Public Provident Funds (PPFs) is a long-term investment scheme that offers attractive interest rates and tax advantages. The Interest on PPF accounts is calculated based on the minimum balance between the 5th and the end of each month. The Deposits made on or before the 5th of the month are considered for that month’s interest calculation. Deposits made after the 5th are not counted until the next month. It is recommended that PPF account holders make their monthly contributions by the 5th in order to maximize interest earnings.
As of now, the Public Provident Fund (PPF) is offering an interest rate of 7.1%. While this interest rate is reviewed and can be changed every quarter, it has remained steady at 7.1% since April 1, 2020.
Why Invest Before 5th in PPF?
The The annual PPF investment limit is Rs 1.5 lakh. Depositing the full limit by April 5th allows the investor to earn interest over the full financial year (12 months), maximizing the interest earned.
For Example:
Mr. Raj deposited Rs 1.5 lakh into his PPF account by April 5th, 2023. The deposit will earn interest for the entire financial year, from April 2023 to March 2024, by doing this.
Mr. Raj maximized the potential interest earned on his PPF investment by making his deposit by April 5th. He will continue to earn interest on his initial deposit for the entire year, regardless of whether he makes any additional deposits.
As opposed to Mr. Raj, if he had deposited his Rs 1.5 lakh later in the year, such as in October, he would have missed out on potential interest earnings for the first six months. The strategy of depositing by April 5th allows Mr. Raj to maximize his interest earnings in the PPF account.
Interest Calculation and Annual Compounding in PPF: Interest in PPF is calculated every month but is added to the total balance only once a year. This essentially means that PPF interest is compounded annually, even though it is calculated monthly. When used strategically, PPF can offer substantial returns.
Optimal Timing for Deposits: Interest calculation for any given month in PPF depends on the minimum balance in the account between the 5th and the last day of that month. To maximize interest earnings, deposits into PPF should be made before the 5th of the month. This ensures that the deposit contributes to that month’s interest calculation.
Handling Cheque Investments: For investments made by cheque, planning is crucial. Cheques should be submitted at least 3 to 4 days before the 5th of the month. This buffer time allows for any potential delays at the bank or due to holidays. Without this buffer, the cheque may not clear in time, causing the deposit to miss the cut-off for that month’s interest calculation.
More Example:
Let’s say you have ₹10,000 in your PPF account on the 5th of January and you decide to add ₹5,000 more on the 10th of January. Because they calculate interest on the lowest amount between the 5th and the end of the month, only your initial ₹10,000 will earn interest for January.
Now, you wait until February and add another ₹5,000 on the 4th. So, now you have a total of ₹20,000 in your account before the 5th. This time, your whole ₹20,000 will earn interest for the month of February since it’s there before the 5th.