What is PPF Account?

All people can invest tax-free through the Public Provident Fund (PPF) savings plans. The government launched the program to promote people's investing and saving behaviors. The system was first announced on June 15, 1968, via GSR 1136. Since then, numerous changes have been made. A new scheme has now been announced by the government, according to G.S.R. 915(E), dated December 12, 2019.

• A ₹1,50,000 maximum deposit is allowed in a fiscal year, with a ₹500 minimum requirement.
• From the third to the sixth fiscal year, a lending facility is offered.
• Annual withdrawals are allowed starting with the seventh fiscal year.
• After fifteen complete financial years have passed since the account's opening, it matures.
• With new deposits, the account can be extended after maturity for an unlimited number of 5-year blocks.
• Following maturity, interest can be accumulated at the current rate on an ongoing basis, provided no additional deposits are made.
• There is no court ruling or decree that could lead to the attachment of the funds in the PPF account.
• Under Income Tax Act Section 80-C, deposits are deductible.
• Section 10 of the Income Tax Act exempts the interest earned in the account from income tax.

Overview of Public Provident Funds 

2.1 Eligibility for Public Provident Funds

Any authorized bank, post office, or nationalized bank may open PPF accounts. Form 1 must be submitted along with the necessary paperwork and the required minimum deposit in order to start a PPF account.

2.2 Can I open two PPF accounts? 

Under the PPF plan, a person is only allowed to register one account in his name. Furthermore, a person may register a single PPF account in the name of each juvenile or mentally ill person for whom he is the legal or natural guardian. It should be mentioned that any guardian of a kid or someone mentally ill may only open one account in their name. It is not possible to open joint accounts under this scheme 

2.3 Repercussions for not making the required minimum payment into the account

The account will be deemed canceled if the depositor does not make the required number of deposits in the subsequent years. However, if the minimum yearly deposit of Rs. 500 is paid for each year of default, together with a penalty of Rs. 50 for each year of default, the account can be reopened during its maturity period. The amount that the investor deposits in the account will not be increased by the amount of the fee.

The account holder will only be permitted to open a new account following the account's closure upon maturity if their PPF account is deemed abandoned. Additionally, the facility for loans and partial withdrawals shall not be available. 

The amount in the closed account will still accrue interest at the rate that is periodically relevant to the scheme, even if it is not reopened.

PPF Withdrawal Guidelines

When is it possible to withdraw money?

Only five years from the end of the year the account was opened may money be taken out of the PPF account prior to maturity. If a juvenile or someone mentally incompetent opens the account, withdrawals can be made whenever it's convenient for them, as long as they're still alive.

Maximum amount that can be taken out

A maximum of 50% of the balance in the account's credit at the end of the year immediately prior to the withdrawal or at the end of the previous year, whichever is smaller, may be taken from the PPF account.

If the account has received deposits after maturing, the total amount of withdrawals made throughout the five-year block period cannot exceed 60% of the credit balance at the beginning of the block period. One may choose to make this withdrawal in one lump sum payment or in yearly installments. However, no more withdrawals will be permitted if the account user decides to keep the account open without making any more deposits. 

How Can I Take Out My PPF Amount?

The Form 2 application must be submitted. On the other hand, the guardian must provide a certificate if the withdrawal is made from the account on behalf of a minor or someone who is not of sound mind.

Additional circumstances

Before submitting an application for such a withdrawal, the account holder must refund any outstanding debt, including interest, if any has been acquired against the account;

The withdrawal option is only accessible once a year; withdrawals cannot be performed from accounts that have been closed or from account extensions in which the account holder chooses not to make any more deposits.

Is it possible for a Non-Resident to open a PPF account?

It was forbidden for non-residents to invest in the PPF under the prior structure. Nothing in the new plan forbids non-residents from doing anything. Therefore, anyone can choose to use this program, resident or not.

However, in order to open an account under the plan, the applicant needs to submit Form 1, which certifies that they are an Indian citizen living in the country. It is uncertain if Section 2(v)/2(w) of the FEMA Act or Section 6 of the Income-tax Act will be used to determine this residential status.

Therefore, the applicant will not be permitted to sign such a declaration if he is a foreign national or a non-resident of India (as defined by both Acts). Therefore, Form-1 will prevent a non-resident citizen from signing and submitting the application in Form 1, even when the scheme's limitation has been removed. Unlike the previous scheme, if the account holder becomes a non-resident at any point after choosing it, he will not have to cancel the accounts and only need to submit a declaration to an accounts officer stating his change in residency.

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