FD & RD Tax and TDS Explained (FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27)
1) Is FD or RD interest taxable?Yes. Interest earned from both Fixed Deposit and Recurring Deposit is treated as "Income from Other Sources". It is added to your total yearly income and taxed according to your income tax slab (0%, 5%, 20%, 30% etc).
2) What is TDS then?
TDS is not extra tax. It is only an advance deduction made by the bank and sent to the Income Tax Department in your name.
3) When will the bank deduct TDS?
The bank deducts TDS only if your total interest from that bank in one financial year crosses:
- ₹40,000 OR 50,000 – Regular individuals
- ₹1,00,000 – Senior citizens
• 10% if PAN is submitted
• 20% if PAN is not submitted
Important: Even if TDS is deducted, you may still get it back as a refund while filing your Income Tax Return.
4) How to avoid TDS deduction?
If your total income is below the taxable limit, submit:
- Form 15G – Individuals below 60
- Form 15H – Senior citizens
5) Extra benefit for senior citizens
Under Section 80TTB, senior citizens can claim deduction up to ₹50,000 on interest income from bank deposits.
Simple Understanding:
FD/RD interest = taxable income.
TDS = only advance deduction, not final tax.
Calculator Disclaimer
Indicative Returns:The maturity values shown are estimates to understand how deposits grow. Actual maturity may vary slightly due to bank rounding methods, leap year days, or bank-specific credit policies.
Interest & Compounding:
Calculations assume quarterly compounding, which is the standard practice followed by most Indian banks. Some banks may use daily accrual with quarterly credit, causing small differences.
Tax & TDS:
Interest from both FD and RD is taxable under “Income from Other Sources”. Banks deduct TDS only when yearly interest crosses the prescribed limit (generally ₹50,000 for individuals and ₹1,00,000 for senior citizens). TDS is only an advance deduction — your final tax depends on your income slab and may be refunded when filing your Income Tax Return (ITR).
Not Financial Advice:
This tool is for educational and estimation purposes only. Always confirm interest rates, tenure rules, and premature withdrawal penalties with your bank before investing.
In 2026, Fixed Deposits (FD) and Recurring Deposits (RD) continue to remain the preferred savings options for households that want stable and predictable returns. Unlike market investments, bank deposits protect the principal amount and provide known maturity value in advance.
Banking data shows total deposits in India crossed ₹253.77 lakh crore by December 2025. Out of this, time deposits — which include FD and RD — alone formed ₹220.49 lakh crore, meaning a majority of savings still goes into traditional deposits.
RBI deposit statistics reportA Fixed Deposit is a one-time lump sum investment kept in a bank for a chosen tenure. The bank locks the interest rate at the time of opening, and it normally stays unchanged until maturity.
If ₹1,20,000 is invested for 2 years at 7.5%, the entire ₹1,20,000 earns interest from the first day itself. Because the full amount works for the complete period, FD usually produces higher maturity than gradual savings.
FD rates depend on RBI monetary policy and bank liquidity conditions.
You can check latest FD rates here:
Check latest FD rates here
FD is commonly used for retirement funds, bonus income, property sale proceeds, and emergency reserve parking.
A Recurring Deposit is a monthly saving plan where a fixed amount is deposited every month for a selected tenure. Instead of investing at once, the savings grow gradually over time.
Saving ₹5,000 every month for 5 years means total investment ₹3,00,000. Early installments earn interest for many years while later installments earn for shorter duration. Therefore RD maturity normally remains slightly lower than FD for the same total invested amount.
RD works best for salaried earners who want disciplined saving for education, travel, or planned purchases.
FD works like storing a full tank of water in a reservoir — it starts supplying immediately. RD works like filling a tank slowly every month — safe and steady, but slower growth.
If you already have the full money available, choosing RD instead of FD usually reduces your final maturity. But if you do not yet have the amount and you are saving from salary, forcing yourself into FD planning often fails — people withdraw early. In practice, successful savers first build discipline with RD, then later shift to FD once a lump sum becomes available.
In India, most banks follow quarterly compounding for deposit maturity values. This means interest is calculated periodically and then added back to your deposit so future interest also earns interest.
1) Fixed Deposit (FD) Interest Calculation
In an FD, interest is calculated on the entire deposit from the first day. Because the full principal stays invested for the whole tenure, the compounding effect becomes strong over time.
In FD, every rupee stays invested for the entire duration. That is why FD generally produces the highest maturity value when the total invested money is the same.
2) Recurring Deposit (RD) Interest Calculation
In an RD, the bank does not calculate interest on one big amount. Each monthly installment is treated like a separate small deposit.
