Compound Interest Formula:
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Compound interest is the interest calculated on the initial principal and also on the accumulated interest of previous periods. It's a powerful concept in finance where your money grows at an accelerating rate over time, making it particularly beneficial for long-term investments.
The calculator uses the compound interest formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates how much your investment will grow over time with compound interest, taking into account how frequently the interest is compounded.
Details: Compound interest is fundamental to various Indian investment vehicles including fixed deposits, recurring deposits, mutual funds, PPF, and other long-term savings instruments. Understanding compound interest helps Indian investors make informed decisions about their financial future.
Tips: Enter principal amount in Indian rupees, annual interest rate as a percentage, number of compounding periods per year (e.g., 12 for monthly, 4 for quarterly, 1 for annually), and time period in years. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What's the difference between simple and compound interest?
A: Simple interest is calculated only on the principal amount, while compound interest is calculated on both the principal and accumulated interest, leading to faster growth.
Q2: How does compounding frequency affect returns?
A: More frequent compounding (monthly vs annually) results in higher returns due to interest being calculated and added to the principal more often.
Q3: What are common compounding frequencies in India?
A: Common frequencies include annually, semi-annually, quarterly, and monthly, depending on the financial product.
Q4: Is compound interest taxable in India?
A: Yes, interest earned through compound interest is generally taxable under the Income Tax Act, 1961, unless specifically exempted.
Q5: Which Indian investments use compound interest?
A: Fixed deposits, recurring deposits, PPF, NSC, mutual funds (through dividend reinvestment), and various other savings instruments.