Post Office Monthly Income Scheme: Interest Rate & Features

Benefits Of Post Office Monthly Income Scheme

• The scheme became active on 1st December 2011 with a maturity period of 5 years i.e. 60 months. The scheme is thus, treated as active from the date when the investor opens the account.
• The money that is deposited in the scheme is considered to be very safe, as the scheme is supported by the government.
• This scheme is treated as tax efficient, even if it doesn’t fall under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and, no Tax Deducted at Source is available for this scheme.
• The account can be either opened by an individual, or jointly. Maximum of three account holders who are adults can open the account jointly. Also, in case if the account is opened jointly, all the holders are considered to be as equal owners of the account.
• The amount received every month will be from the month from when the first investment was made and not from the starting of every month.
• The account can be opened with a minimum amount of Rs.1,500/-. However, in case if the investor wants to invest more, he can do so by investing the amount in multiples of Rs.1,500.
• This scheme provides fixed income and it is not much prone to the market risk. It is also considered to be as one of the safest schemes.
• Interest can be earned every month from the money invested in this scheme. This interest is not subject to any price rise, and is also more than the other investment options which give fixed income.
• The investor also has an opportunity to nominate a beneficiary under this scheme. Thus, the beneficiaries can get the benefits of the amount invested, and the interest which is received every month from the scheme after the death of the investor.
• The interest which is received monthly can be directly taken by you from the post office, or it can also be transferred to your savings bank account. This interest can further be invested in SIP to get some amazing returns.
• In case, if the investor is moving to another city, then he can transfer such investment to the post office of that particular city without paying any money for it.
• It is possible for an account holder to open as many accounts as he wants. However, the total investment in this scheme should not be more than Rs. 4. 5 lacs in all the accounts at the same time.
• The amount deposited in this scheme can be moved to a recurring deposit in a post office. This feature of the recurring deposit is newly introduced.
• The account can be opened only by an Indian resident. Non- resident Indians cannot open an account in this scheme.
• An account can be opened in the name of your child provided he is 10 or above years of age.
• When the minor reaches the age of 18 years they can get the amount which was deposited in this scheme. In such cases, the investment amount cannot be more than Rs. 3 lacs. Once a minor reaches 18 years of age, he has to apply for transferring the account in his name.
• Initially, a bonus of 5% was distributed on the amount of investment. However, after 1st December 2011, no bonus is being declared to any accounts opened.
• This scheme does not offer any tax refund on the investments made or on the amount which is received at the end of the investment’s tenure.

Opening An Account In Post Office Monthly Income Scheme

It is not at all tough to open an account in the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme.

The following is the process which an investor needs to follow for opening an account in the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme:

• In case, if you still have not opened a post office savings accounts then please do so.
• From the nearest post office, pick up the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme application form.
• Submit the application form with a photocopy of your identity proof, residential proof, and 2 passport sized photographs at the post office. Also, please carry your original identity proof and residential proof for the verification.
• Do get the signatures of your witness or nominee(s) on the form.
• You can make the first payment either with cash or cheque. However, please do keep in mind that if you are submitting a post-dated cheque, then the date of such cheque will be treated as the opening date of the account.

Withdrawal Of The Deposit Amount Before The Maturity Of The Scheme

The following terms and conditions prevail, in case, if the investor withdraws the deposit amount before the maturity period i.e. 5 years:

• The investor can get a 2% discount on the deposit amount, in case if he withdraws the deposit amount within a span of three years from the date of opening of the account.
• The investor can get a 1% discount on the deposit amount, in case if he withdraws the deposit amount after three years from the date of opening of the account.

Who Should Invest In Post Office Monthly Income Scheme

This scheme is specially created for such investors who do not want to face any risks, who are not interested in investing in equity related instruments, and who are searching for such scheme which can give a fixed monthly income. It is particularly meant for senior citizens, and for those who have just stopped working and will no longer receive any salary and are set to deposit in a scheme to receive a fixed amount every month that can be used to keep up with their standard of living. Thus, basically, the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme was introduced so that there can be a steady flow of income for a longer period.

How Does Post Office Monthly Income Scheme Work

Mr. X opts to put his money in Post Office Monthly Income Scheme. He puts in Rs. 1, 00,000/- for a maturity of five years. An interest rate of 8.5% per annum will offer him Rs. 708/- every month. . At the maturity of this scheme, he will receive all his deposit money back.

Mr. X can withdraw the money in two ways- i.e. either collect it from the post office where he deposited the amount, or he can get it transferred to his savings account through ECS. However, money can be actually withdrawn every month by Mr. X. Mr. X can let all the money get collected for some months at a time and afterwards, withdraw the amount. However, it is not advisable to let the money get collected for some months as it will not give Mr. X with any interest.

A new aspect was further added to make the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme more successful. The investor would have an opportunity to club his Post Office Monthly Income Scheme with a recurring deposit. In this new feature, the interest that earned through Post Office Monthly Income Scheme can be further invested in recurring deposits which would have allowed an investor to make more money.

Currently, the rate of interest on the amount deposited in this scheme is 7.30% per annum. Also, the interest amount which will be receivable every month can be further invested in recurring deposits at the rate of 7.30% per annum.

Thus, the main motive behind the investors investing in Post Office Monthly Income Scheme is that they are guaranteed to get a fixed amount of money in the form of interest every month which will be treated as a regular income for them. Although it doesn’t have any tax incentives, it is still preferred as an investment option by the small time investors.

In case if you feel that this scheme is worth investing in. then do consider it at the earliest and invest some money in the scheme.