Loan Against PPF
PPF account holders can take a loan against their PPF balance from the 3rd to 6th financial year, borrowing up to 25% of the balance from two years prior at an interest rate of PPF rate plus 1%.
Detailed Explanation
## How PPF Loans Work Between the 3rd and 6th financial year of your PPF account, you can borrow against your accumulated balance. This is not a withdrawal. It's a loan that you must repay with interest. ## Loan Amount You can borrow up to 25% of the balance at the end of the 2nd financial year preceding the year of the loan. **Example**: If you're in Year 4 and your balance at the end of Year 2 was Rs 3,20,000: - Maximum loan: 25% of Rs 3,20,000 = Rs 80,000 ## Interest Rate The interest rate on PPF loans is PPF rate + 1%. At the current 7.1% PPF rate, the loan interest rate is 8.1%. ## Repayment Terms - You must repay the principal within 36 months - Interest is charged in two installments - If you fail to repay within 36 months, the outstanding amount is treated as a withdrawal and debited from your PPF balance - Only one loan can be outstanding at a time ## Why a PPF Loan Can Make Sense The effective cost of a PPF loan is just 1% because your money stays in the PPF account earning 7.1% while you're paying 8.1% on the loan. Compare this with a personal loan at 12-15% interest or a credit card at 36-42% interest. The PPF loan is dramatically cheaper. ## Loan vs Partial Withdrawal PPF loans are available from Year 3, while partial withdrawals start only from Year 7. If you need money in years 3-6, the loan is your only option. From Year 7 onwards, you can choose between a loan (if before Year 6) and a withdrawal. Calculate the impact on your PPF growth using our [PPF calculator](/).