1Is interest income taxable?
Yes — interest from savings, fixed deposits and most bonds is taxed at your slab rate. Some interest (PPF, tax-free bonds, NRE/FCNR for NRIs) is exempt; 80TTA/80TTB reduce the tax on the rest.
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ArticleInterest income is one of the most commonly under-reported types of income, and it's almost always taxable. Here's how interest income is taxed in India and how to reduce the tax.
Reviewed by CA Harika Chebolu, FCA · Last updated 2026-06-13
Quick answer
Interest from savings, FDs and bonds is taxed at your slab, but 80TTA/80TTB give deductions. Here's the full picture and how to reduce it.
Interest from savings accounts, fixed and recurring deposits, and most bonds is taxable at your normal slab rate, added to your income. There's no special lower rate — so for higher-slab taxpayers, interest can be a meaningfully taxed income stream.
In the old regime, 80TTA gives up to Rs 10,000 off savings-account interest (for those under 60), and 80TTB gives senior citizens up to Rs 50,000 off savings and deposit interest. Claiming these is the main way to reduce tax on interest income.
Banks deduct TDS on deposit interest once it crosses the threshold, shown in your 26AS. If your income is genuinely below the taxable limit, you can file Form 15G (or 15H for seniors) so TDS isn't deducted unnecessarily.
Interest on PPF, tax-free bonds, and (for NRIs) NRE/FCNR accounts is exempt. Knowing which of your interest is exempt versus taxable lets you report each correctly and not over- or under-pay.
Banks report your interest to the tax department, so it appears in your AIS whether or not TDS was deducted. Leaving interest out is the single most common omission and an easy trigger for a notice — declare it, then claim 80TTA/80TTB.
Yes — interest from savings, fixed deposits and most bonds is taxed at your slab rate. Some interest (PPF, tax-free bonds, NRE/FCNR for NRIs) is exempt; 80TTA/80TTB reduce the tax on the rest.
Use 80TTA (up to Rs 10,000 on savings interest, under 60) and 80TTB (up to Rs 50,000 for seniors on savings and deposit interest) in the old regime, and file Form 15G/15H if your income is below the limit.
Yes — TDS isn't the final tax; you must still report the full interest and claim credit for the TDS. Interest appears in your AIS, so omitting it is a common, avoidable trigger for a notice.
Lots of interest across banks? Write to the firm and we'll report it right and claim every deduction.