HomeCirculars › RBI/2008-2009/121

TDS on 8% Savings Bonds 2003: CBDT Clarifications

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-2009/121 · issued 05 Aug 2008 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI conveys CBDT clarifications that TDS on 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 applies from June 1, 2007, regardless of investment date. TDS is triggered when annual interest exceeds ₹10,000. Rates vary by residency and period. Cumulative bonds require TDS on credited interest yearly if above threshold.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

An agency-banking (government business) officer in Indore manages a customer who holds a cumulative 8% Savings Bond from 2005. The officer ensures that every year, even though the interest is not paid out, the system deducts TDS on the ₹12,000 interest credited, because it exceeds ₹10,000. She also checks that the customer, a senior citizen, has submitted Form 15H to avoid the deduction, since his total income is nil.

What changed

RBI issued clarifications from CBDT on TDS application for 8% Savings Bonds, 2003. Key points: TDS applies to all bonds (new or existing) from June 1, 2007, if interest exceeds ₹10,000/year. For cumulative bonds, TDS is deducted on interest credited annually, not just at maturity. Charitable trusts need a certificate under Section 197 for lower or nil TDS.

What it means for you

Banks must deduct TDS on interest for all 8% Savings Bond holders, including existing ones, if interest exceeds ₹10,000 per financial year. For cumulative bonds, TDS applies on yearly credited interest, not just at maturity. This increases compliance burden for banks managing these bonds, requiring careful tracking of interest accruals and thresholds.

What you must do

Who it affects

Banks handling 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003, State Bank of India and associate banks, Nationalised banks, AXIS Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, SHCIL (Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited), All bond holders (individuals, HUFs, companies, trusts)

❓ Common questions

Does TDS apply to bonds purchased before June 1, 2007?

Yes, TDS applies to all 8% Savings Bonds, 2003, regardless of purchase date. The trigger is interest credited or paid on or after June 1, 2007, exceeding ₹10,000 in a financial year.

How is TDS handled for cumulative bonds where interest is paid at maturity?

For cumulative bonds, if interest is credited annually, TDS must be deducted each year when credited interest exceeds ₹10,000. It is not deferred to maturity.

Can charitable trusts automatically claim TDS exemption?

