Run a conservative scenario before relying on the headline result.
Post Office RD Calculator
Project recurring Post Office deposits and maturity. Adjust the assumptions, inspect the chart and read the complete guide below.
02 Your projection
Projected value₹3.55 LUpdates instantly as you edit
Total invested / base₹3.00 L
Growth / cost₹55,199
Assumed annual rate6.70%
Projection journeyHover to inspect a year
This is an educational projection based on the assumptions entered above.
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Five smart nudges
Use the result with context.
Review the assumptions after any major change in income, rates or goals.
Keep emergency money separate from long-term investments.
Account for taxes, charges and inflation when comparing options.
Use this estimate to ask better questions, not as a return promise.
Understanding Post Office RD in India
Editorially reviewed 12 July 2026 · Rules and assumptions can change
The Post Office RD is a fixed monthly contract
The National Savings Recurring Deposit uses a five-year schedule of monthly deposits. Official maturity follows prescribed quarterly compounding and deposit-date rules; this calculator uses a monthly equivalent rate for a readable approximation. The page’s optional step-up input is a planning overlay, not a standard Post Office RD feature—a real account expects the contracted denomination rather than an automatically increasing instalment.
Late or missed instalments can attract default charges and affect account status. A projection that assumes all 60 deposits arrive on time should not be used when the household’s cash flow is irregular.
Worked RD example
A ₹10,000 monthly deposit for 60 months means ₹6 lakh of contributions. At an illustrative 6.7%, the maturity exceeds ₹6 lakh because early deposits earn longer than later deposits. It will not equal ₹10,000 multiplied by the future value of one five-year lump sum; each instalment has a different remaining term.
If a family can increase savings every year, compare opening a separate RD or investment rather than assuming the original account instalment automatically steps up. Keep the calculator’s step-up scenario labelled as a household savings plan, not a promise from India Post.
Tax and account servicing
RD interest is generally taxable. The calculator shows gross maturity and does not deduct tax or model the timing of interest recognition. Record accrued or credited interest according to applicable tax rules and reconcile post-office statements.
Standing instructions, the linked savings account, nomination, default recovery and revival procedures matter operationally. A nominally safe product can still fail a goal if instalments are missed or the family cannot locate the account record.
Premature closure and loan facility
India Post guidance permits premature RD closure after the specified minimum period, with savings-account interest treatment rather than the originally projected maturity. A loan facility may be available subject to account age, deposit history and scheme conditions. Neither route should be treated as costless liquidity.
Keep an emergency reserve outside the RD so that a temporary expense does not destroy the five-year plan. If income is uncertain, choose a lower monthly commitment and add surplus separately.
Post Office RD versus bank RD and SIP
A bank RD may offer different tenures, compounding and premature-closure rules; credit risk is to the bank, subject to applicable deposit insurance. A Post Office RD follows sovereign small-savings rules. A mutual-fund SIP is a method of market investment, not a deposit, and has no assured maturity value.
Compare the post-tax maturity and flexibility for the same monthly amount. For a five-year non-negotiable goal, return certainty may matter more than a higher expected market return; for a distant flexible goal, inflation risk may matter more.
Post Office RD checklist
Confirm the exact monthly due date, payment channel, missed-instalment history, nominee, maturity month and tax record. Set the instalment below the maximum affordable amount so it survives seasonal expenses.
Use the calculator to estimate the contribution path, then verify the official maturity table or account system. Do not present the step-up result as an India Post contractual feature.
Official sources used for this guide
- Department of Economic Affairs — current small-savings rates ↗
- India Post — Post Office savings schemes and closure rules ↗
Rates, thresholds and rules can change after the review date. Check the linked authority and the provider’s current documents before acting.
Post Office RD calculator FAQs
Does a Post Office RD automatically increase each year?
No. The calculator’s step-up field is a household planning scenario, not an automatic account feature.
How many monthly deposits are made?
A five-year RD ordinarily involves 60 monthly instalments, subject to the applicable scheme rules.
Is Post Office RD interest tax-free?
No. Interest is generally taxable according to the investor’s circumstances.
What happens if an instalment is missed?
Default charges and revival rules can apply. Check the account status and current India Post procedure.
Is a mutual-fund SIP the same as an RD?
No. An RD is a deposit with prescribed interest; a mutual-fund SIP buys market-linked units whose value fluctuates.