Public Provident Fund: Can I continue investing in my PPF account after 15 years?

Yes, absolutely. Once your Public Provident Fund (PPF) account completes its initial 15-year maturity period, you face a key financial decision: closing the account or extending it

Closing the PPF account (withdrawal)

You can withdraw the entire accumulated balance along with the interest. If you choose this path, you will give up the valuable income tax benefits on interest and future contributions.

Extending the PPF account

Contributions: Qualify for tax deductions up to ₹1.5 lakh annually under Section 80C.

Interest: The accrued interest is tax-free.

Withdrawals: The maturity amount is also tax-free.

Extending your account strategically helps you lock in these advantages and continues to help your money grow risk-free.

To extend the account, you must submit Form 4 (or Form H at some institutions) to your bank or post office within one year of the account's maturity.

Failure to submit this form means the account is automatically treated as an extension without contribution, where you only earn interest but cannot make fresh deposits.

This choice provides the maximum compounding benefit for your retirement corpus.

A significant benefit of extension is liquidity. Even in the extended period, you are permitted to make partial withdrawals of up to 60% of the balance that existed at the time of the extension.

Financial advisors suggest the decision to close or extend your PPF account should be based on your immediate financial needs. If you have an urgent requirement for the funds, then a withdrawal is necessary. Conversely, if you don't need the capital right away, extending the account is advisable.