The first installment earns interest for the full tenure, but the last installment earns interest only for a short period. Because money enters gradually, the effective return becomes lower than an FD of the same total amount.
RD does not give lower interest rate — it gives lower maturity because time invested is shorter for later installments.
Typical Interest Rate Ranges (2026)
| Institution Type | FD Rates (General) | RD Rates (General) |
|---|---|---|
| Post Office | ~6.9% – 7.5% | ~6.7% (5-year scheme) |
| Major Banks | ~3.0% – 7.25% | ~4.5% – 7.1% |
| Small Finance Banks | ~7.0% – 8.6% | ~7.0% – 8.5% |
Tenure and Investment Limits
Important Rules About Rates
Interest earned from Fixed Deposits and Recurring Deposits is treated as normal income. It is added to your yearly earnings (salary, business income, pension etc.) and taxed according to your income tax slab.
Tax = Your final liability based on your income slab.
TDS = Only advance tax deducted by the bank on behalf of the government.
TDS is not extra tax. While filing Income Tax Return (ITR), the deducted TDS is adjusted. You either pay the remaining tax or receive a refund.
Scenario 1: Fixed Deposit
Deposit: ₹5,00,000 lump sum
Interest earned: ≈ ₹2,07,000
Bank TDS (10%): ≈ ₹20,700 deducted automatically
Remaining tax while filing ITR: ≈ ₹20,700
Final profit after tax: ≈ ₹1,65,000
Scenario 2: Recurring Deposit
Monthly deposit: ₹8,333 for 60 months
Total interest: ≈ ₹98,500
Bank TDS: ≈ ₹9,850
Remaining tax payable in ITR: ≈ ₹9,850
Final profit after tax: ≈ ₹78,800
Why difference?
In FD the entire ₹5 lakh stays invested for full 5 years. In RD most installments remain invested for shorter time.
Do not choose FD only for higher returns if you may need the money early. Breaking an FD in the middle often cancels a large portion of interest. For uncertain savings, RD or staggered smaller FDs usually works better in real life.
Choose Fixed Deposit (FD) if
- You already have a lump sum amount
- You received bonus, sale proceeds, or maturity money
- You want maximum possible maturity value
- You need regular monthly interest income
- You are retired or near retirement
Choose Recurring Deposit (RD) if
- You save from monthly salary
- You want to build a disciplined saving habit
- You are planning future expenses (fees, travel, purchase)
- You cannot invest a large amount at once
- You are just starting your financial planning
Suppose you want to save ₹1,20,000 over 5 years at 7.5%.
FD: Deposit ₹1,20,000 once → maturity ≈ ₹1.71 lakh
RD: Deposit ₹2,000 every month → maturity ≈ ₹1.44 lakh
Reason: In FD the entire amount earns interest for the full 5 years, while in RD each installment gets different time to grow.
If the money is already lying idle in a savings account, delaying and putting it into RD usually reduces returns. But if you do not yet have the amount, waiting to accumulate a lump sum often fails — people spend it. In practice, disciplined investors start with RD and later shift to FD once savings accumulate.
An FD (Fixed Deposit) Calculator and RD (Recurring Deposit) Calculator are digital tools that estimate the maturity amount and interest earned on your savings. Instead of manually calculating compound interest, the calculator instantly shows the future value of your deposit based on amount, interest rate, and tenure.
The purpose is not to replace the bank — but to help you plan in advance. You can decide how much to save and how long to invest before opening the deposit.
FD Calculator
Used when you invest one lump sum amount at once. It calculates how that amount grows over time with compounding interest.Main inputs:
- Total deposit amount
- Interest rate
- Investment period
RD Calculator
Used when you invest a fixed amount every month. It estimates how monthly savings accumulate over the selected tenure.Main inputs:
- Monthly installment
- Interest rate
- Number of years
They help you check how small changes in amount or tenure affect the final maturity. This allows goal planning — for example education fees, buying a vehicle, or building an emergency fund.
How the Easemoney FD vs RD Calculator Works
The Easemoney calculator does not use a simplified school formula. It follows the practical banking method used in India.
- FD maturity is calculated using quarterly compounding (standard bank method).
- RD maturity treats every monthly installment as a separate deposit.
- Earlier installments earn interest for longer time, later installments for shorter time.
- The comparison mode converts a lump sum into an equivalent monthly saving to show real difference.
Banks calculate interest daily and credit it quarterly. Because of day count and rounding, the bank maturity may differ slightly by a few rupees. The calculator is meant for accurate estimation and planning before investing.