People who want to build a retirement corpus for their post-retirement phase generally open PPF accounts. The PPF scheme offers tax advantages, making it one of the most appealing investment options. Deposits up to Rs. 1.5 lakh in a PPF account are tax-free, and the amount received after maturity is also tax-free.
It should be noted that the PPF account has a 15-year lock-in period. Partial withdrawals from a PPF account before maturity are only permitted under certain conditions. The scheme encourages individuals to save while also earning interest on the principal amount. However, before investing money in a PPF account with a 15-year lock-in period, it is best to understand a few fundamentals about it, such as the age limit, documentation process, forms associated with it, and so on.
In this blog, we will discuss the age limit, documents required, and other details to open a PPF account.
What is the Eligibility Criteria to Open a PPF Account?
Below is the eligibility criteria to open a PPF account-
Eligibility Criteria to Open PPF Account |
Only Indian resident |
An Indian citizen settled abroad can continue operating his/her PPF account |
Parents/guardians on behalf of their minor children |
Only one PPF account per individual can be opened |
Hindu Undivided Families cannot open PPF account |
What is the Age Limit to Open a PPF Account?
Though there is no minimum age to open a PPF account, minors under the age of 18 can open one by following the steps below:
- The individual must be an Indian citizen
- A minor’s guardian can open a PPF account on his or her behalf
- Grandparents cannot open a PPF account on behalf of their grandchildren unless they are the minors’ legal guardians
- A minimum of Rs. 500 and a maximum of Rs. 1.5 lakh can be deposited into the PPF account by the minor’s guardian in a financial year
Documents Required to Open PPF Account
Following is the list of documents that are required to be submitted to open a PPF account-
Documents to Open PPF Account |
PPF account opening form |
ID proof – PAN card, Driving license, Passport, Voter ID card, Aadhaar card |
Address proof, Electricity bill, Telephone bill, Aadhaar card, Ration card |
Passport size photographs |
Pay-in-slip at the bank branch to transfer the amount to the PPF account or a signed cheque |
Birth certificate to open minor PPF account |
Note-
- To open a PPF account offline, you must bring self-attested and original documents
- The procedure to open a PPF account online may differ; however, the basic documentation and application submission remain the same
Documents Required to Open a Minor’s PPF Account
Parents/guardians of the minor are required to submit the following documents-
Documents to be Submitted for Minor’s PPF Account |
Details of the minor and guardian in the form |
KYC documents of the guardian along with the photograph |
A cheque of minimum value as an initial contribution |
Minor’s proof of age/Aadhaar card/Birth certificate |
List of Forms associated with PPF Scheme
Following are the forms that are required to be used when opening a PPF account or to avail its related services-
Forms | Meaning |
Form A | To open a PPF account |
Form B | To make a deposit into the account or to make repayment of the loan |
Form C | To obtain the partial withdrawal |
Form D | To request a loan |
Form E | To make a nominee |
Form F | To make changes to the account details |
Form G | To claim funds in the account either by a legal heir or a nominee |
Form H | To extend the tenure of the account |
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