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Tax Saving FD Calculator — Section 80C

Calculate your 5-year tax-saving FD maturity with quarterly compounding, see the post-tax effective return at your slab rate, and compare with ELSS and PPF. Find the best bank rates for tax-saver FDs. All Section 80C instruments give the same deduction — the difference is in returns, tax on returns, and lock-in period.

Amount to invest in tax-saving FD (80C limit: ₹1,50,000/year)
% p.a.
Annual interest rate offered by your bank (typically 6.5-7.5%)
years
Tax-saving FD has a mandatory 5-year lock-in (cannot be changed)
Old regime slab rate. FD interest is taxed at your marginal slab rate.

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How to Use This Calculator

Tax-Saving FD Returns tab

Enter your deposit amount (up to ₹1,50,000 for full 80C benefit), the interest rate offered by your bank (typically 6.5-7.5% p.a.), and your income tax slab. The tenure is fixed at 5 years (mandatory lock-in for tax-saving FDs). The calculator shows maturity amount with quarterly compounding, tax on interest at your slab rate, post-tax effective return, and Section 80C tax saving.

FD vs ELSS vs PPF tab

Enter your investment amount and tax slab. The calculator compares all three popular Section 80C instruments side by side for 5 years: Tax-saving FD at 7% (quarterly compounding, interest fully taxable), ELSS at 12% expected return (3-year lock-in, LTCG 12.5% above ₹1.25L), and PPF at 7.1% (annual compounding, completely tax-free under EEE status). See the post-tax maturity for each to decide which suits your risk profile.

Best Bank Rates tab

Enter your deposit amount and tax slab. The calculator shows a comparison of 5-year tax-saver FD rates across major banks (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, PNB, Axis) for both regular and senior citizen categories. Senior citizens get an additional 0.50% at most banks. See the maturity and post-tax value for each bank to pick the best option.

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The Formula

Tax-saving FDs compound interest quarterly. The maturity amount, tax, and 80C saving are calculated as follows:

FD Maturity (Quarterly Compounding):
A = P × (1 + r/4)4×t

Where:
P = Principal (deposit amount)
r = Annual interest rate (as decimal, e.g. 7% = 0.07)
t = Tenure in years (always 5 for tax-saving FD)
4 = Compounding frequency (quarterly)

Total Interest:
Interest = A − P

Tax on Interest:
Tax = Interest × Slab Rate

Post-Tax Maturity:
Post-Tax Value = A − Tax

Section 80C Tax Saving:
Tax Saved = min(P, ₹1,50,000) × Slab Rate

Example: ₹1,50,000 at 7% for 5 years
A = 1,50,000 × (1 + 0.07/4)20 = ₹2,12,217
Interest = ₹62,217
Tax at 30% = ₹18,665
Post-tax value = ₹1,93,552
80C saving = ₹1,50,000 × 30% = ₹45,000 (+ 4% cess = ₹46,800)

Note: FD interest is taxable on an accrual basis every financial year, not just at maturity. TDS is deducted by the bank if interest exceeds ₹40,000/year (₹50,000 for senior citizens). The effective post-tax return at 30% slab on a 7% FD is approximately 4.9%.

Example

Ravi — IT professional in Pune, investing ₹1.5L in SBI tax-saver FD

Ravi (32) earns ₹12L per year and is in the 30% tax slab under the old regime. He wants to maximise his Section 80C deduction. His EPF contribution already covers ₹72,000 of the ₹1.5L limit. He decides to invest the remaining ₹78,000 in a tax-saving FD at SBI (6.50% p.a.) for the guaranteed return and simplicity. But first, he wants to understand the full picture — returns, tax, and how it compares to PPF and ELSS.

Step 1: Tax-Saving FD calculation (SBI, 6.50%)

Deposit₹1,50,000
Rate6.50% p.a. (quarterly compounding)
Tenure5 years
Tax slab30%

Step 2: Results

Maturity amount₹2,07,063
Total interest earned₹57,063
Tax on interest at 30%₹17,119
Post-tax maturity value₹1,89,944
80C tax saving₹46,800

Step 3: Comparison at a glance

Tax-saving FD (SBI 6.50%)₹1,89,944 post-tax
PPF (7.1%, tax-free)₹2,11,368 post-tax
ELSS (12% expected)~₹2,64,351 post-tax

Ravi sees that PPF gives ₹21,424 more than the tax-saving FD over 5 years (both guaranteed), and ELSS could give ₹74,000+ more if markets perform. He decides to split: ₹78,000 in PPF for safety, and sets a reminder to explore ELSS next year as his risk appetite grows.

FAQ

A tax-saving fixed deposit is a special type of bank FD with a mandatory 5-year lock-in period that qualifies for tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. You can invest up to ₹1,50,000 per financial year and claim it as a deduction from your gross total income (under the old tax regime only). The interest rate is the same as a regular 5-year FD at most banks. Key features: (1) 5-year lock-in with no premature withdrawal, (2) no loan against this FD, (3) interest is fully taxable at your slab rate, (4) nomination facility available, (5) available at all scheduled banks and select post offices.
No. Unlike regular FDs, tax-saving FDs cannot be broken or withdrawn before the 5-year lock-in period ends. This is a mandatory condition for claiming the Section 80C deduction. You also cannot take a loan or overdraft facility against a tax-saving FD. The only exception is the death of the depositor, in which case the nominee or legal heir can claim the amount before maturity. If you need liquidity, consider PPF (partial withdrawal from year 7) or ELSS (3-year lock-in, then fully liquid). Plan your emergency fund separately before locking money in a tax-saving FD.
Yes, FD interest is fully taxable at your income slab rate under "Income from Other Sources". The bank deducts TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) at 10% if your total FD interest across all branches of that bank exceeds ₹40,000/year (₹50,000 for senior citizens). If you don't provide your PAN, TDS is deducted at 20%. Important: TDS is deducted on accrued interest each financial year, not just at maturity. So even though the FD is locked for 5 years, TDS reduces your interest income annually. You can submit Form 15G (or 15H for seniors) if your total income is below the basic exemption limit to avoid TDS deduction.
Under Section 80C, you can deduct up to ₹1,50,000 per financial year from your gross total income. This limit is shared across multiple instruments: EPF, PPF, ELSS, tax-saving FD, NSC, life insurance premium, tuition fees, home loan principal, and more. The deduction is available only under the old tax regime — not the new regime (default from FY 2023-24). For a 30% slab taxpayer, a ₹1.5L investment saves ₹46,800 in tax (₹1,50,000 × 30% + 4% cess). The tax saving is the same regardless of which 80C instrument you choose — so the decision should be based on returns, risk, and lock-in period.
For most investors, PPF is better than a tax-saving FD. Here is why: (1) PPF returns are completely tax-free (EEE status) while FD interest is taxed at your slab rate — at 30% slab, a 7% FD effectively yields only ~4.9% post-tax, while PPF's 7.1% is fully tax-free. (2) PPF has a sovereign guarantee (Government of India), while FD is insured only up to ₹5L per bank (DICGC). (3) PPF allows partial withdrawal from year 7, while tax-saving FD allows no withdrawal for 5 years. The only advantage of a tax-saving FD: it matures in 5 years (vs PPF's 15-year lock-in), so you get your money back sooner. If you need the money after exactly 5 years, tax-saving FD wins on liquidity. For everything else, PPF is superior.

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