PPF returns are fixed by the Central Government. They are set every quarter according to prevailing interest rates on government bonds. This system was introduced in FY 2016-17. The interest rate for Q3 (October-December) FY 2024-25 has been fixed at 7.1%.
PPF Interest Calculation
Interest on PPF is calculated monthly on the lowest balance between the close of the fifth day and the last day of every month, i.e. for the purpose of interest calculation, the amount that is deposited into the account before 5th of the month is only considered.
So if any money is deposited on the 6th of a month, then no interest will be paid on that amount in that month. Hence it is advised that deposits should be made between the 1st and 5th of the month to maximize the returns.
Must Read Public Provident Fund (PPF): Eligibility, Interest, Loans & Maturity
How much Tax is applicable on PPF Returns?
PPF returns are fully tax-exempt. Withdrawal from the PPF on maturity and even partial withdrawal before maturity is exempt from tax.
Historical PPF Rates
You can get an idea of historical PPF rates in the table below:
| Period | Interest Rates |
| July to September 2024 | 7.1% |
| April to June 2024 | 7.1% |
| January to March 2024 | 7.1% |
| October to December 2023 | 7.1% |
| July to September 2023 | 7.1% |
| April to June 2023 | 7.1% |
| January to March 2023 | 7.1% |
| October to December 2022 | 7.1% |
| July to September 2022 | 7.1% |
| April to June 2022 | 7.1% |
| January to March 2022 | 7.1% |
| October to December 2021 | 7.1% |
| July to September 2021 | 7.1% |
| April to June 2021 | 7.1% |
| January to March 2021 | 7.1% |
| October to December 2020 | 7.1% |
| July to September 2020 | 7.1% |
| April to June 2020 | 7.1% |
| January to March 2020 | 7.90% |
| October to December 2019 | 7.90% |
| July to September 2019 | 7.90% |
| April to June 2019 | 8.0% |
| January to March 2019 | 8.0% |
| October to December 2018 | 7.8% |
| July to September 2018 | 7.8% |
| April to June 2018 | 7.9% |
PPF Returns vs Bank FD Returns
Most bank FDs provide a slightly lower rate of return than the current PPF rate of 7.1%. The highest FD rate in SBI Bank is 5.40% (for a tenure of 5-10 years). The highest FD rate in ICICI Bank is 5.35% for 5-10 years. The highest FD rate in Axis Bank is 5.75% for a term of 5 to 10 years. The highest FD rate in HDFC Bank is 5.50% for a term of 5-10 years.
Note: Fixed Deposit Interest Rates are on deposits below Rs.2 crore for resident individuals. (Interest rates updated on 20th Sep 2021)
PPF Returns vs ELSS Returns
ELSS or Tax Saving Funds do not provide guaranteed returns like the PPF because they invest in stocks. However, they also offer tax deductions under Section 80 C for contributions up to Rs 1.5 lakh, like PPF Their past 5-year CAGR has been much higher than the PPF return. According to Value Research, the 5-year CAGR of the ELSS category is 21.19% compared to 8.2% for the PPF.
PPF Returns vs NPS Returns
NPS Returns depend on the asset allocation chosen and the performance of NPS funds. They are not guaranteed, while PPF returns are guaranteed. However by way of indicative performance, using the Central Government NPS as a proxy, NPS has delivered 9.95% on average over the five years ending July 31st, 2018. This is higher than the PPF return of 7.1%.
How to Maximize PPF Returns?
Invest before the 5th of every month. PPF interest is calculated on the lowest balance between the 5th and last day of every month. For instance, if you deposit Rs 10,000 on 2nd Jan and another Rs 10,000 on 15th Jan, the interest will only be calculated on Rs 10,000 and not Rs 20,000.
Invest the largest amount you can afford (up to Rs 1.5 lakh) at the start of the financial year to get the full benefit of compounding. Invest this amount before 5th April to get the full interest for all 12 months of the financial year. Do not delay your investment till the end of the year, this will only reduce your PPF return.
PPF Returns after 20 Years
PPF Returns will after 20 years give you the compounded value as per the average interest rate declared in the 20 year period. For example, if the average rate is 8%, Rs 1.5 lakh invested over 20 years will grow to as much as Rs 40.72 lakhs.
Also Read: Calculate returns on your PPF deposits via PPF Calculator