Updated June 2026

EPF vs PPF vs NPS Calculator

₹5,000/month for 25 years: EPF gives ₹47L, PPF gives ₹40L, NPS can give ₹66L. But NPS isn't fully tax-free. Compare all three after tax and inflation.

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EPF

Corpus₹49.87 L
Interest Earned₹34.87 L
Tax on MaturityTax-Free*

*EEE status; taxable if service < 5 yrs

PPF

Corpus₹41.23 L
Interest Earned₹26.23 L
Tax on MaturityTax-Free

EEE status; sovereign guarantee

NPS

Winner
Total Corpus₹66.89 L
Lump Sum (60%)₹40.14 L
Monthly Pension₹13,379

60% lump sum tax-free; pension taxable

NPS builds the largest corpus — ₹66.89 L

Investing ₹5,000/month for 25 years (total: ₹15.00 L). NPS wins on corpus size due to equity exposure (10% return), but 40% must buy annuity and pension is taxable. EPF/PPF are fully tax-free.

Note: EPF requires active employment. PPF max ₹1.5L/year. NPS has market risk but potential for higher returns.

How This Calculator Works

Enter your monthly contribution and time horizon. The calculator projects corpus growth for all three instruments simultaneously, accounting for: EPF's fixed government rate, PPF's guaranteed rate, and NPS's market-linked returns. Toggle inflation to see real purchasing power at retirement.

The Tax Treatment Changes Everything

EPF and PPF have EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) status — your contribution, growth, and withdrawal are all tax-free. NPS is EET — contributions get tax deduction, growth is tax-free, but the 40% annuity at retirement is taxed as income. This means NPS needs to deliver significantly higher returns to beat EPF/PPF on a post-tax basis.

At 30% tax bracket: EPF at 8.25% tax-free = ~11.8% pre-tax equivalent. NPS needs 12%+ just to match EPF after its partial taxability.

The Smart Strategy: Use All Three

  1. EPF (automatic) — 12% of basic from you + employer match. Tax-free guaranteed 8.25%. This is your foundation.
  2. PPF (₹1.5L/year) — Sovereign guarantee + EEE. Your risk-free compounding vehicle for 15-30 years.
  3. NPS (₹50K/year) — Extra 80CCD(1B) deduction under old regime + higher equity-linked growth potential.

Which Should You Prioritize?

  • Young (25-35), aggressive — Max EPF + NPS with 75% equity allocation. Skip PPF if you want higher growth.
  • Mid-career (35-45), balanced — EPF + PPF + NPS. All three for diversification across risk levels.
  • Near retirement (50+), conservative — EPF + PPF. Avoid NPS's mandatory annuity if you already have enough pension coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which gives the highest returns — EPF, PPF, or NPS?
NPS typically gives highest returns (9-12% historically) because it invests in equities. EPF gives 8-8.5% (government-set rate, changes annually). PPF gives 7.1% (lowest but guaranteed). However, NPS returns are market-linked and not guaranteed — you could get less than EPF/PPF in a bad decade.
Which is fully tax-free at maturity?
EPF and PPF both have EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) status — contribution, interest, and maturity are all tax-free (EPF: if service > 5 years). NPS is EET — 60% lump sum is tax-free at retirement, but the 40% annuity pension is taxable as regular income. This makes EPF/PPF better on a post-tax basis for the same pre-tax return.
Can I invest in all three simultaneously?
Yes! And you should diversify. EPF is mandatory for salaried employees (12% of basic). PPF allows additional voluntary savings up to ₹1.5L/year with sovereign guarantee. NPS gives extra ₹50,000 deduction under 80CCD(1B) beyond 80C limit. A smart strategy: max out EPF (automatic) + PPF (₹1.5L/year) + NPS (₹50K/year for extra tax benefit under old regime).
What if I leave my job — what happens to EPF?
You can transfer EPF to new employer (recommended — maintains continuity and tax-free status). If unemployed > 2 months, you can withdraw. But withdrawal before 5 years of service makes it taxable. PPF and NPS are independent of employment — they continue regardless of job changes.
Which has the best liquidity?
PPF allows partial withdrawal from year 7 (up to 50% of balance). EPF allows partial withdrawal for home purchase, medical emergency, and education after certain service periods. NPS has the least liquidity — partial withdrawal (25% of own contributions) only after 3 years, and only for specific reasons. For emergency access, none of these is great; keep a separate emergency fund.
Is NPS worth it just for the extra ₹50K tax deduction?
Under old regime: ₹50K extra deduction saves ₹15,600 tax (at 30% + cess). Over 25 years at 10% NPS return, that ₹50K/year grows to ₹59L+ corpus. The lock-in until 60 is the main downside. Under new regime: NPS 80CCD(1B) deduction is NOT available, so the tax benefit disappears. In new regime, NPS is worth it only if you believe equity returns (10%+) justify the lock-in.
What happens to PPF after 15 years?
PPF matures after 15 years, but you can extend in blocks of 5 years indefinitely — with or without further contributions. Extended PPF continues earning the prevailing interest rate. This makes PPF an excellent lifelong tax-free compounding vehicle. Many people keep PPF running for 25-30 years for retirement.
EPF interest rate keeps changing — is it reliable?
EPF rate is set annually by EPFO and approved by the government. It has ranged from 8.1% to 8.65% in the last decade — relatively stable. The rate is declared after the financial year ends, so there is some uncertainty. But historically, EPF has never gone below 8% in the last 20 years. It is considered quasi-guaranteed.

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 NPS Calculator

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