Archive · 5 Oct 2026
What Happens If You Delay Withdrawing Your Matured PPF Savings
A PPF account normally reaches maturity after 15 years, counted from the end of the financial year it was opened.
After that, you can choose to close the account and take out the full balance.
If you want to keep adding money, you need to submit Form 4 within one year.
You can extend the account in five-year blocks.
If you do not submit the form, the account still continues automatically in five-year blocks.
But you cannot add fresh money in that case.
The money already in the account keeps earning interest at the applicable rate.
Under this default option, you can take money out only once each financial year.
A PPF account’s 15-year maturity is calculated from the end of the financial year it was opened, not the date of its first deposit.
To extend the account and continue contributing, the holder must submit Form 4 within one year of maturity.
Without that form, the account continues in five-year blocks by default, but new contributions are not allowed.
The existing balance continues earning interest at the applicable rate, stated in the article as 7.1% per year.
Under the default continuation, withdrawals are limited to once per financial year; the article also says the full balance can be withdrawn to close the account.
- Who
- Holders of Public Provident Fund (PPF) accounts.
- What
- The article explains withdrawal and extension options after a PPF account reaches maturity, including what happens if the holder takes no action.
- When
- After the 15-year maturity period; Form 4 must be submitted within one year of maturity to extend the account with contributions.
- Where
- At the bank or post office where the PPF account is held.
- Why
- To explain how the account and its balance are treated after maturity, including the consequences of not submitting an extension form.
- Standard maturity period
- 15 years
- How maturity is calculated
- From the end of the financial year in which the account was opened
- Extension application
- Form 4, or Form H at some institutions
- Deadline to extend and keep contributing
- Within one year of maturity
- Extension period
- Five-year blocks; the article says extensions can be repeated
- Default if no form is submitted
- The account continues in five-year blocks, but fresh contributions are not allowed
- Interest rate stated
- 7.1% per annum
- Default withdrawal limit
- Once per financial year