Post Office TD Calculator
Enter your deposit and tenure to see the exact maturity value at current post office TD rates.
Runs entirely in your browser — your numbers never leave this page.
How it works
The Post Office Time Deposit is the government’s FD — sovereign-backed, no bank-failure risk, four tenures:
- Current rates (Oct–Dec 2026): 1 yr 6.9% · 2 yr 7.0% · 3 yr 7.1% · 5 yr 7.5% — unchanged since January 2024.
- Quarterly compounding, annual payout: interest accrues every quarter but lands in your account once a year — so the effective yield beats the headline rate (7.5% works out to ~7.71%).
- Only the 5-year TD saves tax: it qualifies for 80C (up to ₹1.5 lakh). The 1/2/3-year TDs get no deduction.
- The 5-year lock-in trap: for deposits opened after Nov 2023, breaking the 5-year TD before 4 years earns just 4% savings-account interest for the entire period — treat it as a 4-year minimum commitment.
- Fully taxable interest: TD interest is taxed at your slab every year it is paid, and TDS applies above ₹40,000 a year (₹50,000 for seniors).
Frequently asked questions
What are the current post office TD rates?
For Oct–Dec 2026: 6.9% (1 yr), 7.0% (2 yr), 7.1% (3 yr), 7.5% (5 yr). Rates are reviewed quarterly and have been frozen since January 2024.
How is post office TD interest calculated?
Compounded quarterly but paid annually. A 7.5% TD therefore yields about 7.71% effective per year.
Is post office TD eligible for 80C?
Only the 5-year TD qualifies, up to ₹1.5 lakh. The 1, 2 and 3-year deposits get no tax deduction.
What is the minimum deposit?
₹1,000, in multiples of ₹100. There is no maximum limit.
Can I break a post office TD early?
1/2/3-year TDs can be closed after a year at the completed-tenure rate minus 2%. The 5-year TD earns only 4% if broken before 4 years.
Is post office TD interest taxable?
Yes — fully taxable at your slab rate in the year it is paid. TDS of 10% applies if annual interest exceeds ₹40,000 (₹50,000 for senior citizens).
Post office TD vs bank FD — which is safer?
The TD carries a sovereign guarantee; bank FDs are protected only up to ₹5 lakh by DICGC insurance.
Can NRIs open a post office TD?
No — only resident individuals (including minors via guardians) can open one. HUFs are not eligible either.
Can I take a loan against my TD?
No loan facility exists against post office time deposits, unlike most bank FDs.
Is the 5-year TD better than NSC?
NSC pays 7.7% compounded annually with 80C on the deposit plus deemed reinvestment benefit; the 5-year TD pays 7.5% with annual payouts. NSC usually wins on post-tax compounding.