PPF Calculator

Can you think of a financial product that offers assured returns, tax savings, and safety? Public Provident Fund (PPF) is the answer. Small wonder this government-backed scheme is quite popular with conservative and risk-taking investors alike. The cherry on the cake is that our PPF calculator enables investors to get accurate returns on their PPF investment. Read on to learn more about this widely available debt instrument and how the calculator can prepare you for this long-term investment.  

PPF Calculator explained

A PPF calculator is a financial tool that helps investors calculate returns from their investments in a PPF account. It factors in details provided by users like the contribution amount, interest rate, and the frequency of investment—-monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Once you fill in these fields, the calculator will automatically provide users with the potential return from the investment. 

It is known that PPF is a long-term investment that provides a nest egg to people in their retirement years, supplementing other safety nets such as the Employee Provident Fund (EPF). Furthermore, the calculator helps individuals chalk out a sound investment strategy to achieve their financial goals as it allows them to change options like their investment amount and frequency of investment to select the mode that suits them best. 

Using the PPF calculator

The PPF calculator is an exclusive tool to get potential returns on a PPF investment. So, there are only three fields you need to fill in. Moreover, it is easy to use and is available on several financial platforms. All you have to do is:

• Go to a website that has a PPF calculator, like CoinSwitch.
• Add the frequency of investment, interest rate, and duration
• The calculator will automatically display the potential return amount. 

Note: Users can simulate imaginary scenarios to help them plan their finances better. 

How is PPF interest calculated?

The PPF interest can be calculated using the online calculator above. You can also manually calculate the interest on your PPF investment using the formula below:

F = P [({(1+i) ^n}-1)/i]

Here, 

I indicates the rate of interest

F indicates the maturity of PPF

N indicates the total number of years

P indicates the annual installments

Benefits of PPF 

PPF offers a host of benefits to investors. Here are some of them.

• Competitive interest rates

Since it is a government-backed scheme, the PPF interest rate is generally higher than other investments. Further, the annual compounding of interest also adds significantly to PPF returns.

• Tax savings 

Contributions made to a PPF account qualify for tax savings under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, subject to a limit. Furthermore, the interest earned on the investment and the maturity amount are tax-free.

• Partial withdrawal is allowed 

PPF accounts come with a lock-in period of 15 years. However, investors can partially withdraw their funds from the seventh year onwards, while maintaining the account.

• You can avail a loan against PPF

PPF also allows investors to apply for a loan against their PPF balance after a few years of staying invested in the scheme. The loan amount is limited to a fixed percentage of the PPF balance and investors need to pay it back at an interest rate higher than the PPF interest rate.

• Security of investment 
  

Since this is a government-backed investment scheme, investors are assured of the safety of their hard-earned money.    

Conclusion

To sum up, PPF calculators can estimate the maturity value of a PPF investment if you provide some basic details like the investment amount, duration, and interest rate. This information helps investors make informed decisions about their PPF investments by giving them a clear estimate of the potential returns. Thus, investors can work towards achieving their financial goals in a disciplined way.