurely without understanding the penalty.
Not using a PPF calculator before investing.

PPF and Retirement Planning

PPF is not a complete retirement solution but works well as:

Debt component in portfolio.
Safe allocation alongside equity mutual funds.
Capital preservation strategy.

Conclusion

Public Provident Fund is considered to be one of the most tax effective and secure long term investments in India. It offers the combination of capital security, predictable returns and tax benefits under Section 80C.

The scheme is clear and easy to understand, be it in a comparison of EPF vs PPF, a retirement planning, or just an attempt to get to know what is PPF account.

Knowing the PPF withdrawal rules, how to check PPF balance, and having a PPF maturity calculator in your pocket, you will be able to develop a good habit of saving, which will allow you to accumulate greater wealth over time. PF remains a core financial instrument to conservative investors in the Indian market.

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