No, charitable trusts must obtain a certificate from the Assessing Officer under Section 197 of the Income Tax Act for lower or nil TDS. No automatic exemption is allowed.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
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DGBA.CDD. No. H - 1311/13.01.299/2008-09 August 5, 2008 Shravana 14, 1930 (S) The Chairman and Managing Director State Bank of India & Associate Banks 17 Nationalised Banks AXIS Bank Ltd / HDFC Bank Ltd / ICICI Bank Ltd / IDBI Bank Ltd / & SHCIL Dear Sir, 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 - Income Tax Act, 1961 - TDS Please refer to our circular No. RBI/2007-08/141 with reference No. DGBA.CDD No. H-3024/13.01.299/2007-08 dated September 19, 2007 conveying certain clarifications with regard to application of Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) on 8 % Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003. In continuation thereof, the following clarifications, as furnished by CBDT, on a few more aspects of application of TDS on the captioned bonds are given below. Sl. No. Issue Comments 1. Whether TDS is required to be deducted only on new bonds purchased on and from 1.6.2007 or bonds purchased prior to that date when TDS was made applicable. Tax Deduction at Source on 8 % Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 is effective from 1.6.2007. Any interest credited or paid on 8 % Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 on or after 1.6.2007 will attract TDS if the amount of interest exceeds 10,000/- rupees for the financial year. Therefore, the date of investment is not a relevant factor. TDS would, thus, apply to existing bond holders also. 2. At what rate TDS is required to be deducted in respect of individuals, HUFs and Institutions?           The rates of TDS for various category of persons are as under:   Recipient Resident in India (TDS* Rate) Non Resident in India (TDS*Rate) For period 1.6.2007 to 31.3.2008 1.4.2008 onwards Before or after 1.6.2007 Company 20 % 20 % 40 % Other than a Company 20 % 10 % 30 % * Surcharge and Cess is to be added as per applicable rates. 3. Whether Form 15G, 15H can be accepted from eligible individual investors and HUFs and exemption from TDS allowed to them even though interest income exceeds the exemption limit and if the investor declares that his total income for that year will not be taxable on account of investment made by him in various tax savings schemes. 1. Declaration in form 15G can be accepted from a person not being a company or a firm if a. the tax on his estimated total Income of the previous year in which such income is to be included in computing the total income will be nil; and b. the aggregate of income from (i) dividend other than dividends from domestic companies, (ii) interest on securities, (iii) interest other than interest on securities, (iv) repayment of deposits under the National Saving Scheme, and (v) income in respect of units does not exceed the maximum amount which is not chargeable to tax. 2. Declaration in form 15H can be accepted from an individual resident in India, who is of the age of sixty-five years or more at any time during the previous year if a. tax on his estimated total income of the previous year in which such income is to be included in computing his total income will be nil 4 In case of ‘cumulative’ type of investments, interest is payable on the date of maturity. In such cases, whether the TDS is required to be deducted on entire interest payable on the date of maturity or on deemed date of payment i.e. on accrual basis every year. On ‘cumulative’ type of investments, if the interest is credited every year, tax deduction has to be made if the interest credited during the financial year exceeds the threshold limit of Rs. 10,000/-. Thus, in the case of ‘cumulative’ type of investments, though the interest is payable on the date of maturity, tax deduction is still to be made whenever the interest credited or paid exceeds the threshold limit during the financial year. 5. In case of charitable institutions and trusts which are exempted from payment of Income Tax, whether exemption certificates issued by an Income Tax Officer should be insisted upon before allowing tax exemption or by their very nature of charitable, they are eligible for exemption from TDS A certificate issued by the Assessing Officer under section 197 of the Income Tax Act for deduction of tax at a lower rate or Nil rate is required in the case of charitable institutions and trusts. No special dispensation is allowed to charitable institutions and trusts as far as TDS discipline is concerned. 6. Tax is required to be deducted at source on the interest exceeding Rupees ten thousand payable during the ‘financial year’ on 8 % Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003 with effect from June 1, 2007. The half-yearly interest payable on August 1, 2007 has accrued from 1.2.2007 onwards. In such situations, whether interest accrued after 1.6.2007 is to be considered for TDS. TDS is required to be deducted for interest credited or paid on or after 01.06.2007 whichever is earlier, if the amount of interest exceeds 10,000/- rupees for the financial year. Hence, in this particular case if the half-yearly interest payable on 01.08.2007 is credited or paid on or after 01.06.2007, then tax is required to be deducted at source on the entire amount so credited or paid whichever is earlier. 2. We advise you to ensure that application of TDS on the captioned bonds is made in the light of the above clarifications and the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. You may issue suitable instructions to designated branches operating the scheme. You may also access this circular on our website www.rbi.org.in 3. Please acknowledge the receipt. Yours faithfully (Dr. Balu K.) 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Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2008-2009/121 · issued 05 Aug 2008. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Who does what — compliance checklist
💻 IT / Systems
  • Update systems to deduct TDS on 8% Savings Bond interest exceeding ₹10,000/year for all holders, regardless of investment date.
📜 Compliance
  • For cumulative bonds, ensure TDS is deducted on interest credited annually, not deferred to maturity.
  • Verify TDS rates: 20% for companies (1.6.2007-31.3.2008), 20% for others (1.6.2007-31.3.2008), 20% for companies (from 1.4.2008), 10% for others (from 1.4.2008), with surcharge and cess. Non-residents: 40% (companies) or 30% (others) regardless of period.
  • Accept Form 15G/15H from eligible individuals/HUFs only if their estimated total income is nil and specified income limits are met.
  • Require a certificate under Section 197 from charitable trusts for lower or nil TDS; do not assume automatic exemption.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (Banks handling 8% Savings (Taxable) Bonds, 2003, State Bank of India and associate banks, Nationalised banks, AXIS Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, SHCIL (Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited), All bond holders (individuals, HUFs, companies, trusts)), your first concrete step on “TDS on 8% Savings Bonds 2003: CBDT Clarifications” is: “Update systems to deduct TDS on 8% Savings Bond interest exceeding ₹10,000/year for all holders, regardless of investment date.” (RBI issued this 05 Aug 2008).

  1. Circular: RBI/2008-2009/121 -- TDS on 8% Savings Bonds 2003: CBDT Clarifications
  2. Issued: 05 Aug 2008
  3. Action required: Update systems to deduct TDS on 8% Savings Bond interest exceeding ₹10,000/year for all holders, regardless of investment date.
  4. Action required: For cumulative bonds, ensure TDS is deducted on interest credited annually, not deferred to maturity.
  5. Action required: Verify TDS rates: 20% for companies (1.6.2007-31.3.2008), 20% for others (1.6.2007-31.3.2008), 20% for companies (from 1.4.2008), 10% for others (from 1.4.2008), with surcharge and cess. Non-residents: 40% (companies) or 30% (others) regardless of period.
  6. Action required: Accept Form 15G/15H from eligible individuals/HUFs only if their estimated total income is nil and specified income limits are met.
  7. Action required: Require a certificate under Section 197 from charitable trusts for lower or nil TDS; do not assume automatic exemption.
  8. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  9. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  10. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=4408&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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