Your PF is an important part of savings and investments for the future. The employer and employee contribute to the amount saved in a PF account for retirement purposes. However, it is possible to take a loan against PF. This can be availed for various purposes including education and home renovation or construction. To find out more about education loans against PF, continue reading the blog.
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Overview of Loan against PF
A loan against PF means taking a loan for education or other purposes and using the contributions made towards the Provident Fund. You can withdraw funds from your PF account as a loan to pursue higher education, to renovate or construct or home, for home loan repayment, etc.
| Loan against PF? Yes, it is possible | |
| Loan amount | 25% of the PPF balance at the end of the preceding year in which applying for loans |
| Interest Rates | 1% more than the prevailing PF interest rates for up to 36 months and 6% more for loans exceeding 36 months |
| Repayment Tenure | 12 months to 36 months |
| Popular Banks offering Loan against PF | HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda |
Please Note: Banks may or may not directly help with education loans or loans for any other purpose against PF. It is recommended to apply directly via EPFO’s official website. You can click on ‘Raise Claim’ by entering your UAN and OTP received. EPFO verifies the reason for the withdrawal. Once verified, you can use it as funds.
Also Read: Is the loan cancelled and discharged on the death of the borrower? To know what happens to the education loan when the borrower dies, read this blog.
Here are some important things to consider before taking a loan against PF-
Loan Amount
The maximum loan amount depends on the bank you are planning to take a loan against PF. Ideally, it is 25% of the PPF balance at the end of the second financial year immediately preceding the year in which the loan is being taken.
For example- Let’s say you want a loan in 2024-2025. The amount will be based on your PPF account balance as of March 31st, 2023, not how much you have right now.
Popular banks like HDFC and Bank of Baroda have a similar for offering education loans against PF in terms of the maximum loan amount.
Interest Rates
Interest Rates offered on loans against PF are 1% more than the prevailing PPF interest rates. This is only when the loan is taken for up to 36 months or 3 years. Interest rates on loans against PF are 6% more than the prevailing PPF interest rates if the loan repayment tenure is more than 36 months.
Repayment Tenure
Repayment terms might vary, but usually, you’ll need to repay the loan within a set timeframe after completing your studies or starting your new job (whichever comes first). Loans against PF have shorter repayment periods. Usually, they range from 12 months to 36 months.
What is an Education Loan against PF?
An education loan against PF means utilising funds in a PF account for educational purposes. It helps you use the funds to pay tuition fees and adjust your living expenses.
It means that the money in the account can be used as an education loan (or any other type) in case of financial emergencies. In short, an education loan against PF allows you to borrow a part of your PF to fund your education. These loans are similar to education loans against FD, where fixed deposits are used to fund higher education.
Ideally, the contributions made in the PF can be withdrawn as a lump sum amount when they retire. However, salaried employees can make partial withdrawals during the employment period for repayment of loans.
Also Read: Planning to pursue online courses? Check out the best banks, eligibility criteria, and documentation for education loans for online degree courses.
Benefits of Loans against PF
A loan against PF offers many benefits, especially if you wish to avail it for educational purposes. From attractive interest rates and tax benefits to no need for pledging additional security, loans against PF offer many benefits. Check them out below-
- Attractive Interest Rates: Compared to traditional education loans, loans against PF typically offer lower interest rates. This is because your PF savings act as collateral, reducing the risk for lenders.
- No Additional Security Required: Unlike regular education loans, you generally don’t need additional security like property or guarantors when taking a loan against PF. This is because a loan against PF is a personal loan.
- Tax Benefits: The interest paid on an education loan against PF may be tax-deductible under Section 80E of the Income Tax Act (subject to prevailing tax laws).
Documents Required
To apply for a loan against PF, you need to provide your PF statements to the lender. Besides this, depending on the purpose of the loan applied for (home renovation, construction, or academics), the document checklist varies. Here’s the list of documents needed for an education loan against PF-
- Application form
- KYC documents (PAN Card, Aadhaar Card)
- Salary slips of the past few months
- PF account statement
- Admission letter or other proof of enrollment
Popular Banks
Many Indian banks provide loans against PF. So, as a PPF holder, you can avail of an education loan against the PPF or a loan for any purpose with most banks, including many of the public sector banks for education loans. Some of the popular banks offering education loans against PF are-
- HDFC Bank
- Bank of Baroda
- ICICI Bank
- Bajaj Finserv
- Kotak Mahindra Bank
- IndusInd Bank
- Axis Bank
- SBI
Also Read: Know all about the YES Bank account opening for international students. Check out the benefits, eligibility, and account opening process.
This was all about education loans against PF. They can be a valuable tool to finance your education. By understanding the benefits, limitations, and alternatives, you can make an informed decision about whether this option aligns with your financial goals. Visit the nearest bank branch to avail of loans against PF.
To know more about education loans, the best bank accounts for students, forex cards, and banking experience for global students or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience
FAQs
Yes. It is possible to take a loan against PF. This can be availed for various purposes including education and home renovation or construction. Banks like HDFC, Bank of Baroda, and ICICI bank are popular banks.
An education loan against PF means utilising funds in a PF account for educational purposes. It helps you use the funds to pay tuition fees and adjust your living expenses. In short, it allows you to borrow a part of your PF to fund your education.
The maximum loan amount depends on the bank you are planning to take a loan against PF. Ideally, it is 25% of the PPF balance at the end of the second financial year immediately preceding the year in which the loan is being taken.
Let’s say you want a loan in 2024-2025. The amount will be based on your PPF account balance as of March 31st, 2023, not how much you have right now. If you have INR 1,00,000 as of March 31st, 2023, you can get only 25% of 1,00,000 = INR 25,000 as a loan against PF in 2024-25.
Interest Rates offered on loans against PF are 1% more than the prevailing PPF interest rates. This is only when the loan is taken for up to 36 months or 3 years. If the repayment exceeds 36 months, the interest rate will be 6% more.
Loans against PF have shorter repayment periods. Usually, they range from 12 months to 36 months.
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