At SavingWala you can find useful tips & online resources that will help you to invest in small savings schemes. There are many small savings schemes available in India that help tax savings too. Many of them provide guaranteed returns, high-interest rates, tax savings under various sections of the Indian Income Tax Act, and many more benefits.

save money - small savings schemes

These small savings plans not only provide growth to your money but also provide you with financial security at various stages of your life. It depends on your needs and what product suits you best. You must go through the scheme documents before starting any investment scheme. Each financial plan has its own advantages and shortfalls, only good research will save your hard-earned money.

Initial points before starting a small savings scheme

  • When do you need returns?
    i.e. you need money in short-term or long term
  • How much risk you can take?
    i.e. you prefer safe investments or some risky (e.g. bonds or equity)
  • What will be your investment pattern?
    i.e. you want to invest a big amount one time, or a small portion regularly
  • How much do you know about the product?
    i.e. are you aware of the good and bad of a scheme in which you are investing

For example, if you are looking for short-term savings then you can invest your money in post offices , government bonds, and mutual funds, and if you are concentrated on long-term savings then public provident funds (PPF ), life insurance, long-term bank deposits (FDs, RDs) can help you.

Investment in Banks

Bank Fixed/Term Deposit

In a Fixed Deposit Saving Scheme, a certain sum of money is deposited in the bank for a specified time period with a fixed rate of interest.

When you want to invest your hard-earned money for a longer period of time and get a regular income, Fixed Deposit Scheme is ideal. It is SAFE, LIQUID, and FETCHES HIGH RETURNS.A loan / Overdraft facility is available against bank fixed deposits. Now many banks don’t charge for premature withdrawal.

Recurring Deposits

Under a Recurring Bank Deposit Saving Scheme, an investor invests a specific amount in a bank on a monthly basis for a fixed rate of return. The deposit has a fixed tenure, at the end of which you get your principal sum as well as the interest earned during that period.

Recurring Deposit provides you the element of compulsion to save at high rates of interest applicable to Term Deposits along with liquidity to access those savings at any time.

Government Tax Savings

RBI Bonds, or RBI Relief Bonds

RBI Bonds are tax-saving bonds that have a special provision that allows the investor to save on tax. These Bonds are instruments that the RBI issues.

The interest is compounded half-yearly. The maturity period of RBI Bonds is five years, and interest received is tax-free in the hands of the investor.

Post Office Savings

Post office saving schemes are known as best small saving schemes, as the post offices are spread all over the country they have trust and easy accessibility. Popular schemes are PPF, MIS, RD, NSC, KVP etc..

Other options for Savings

Infrastructure Bonds

Infrastructure bonds are available through issues of ICICI and IDBI, brought out in the name of ICICI Safety Bonds and IDBI Flexibonds. These provide tax-saving benefits under Section 88 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for the investor. You can reduce your tax liability by upto Rs 16,000 per annum

Company Fixed Deposits

Fixed deposits in companies that earn a fixed rate of return over a period of time are called Company Fixed Deposits. Financial institutions and Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) also accept such deposits.

Life Insurance

Life insurance saving schemes for government-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India and other private life insurance companies like Bajaj Allianz, Birla Sun Life Insurance, HDFC Life Insurance, ICICI Prudential, and more.

Tax Rebates under Indian Income Tax Act

Specified Investment Schemes u/s 80C

  • Life insurance premium payments
  • Contributions to Employees Provident Fund (EPF) / GPF
  • Public Provident Fund (maximum Rs 70,000 in a year)
  • National Saving Certificates including accrued interest. [NSC]
  • Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP)
  • 5-Year fixed deposits with banks and Post Office
  • Repayment of Housing Loan (Principal)
  • Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)
  • Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS)
  • National Pension Scheme (NPS)
  • Tuition Fees including admission fees or college fees paid for Full-time education of any two children of the assessee (Any Development fees or donation or payment of similar nature shall not be eligible for deduction).
  • Infrastructure Bonds issued by Institutions/ Banks such as IDBI, ICICI, REC, PFC etc.
  • Interest accrued in respect of NSC VIII issue.

Deduction under section 80 CCC(1)

This section allows a deduction of up to Rs. 10,000 to an individual in respect of contribution to ‘Pension’ scheme of LIC of India or any other Insurance Co.

Tax saving Pension plans available in market are LIC‘s Jeevan Suraksha, ICICI Pru Life Time Pension, Aviva Life Pension Plus, Max Easy Life policy, Tata AIG’s Nirvana Plus etc.

Section 80 CCE

Aggregate deduction u/s 80 C, u/s 80 CCC and 80 CCD can not exceed Rs. 1,00,000. ( One Lac)

Deduction under section 80D.

Under This section, a deduction up to Rs 10,000 (Rs 15,000 in case of senior citizens) is allowed in respect of premium paid by cheque towards health insurance policy, like “Mediclaim”. Such premium can be paid towards health insurance of spouse, dependent parents as well as dependent children.

Deduction under section 24(b)

Under this section, Interest on borrowed capital for the purpose of house purchase or construction is deductible from taxable income up to Rs. 1,50,000 with some conditions to be fulfilled.