Post Office Monthly Income Scheme

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme

Like any nationalised bank, the Post Office has been a trusted place for depositing and transacting with money. This is especially true for the elder generation. A number of saving schemes are offered by branches of the Post Office across the country. 

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme is one such scheme where you invest a certain amount and earn a fixed interest every month. As the name suggests, you can invest in this from any post office. 
In this article, we will cover the following aspects of POMIS.

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme

Post Office offers POMIS among a host of banking products and services, under the purview of the Finance Ministry. Hence, it is highly reliable. It is a low-risk MIS and generates a steady income. 

You can invest up to Rs.4.5 lakh individually or Rs. 9 lakh jointly, and the investment period is 5 years. Capital protection is its primary objective. For the quarter ending 30 September 2021, the interest rate is 6.6% per annum, payable monthly.

For instance, Mr Sharma has invested Rs.4.5 lakh in the post office monthly investment scheme for 5 years. As mentioned above, the interest rate is 6.6% p.a. His monthly income will be Rs.2,475 for that period. Post-maturity, he can withdraw his deposit, Rs.4.5 lakh, either from any post office or get it transferred to his savings account via Electronic Clearance Service. Alternatively, the account can be renewed.

Features & Benefits of Post Office Monthly Income Scheme

  • Capital protection: Your money is safe until maturity as this is a government-backed scheme. 
  • Tenure: The lock-in period for Post Office MIS is 5 years. You can withdraw the invested amount when the scheme matures or reinvest it. 
  • Low-risk investment: As a fixed income scheme, the money you invested is not subject to market risks and is quite safe. 
  • Affordable deposit amount: You can start with a nominal initial investment of Rs.1,000. As per your affordability, you can invest in multiples of this amount. 
  • Guaranteed returns: You earn income in the form of interest every month. The returns are not inflation-beating but are higher compared to other fixed-income investments like FD. 
  • Tax-efficiency: Your investment is not covered under Section 80C; TDS is not applicable either. 
  • Payout: You will receive the payout after one month from making the first investment, and not the beginning of every month. 
  • Multiple account ownership: You can open more than one account in your name. But the total deposit amount cannot exceed Rs.4.5 lakh in all of them together. 
  • Joint account: You can open a joint account with 2 or 3 people. In this case, an aggregate sum of up to Rs.9 lakh can be invested in this account.
  • Fund movement: The investor can move the funds to a recurring deposit (RD) account, which is a feature Post Office has added recently. 
  • Nominee: The investor can nominate a beneficiary (a family member) so that they can claim the benefits and corpus if the investor passes away during the account’s term. 
  • Ease of money/interest transaction: You may collect the monthly interest directly from the post office or get it transferred automatically to your savings account. Reinvesting the interest in a SIP is also a lucrative option. 
  • Reinvestment: You may reinvest the corpus post maturity in the same scheme for another block of 5 years to continue earning benefits. 

Eligibility criteria to open a POMIS account

  • Only a resident Indian can open a POMIS account. 
  • NRIs cannot enjoy the benefits of this scheme. 
  • Any adult can open an account. 
  • You can open an account on the behalf of a minor who is aged 10 years and above. They can avail the fund when they become 18 years old. 
  • A minor, after attaining majority, has to apply for conversion of the account in his name.
Account TypeMaximum Deposit Amount Allowed
Single AccountRs.4.5 lakh
Joint Account (2 or 3 adults)Rs.9 lakh

How to open a POMIS Account

Opening a POMIS account is not as tedious as you think. Instead of imagining long queues and even longer paperwork, please take a look at the step-by-step procedure.
  • Open a post office savings account, if you haven’t already.
  • Collect a POMIS application form from your Post Office.
  • Submit the duly filled form along with a photocopy of your ID and residential proofs and 2 passport-size photos at the Post Office. Do carry the originals for verification.
  • Get the signatures of your witness or nominee(s) on the form.
  • Make the initial deposit via cash or cheque. In the case of a post-dated cheque, the date on the cheque will be the account opening date.
  • Once the processing is done, the executive at Post Office will provide you with the details of your newly opened account.

Consequences of early withdrawal

Time of POMIS withdrawalOutcomes of premature withdrawal
Before completing one yearZero benefits
Between 1st and 3rd yearEntire deposit refunded after deducting a 2% penalty
Between 3rd and 5th yearEntire corpus refunded with 1% penalty

Comparing Post Office MIS with other Monthly Income Plans

POMISMonthly Income Mutual FundMonthly Income Insurance
Assured income at an annual rate of 6.6%Invested in 20:80 equity-debt ratio and hence no guaranteed incomeMonthly annuities (rates vary based on premiums & period)
No TDSTDS appliedAnnuity is taxed
Fixed return rateFloating rate as per the market movementNA
Low-risk, suitable for the risk-averseSuitable for people with a high-risk appetiteDouble benefits of investment & insurance
Withdrawal permitted after 12 months with penaltyExit load applicable if withdrawn before timeHigher surrender charges as this is a long-term investment
Limit of Rs. 4.5 lakhs per account and Rs. 9 lakhs for a shared accountNo investment limitNo investment limit

Who should invest in POMIS?

POMIS has the flexibility and reliability that appeal to risk-averse investors, albeit with limited tax benefits. If you think, you belong to that category, now is the time to consider starting one.




For more information on this, visit TAXAJ

Posted by Aashima
Team TaxaJ

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