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Post Office Schemes

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Besides Share Market, Bank Fixed Deposits, Mutual Funds, ULIP's, there is another scheme which is quiet oldest and also one of the safest schemes for fixed returns as they are backed by Govt Of India, and are also the largest selling in both Urban and Rural India.

The Post Office Schemes :- A bunch of schemes offered by The postal department of India, and are available for everyone ranging from 100 Rs to Several Lacs with options of monthly and one time investments.

Here we will present the complete details of all investing schemes by the Indian Postal Department.

Why should you invest in Post Office Schemes

These schemes are offered by the Government of India.
Safe, secure and risk-free investment options.
No Tax Deduction at Source (TDS).
Nomination facility is available.
Nomination can be changed at any time
The instruments are transferable to any Post Office anywhere in India.
Attractive rates of interest.

Post Office Schemes:

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme
Post Office Time Deposit Scheme
Post Office Savings Account
National Savings Certificate
Kisan Vikas Patra

Govt schemes also offered through Post Offices:

Public Provident Fund
Senior Citizen's Savings Scheme

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme

Interest rate of 8% per annum payable monthly.
Maturity period is 6 years.
Minimum investment amount is Rs.1000/- or in multiple thereof.
Maximum amount is Rs. 3 lacs in single account and Rs. 6 lacs in a joint account.
Account can be opened by an individual, two/three adults jointly and a minor through a guardian.
A minor having attained 10 years of age can open an account in his/her own name directly.
Non-Resident Indian / HUF cannot open the Account.
Minor has a separate limit of investment of Rs. 3 lacs and the same is not clubbed with the limit of guardian.
A separate account is opened for each deposit.
Any number of accounts can be opened subject to the maximum prescribed limit.
Facility of automatic credit of monthly interest to saving account if accounts are at the same post office.
Facility of premature closure of account after one year @ 3.50% discount.
No deduction of 3.5% if account is closed on completion of three years.
Facility of reinvestment on maturity of an account.
Interest not with-drawan does not carry any interest.
Maturity proceeds not drawn are eligible to saving account interest rate for a maximum period of two years.
Account is transferable from one post office to any Post office in India free of cost.
Nomination facility available.
Rebate under section 80 C not admissible.
Interest income is taxable, but no TDS
Only scheme in Post office where monthly interest is payable.
Most suitable scheme for senior citizens and for those who need regular monthly income.
Deposits are exempt from Wealth Tax

National Savings Certificate

Minimum investment Rs. 500/- No maximum limit.
Rate of interest 8% compounded half yearly.
Rs. 1000/- grow to Rs. 1601/- in six years.
Two adults, Individuals, and minor through guardian can purchase.
Companies, Trusts, Societies and any other Institutions not eligible to purchase.
Non-resident Indian/HUF can not purchase.
No pre-mature encashment.
Annual interest earned is deemed to be reinvested and qualifies for tax rebate for first 5 years under section 80 C of Income Tax Act.
Maturity proceeds not drawn are eligible to Post Office Savings account interest for a maximum period of two years.
Facility of reinvestment on maturity.
Certificate can be pledged as security against a loan to banks/ Govt. Institutions.
Facility of encashment of certificates through banks.
Certificates are en-cashable any Post office in India before maturity by way of transfer to desired post office.
Certificates are transferable from one Post office to any Post office.
Certificates are transferable from one person to another person before maturity.
Duplicate Certificate can be issued for lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated or defaced certificate.
Nomination facility available.
Facility of purchase/payment to the holder of Power of attorney.
Tax Saving instrument - Rebate admissible under section 80 C of Income Tax Act.
Interest income is taxable but no TDS
Deposits are exempt from Wealth tax.

