How to reap big benefits from small saving schemes

The interest rates of small saving schemes are linked to the yield of government bonds and revised every year. ET gives a ready reckoner of the current rates and features of these schemes.

POST OFFICE MONTHLY INCOME SCHEME

Interest rate offered: 8.4%

Lock-in period: Five years. Premature encashment allowed after one year, with deductions.

Tax benefits: None

Investment limit: Rs 1,500 to Rs 4.5 lakh in a single account and Rs 9 lakh in a joint account.

Pros: Suitable for those looking for a secure monthly income. Senior citizens can park a portion of their investments in this scheme.

Cons: Long lock-in period. Unlike bank FDs, this does not offer senior citizens a preferential rate of interest.


KISAN VIKAS PATRA*

Interest rate offered: 8.7%

Lock-in period: 100 months. Premature withdrawal two and a half years.

Tax benefits: None

Investment limit: Minimim Rs 1,000 and no maximum cap. Investments have to be made in denominations of Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000.

Pros: An attractive and secure interest rate. Can be encashed after two and a half years. Transfer of instrument is permitted.

Cons: Interest earned is taxable, eating into post-tax returns. Other more remunerative instruments have an upper hand.


PUBLIC PROVIDENT FUND*

Interest rate offered: 8.7%

Lock-in period: 15 years. Partial withdrawals allowed from the seventh financial year. Loans can be sought from the third financial year.

Tax benefits: Deductions under Sec 80C for investments up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Investment limit : Rs 500 to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Pros: Attractive, guaranteed and taxfree returns. The instrument is exempt from tax at investment, accumulation and maturity stages (EEE).

Cons: Largely illiquid due to the long lock-in tenure. Will not help meet short-term needs.
10-YEAR NATIONAL SAVINGS CERTIFICATE

Interest rate offered: 8.8%

Lock-in period: 10 years

Tax benefits: Deductions up to Rs 1.5 lakh under Section 80C.

Investment limit: Minimum Rs 100. No maximum limit. Investments have to be made in denominations of Rs 100, Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000.

Pros: Easy to purchase and understand. Offers assured returns with tax benefits.

Cons: Interest earned is subject to tax on maturity. For senior citizens, not as lucrative as taxsaver bank fixed deposits.


SENIOR CITIZENS SAVINGS SCHEME*

Interest rate offered: 9.3%

Lock-in period: Five years. Premature closure allowed after one year and two years on deduction of 1.5% and 1% respectively of the deposit. Interest is paid out every quarter, offering liquidity during the lock-in period.

Tax benefits: Deduction under Section 80C for investments up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Investment limit : Rs 1,000 to Rs 15 lakh.

Pros: High, secure returns, with partial liquidity.

Cons: Locking away huge amounts could deprive senior citizens of funds for medical and other emergencies in the interim.


5 YEAR NATIONAL SAVINGS CERTIFICATE

Interest rate offered: 8.5%

Lock-in period: Five years

Tax benefits: Deductions up to Rs 1.5 lakh under Sec 80C.

Investment limit: Minimum Rs 100. No maximum limit. Investments have to be made in denominations of Rs 100, Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000.

Pros: Easy to purchase and understand. Offers assured returns with tax benefits.

Cons: Interest earned is subject to tax on maturity. For senior citizens, not as lucrative as tax-saver fixed deposits from banks.


SUKANYA SAMRIDDHI YOJANA*

Interest rate offered: 9.2%

Lock-in period: Till the girl child turns 21. Partial withdrawal of up to 50% of the balance (as on last date of the preceding financial year) allowed after the girl turns 18 years old. Premature withdrawal of the entire balance permitted upon marriage of the girl after she turns 18.

Tax benefits: Deduction under Section 80C for investment up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Investment limit : Rs 1,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh.

Pros: Offers high, tax-free and guaranteed returns. Ideal scheme for parents looking to build a corpus for the education of their girl child under 10.

Cons: Lengthy lock-in period. More illiquid than PPF.


FIVE-YEAR POST OFFICE TIME DEPOSITS#

Interest rate offered: 8.5%

Lock-in period: Five years

Tax benefits: Deduction up to Rs 1.5 lakh under Section 80C.

Investment limit : Minimum Rs 200. No maximum limit. Further investments have to be made in multiples of Rs 200.

Pros: Easy to understand, operate and invest in. Tax concessions.

Cons: Returns earned are taxable. Senior citizens can earn higher returns (9-9.25%) by investing in tax-saver FDs


*Apart from post offices, some banks also facilitate investments in these instruments

# You can also invest in five-year recurring deposits (8.4%) or fixed deposits with shorter tenures of between one to four years (8.4%). However, deposits with these tenures won't entitle you to tax benefits

Source :The Economic Times