How to make your PPF A/c into a Income Tax Free Pension account, even while saving in Income Tax by investing in PPF A/c. If you invest in Government"s Pension Plan, Account opening minimum age is 18 years, and you have invest in it, till you reach age 60 years to get you the pension and pension will start after the age of 60 years. In PPF, you can invest in the Account of your child, by opening its account when you get your child's Aadhar Card, may be when child is one year old, and start investing in Child's PPF A/c by its both the parents, till the child attains the age of 17 years, and get Sec. 80-C Tax benefit, but within the overall maximum limit of 1.5 lakh for each of the individual parent. Any PPF account when it completes 15 financial years, excluding its account opening financial year, PPF Account can be extended by five financial years, in its 16th financial year, by filling Form-H. This extension of PPF Account can be indefinitely continued at the end of five financial years, during the life time of the PPF Account holder. During the extended five financial years period, account holder is eligible to withdraw 60% of the balance standing in the PPF A/c, at first day (1st April) of extended period. PPF Account allows one withdrawal per financial year in the extended period, to withdraw the eligible balance by the account holder. Account holder will withdraw 60/5=12% of the eligible withdrawal every financial year and keep 1/12 of this amount in Bank's fixed deposit, in such a way that, that each deposit will mature every month from one month to 12 months. Each such matured deposit will carry a small interest, (small interest) which is taxable, but principle is withdrawn from PPF Account is not taxable. Thus you can get a Income Tax Free Pension account, even for a child of 16 year old, which you can use it (through its guardian) from its PPF Account for child's education. Although PPF interest is now stands at 7.8%, since it is Income Tax Free, it is still good, compared to any other Pension Plans offered by the government's pension plan, insurance company's pension plan or pension plan companies pension plan so far offered, because their pension is not Income Tax free. Investment in Equity Linked Tax Savings Scheme (ELSS) is far more better than investment in PPF Account, since it has only 3 year lock in period for its investment and you can continue in it after lock 3 year lock in period, if wish so. Withdrawal is Income Tax Free in ELSS after 3 years and thereafter. If you want to know how to use your PPF Account as an Income Tax Free Pension Plan, kindly send your request by email to my email ID : s.s1954@rediffmail.com
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