Public Provident fund

The Public Provident Fund Scheme is a statutory scheme of the Central Government of India.
The Scheme is for 15 years.
The rate of interest is 8% compounded annually.
The minimum deposit is 500/- and maximum is Rs. 70,000/- in a financial year.
One deposit with a minimum amount of Rs.500/- is mandatory in each financial year.
The deposit can be in lumpsum or in convenient installments, not more than 12 Installments in a year or two installments in a month subject to total deposit of Rs.70,000/-.
It is not necessary to make a deposit in every month of the year. The amount of deposit can be varied to suit the convenience of the account holders.
The account in which deposits are not made for any reasons is treated as discontinued account and such account can not be closed before maturity.
The discontinued account can be activated by payment of minimum deposit of Rs.500/- with default fee of Rs.50/- for each defaulted year.
Account can be opened by an individual or a minor through the guardian.
Joint account is not permissible.
Those who are contributing to GPF Fund or EDF account can also open a PPF account.
A Power of attorney holder can neither open or operate a PPF account.
The grand father/mother cannot open a PPF behalf of their minor
grand son/daughter.
The deposits shall be in multiple of Rs.5/- subject to minimum amount of Rs.500/-.
The deposit in a minor account is clubbed with the deposit of the account of the Guardian for the limit of Rs.70,000/-.
No age is prescribed for opening a PPF account.
Interest is not contractual but rate is notified by Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, at the end of each year.
The facility of first withdrawal in the 7th year of the account subject to a limit of 50% of the amount at credit preceding three year balance. Thereafter one Withdrawal in every year is permissible.
Pre-mature closure of a PPF Account is not permissible except in case of death.
Nominee/legal heir of PPF Account holder on death of the account holder can not continue the account, but account had to be closed.
The account holder has an option to extend the PPF account for any period in a block of 5 years on each time.
The account holder can retain the account after maturity for any period without making any further deposits. The balance in the account will continue to earn interest at normal rate as admissible on PPF account till the account is closed.
One withdrawal in each financial year is also admissible in such account.
The PPF scheme is operated through Post Office and Nationalized banks.
PPF account can be opened either in Post Office or in a Bank.
Account is transferable from one Post office to another and from Post office to Bank and from Bank to Post office.
Account is transferable from one Bank to another bank as well as within the bank to any branch.
Deposits in PPF qualify for rebate under section 80-C of Income Tax Act.
The interest on deposits is totally tax free.
Deposits are exempt from wealth tax.
The balance amount in PPF in PPF account is not subject to attachment under any order or decree of court in respect of any debt or liability.
Nomination facility available.
Best for long term investment.

Kisan Vikas Patra

Minimum Investment Rs. 500/- No maximum limit.
Rate of interest 8.40% compounded annually.
Money doubles in 8 years and 7 months.
Two adults, Individuals and minor through guardian can purchase.
Companies, Trusts, Societies and any other Institution not eligible to purchase.
Non-Resident Indian/HUF are not eligible to purchase.
Facility of encashment from 2 ½ years.
Maturity proceeds not drawn are eligible to Post office Savings account interest for a
maximum period of two years.
Facility of reinvestment on maturity.
Patras can be pledged as security against a loan to Banks/Govt. Institutions.
Patras are encashable at any Post office before maturity by way of transfer to desired
Post office.
Patras are transferable to any Post office in India.
Patras are transferable from one person to another person before maturity
Duplicate can be issued for lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated and defaced patras.
Nomination facility available.
Facility of purchase/payment of Kisan vikas Patras to the holder of Power of attorney.
Rebate under section 80 C not admissible.
Interest income taxable but no TDS
Deposits are exempt from Wealth tax.

Senior Citizen's Saving Scheme - 2004

OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME

We are all well aware that interest rate on Small Saving Scheme has been reduced to 5% in the last four years. The decline in interest rate was initiated from 1t January 2000. The interest rate on 31-12-1999 in Monthly Income Scheme was 13% which has come down to 8% with effect form 1.3.2003. The decrease in the interest rate has negative impact on the life of Senior Citizens. The dwindling interest income was cause of concern and hardship for them on the living conditions of the Senior Citizens. The interest income is a life time benefit for the senior citizens. The Budget for 2004-2005 presented in Parliament had two beneficiary aspects, as for as small Saving Schemes are concerned. The first one is that rats of interest on small savings which were unlikely to be expected to be reduced have been kept stable with no change in rate of interest in any Post Office scheme. The second beneficiary aspect was the introduction of Senior Citizen Saving Scheme-2004 with a higher rate of interest to any other small savings scheme which has come into operation from 2nd August 2004. The main objective of the scheme is to provide a relief to the senior citizens and to check the further decline in their interest income.

POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK

Minimum amount Rs20/- in case of non- cheque account, Rs.500/- in case of cheque account.
Minimum balance of Rs.500/- is to be maintained for a cheque account.
Account is opened with cash only.
Maximum balance permissible Rs. 1,00,000/- in a single account and 2,00,000/- in Joint account.
Two/Three adults, individuals, minor through guardian.
A Minor having 10 years of age can also open an account directly.
One individual account and one joint account can only be opened at a post office.