How to Withdraw Money from PPF Account: PPF Withdrawal Rules and Procedure

Posted on Monday, September 9th, 2024 | By IndusInd Bank

PPF, or Public Provident Fund, is a popular savings scheme backed by the government of India. Many people prefer it for its guaranteed returns and tax benefits.  

PPF has a maturity period of 15 years. Once your PPF account matures, you can withdraw the entire amount. However, partial withdrawals are allowed once it completes 6 years.  

To know about PPF withdrawal rules, how to withdraw from your account, and other considerations, read on.  

PPF Withdrawal after Maturity: Rules and Procedures 

If you want to withdraw once the PPF maturity period is complete, here are some things you should know: 

• Time validity for withdrawal: After 15 years of account opening.  

• Valid reason for withdrawal: You can withdraw for any reason.  

• Amount available for withdrawal: 100%. 

Procedure for Completing PPF Withdrawal after Maturity

Here’s the procedure for complete PPF withdrawal after maturity: 

1. Visit the bank branch where you have opened the PPF account.  

2. Obtain Form C and fill it up with the required details.  

3. Submit the form along with the PPF passbook at the bank branch.  

You can raise a request for PPF withdrawal online. However, it may not be possible to carry out the entire process online.  

Once you apply for a complete withdrawal, the corpus is transferred to your bank account and your PPF account is closed.  

Also Read: 5 Best Savings Investment Plans for Salaried Individuals 

Partial PPF Withdrawal before Maturity: Rules and Procedure 

Listed below are the PPF withdrawal rules that apply before maturity:  

• Time validity for withdrawal: 7th financial year onwards.  

• Valid reason for withdrawal: Any reason is valid.  

• Amount available for withdrawal: 50% of the entire corpus. 

The procedure for PPF partial withdrawal is the same as for the complete withdrawal. The only difference is that you must mention how you want the withdrawal amount to be credited.  

You can have it credited to your savings account or request a demand draft. Ensure to clarify this on the form, add a revenue stamp, and sign it.  

If you are wondering, ‘Can my PPF account be closed before maturity?’, the answer is yes. However, you must have solid grounds for the closure. Read on for more.  

PPF Withdrawal in case of Premature Closure: Rules and Procedure

Here are some points you need to keep in mind if you want a premature closure of your PPF account.  

• Time validity for closure: 5 financial years after account opening.  

• Valid reasons for closure:  

• Life-threatening medical issue faced by the account holder, their parents, their spouse, or dependent children. 

• The account holder or their children need funds for higher education. 

• The account holder has changed their resident status (they have become an NRI).  

• Amount available for withdrawal: 100%.  

If you close your PPF account before maturity, the overall interest rate is reduced by 1%. Assuming you have had your PPF account for 7 years and the interest rate for the account has been 7%. If you decide on premature account closure, the interest will be recalculated at 6% for all the years you have had your PPF account.  

Now that it is clear how to withdraw money from a PPF account in different cases and how to close it prematurely, let’s also look at how to extend the PPF after its maturity.  

PPF Withdrawal During Extension: Rules and Procedure 

Once your PPF account matures and you wish to continue it, here are some things to know: 

• You can extend a PPF account in blocks of 5 years for as long as you wish.  

• If the account holder does not want to withdraw the PPF amount completely, the account is extended by default.  

• One can continue their PPF after maturity with or without contributions.  

• In case of no contributions, the existing corpus continues to earn interest.  

• In case the holder wants to continue investing, they will have to submit Form H within a year of its maturity.  

Tax Implication on PPF Withdrawals

One of the reasons why many Indian investors stick with the Public Provident Fund (PPF) for the long haul is its tax efficiency. In fact, PPF enjoys what’s known as EEE status—Exempt at the time of investment, Exempt on interest earned, and Exempt at withdrawal. 

Here’s what that means in practice: 

• When you deposit money into your PPF account, you can claim a deduction under Section 80C, up to ₹1.5 lakh annually. 

• The interest that accumulates every year? That’s completely tax-free, even though it’s credited annually. 

• And when you finally withdraw—whether it’s a partial withdrawal after 5 years or the full amount after 15 years—you don’t pay a single rupee in tax. 

Even if you extend your PPF account beyond maturity, the tax benefits continue. Whether you choose to make fresh contributions or simply let the balance grow, the returns remain tax-exempt. 

This makes PPF not just a safe investment, but also a smart one—especially for those planning for retirement or long-term goals like a child’s education. Few instruments offer this kind of triple tax advantage, and that’s why PPF continues to be a favorite among conservative investors.

For further assistance in managing your finances effectively, consider opening an online bank account with IndusInd Bank today!