Form 15G and 15H: Save TDS on Interest Income



Quick Summary
Forms 15G and 15H are self-declaration forms used to avoid Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on interest income from various investments. Form 15G is for individuals under 60, while Form 15H is for senior citizens aged 60 and above. These forms must be submitted annually to banks and other financial institutions, ideally in April, to ensure TDS is not deducted on your interest earnings if your total income falls below the taxable threshold. Please note that from 1st April 2026, these forms will be replaced by a single Form 121.

From 1st April 2026, Forms 15G and 15H have been replaced by a single Form 121 that will be applicable for Tax Year 2026–27 onwards. The purpose remains the same - to avoid TDS deduction on interest income by submitting the declaration to banks and other deductors.

Budget Update

As per the Budget 2024 update, the revised TDS threshold for interest income under Section 194A is:

Senior Citizens – ₹1,00,000 
Other Individuals – ₹50,000
Other Cases – ₹10,000

TDS is deducted only if interest exceeds the threshold. 

Senior citizens can avoid TDS by submitting Form 15H if total income is below the taxable limit.

What are Form 15G and Form 15H?

Form 15G and Form 15H are self-declaration forms that can be submitted by individuals to their banks or financial institutions to request exemption from tax deduction at source (TDS) on interest income earned from fixed deposits, recurring deposits, and other investments.

For individuals below 60 years of age Form 15G
For senior citizens above 60 years of age Form 15H

When to submit Form 15G/15H?

Form 15G and Form 15H needs to be submitted at the beginning of each financial year, i.e., in the month of April, if an individual expects to earn interest income exceeding for individuals Rs.50,000 (upto FY 2024-25 limit was Rs. 40,000) and for senior citizens Rs. 1,00,000 (upto FY 2024-25 limit was Rs. 50,000) during that financial year and wants to request exemption from TDS on that income. The form is valid for the entire financial year and needs to be submitted separately for each financial year if the individual continues to meet the eligibility criteria.

Form 15G and 15H: Avoid TDS on Interest Income

Apart from banks where Form 15G/15H can be submitted?

In addition to banks, Form 15G/15H can also be submitted to other financial institutions such as post offices, on EPF withdrawal, income from corporate bonds, LIC premium receipts, Insurance Commission, companies, and other entities that are required to deduct TDS on interest income.

How to Fill Form 15G and 15H

To fill Form 15G or Form 15H, an individual needs to provide their personal details such as name, address, PAN, and assessment year for which the form is being submitted. They also need to declare that their estimated total income for the financial year and provide details of the investments on which they expect to earn interest income.

The forms can be submitted physically or electronically, and the individual will receive a Unique Identification Number (UIN) upon electronic submission. If an individual has multiple deposits across different branches or banks, they will need to submit the forms at each branch before the first interest installment is paid.

If the forms are submitted after the first interest installment has been paid, the bank may deduct TDS but will provide a TDS certificate at the end of the year, which the individual can use to claim a refund while filing their income tax return.

 

Eligible Criteria for Submission of Form 15G & 15H

The criteria for submission of Form 15G and Form 15H are as follows:

  • Form 15H is for individuals who are 60 years of age or above, while Form 15G is for individuals below 60 years of age, trusts, and Hindu Undivided Families.
  • Non-resident individuals and companies cannot submit these forms.
  • The age limit for eligibility may vary across different banks and financial institutions and is not a universal criterion.
  • These forms need to be submitted at the beginning of each financial year if the individual expects to earn interest income exceeding Rs. 50,000 during that year and wants to request exemption from TDS on that income.
  • The forms can be submitted physically or electronically, and the individual will receive a Unique Identification Number (UIN) upon electronic submission.
 

Form No.15G Format

Form No.15G Format

Form No.15H Format

Form No.15H Format

Click Here to Download Form No. 121 of income tax in pdf

FAQ :

Forms 15G and 15H are self-declaration forms submitted to banks and other financial institutions to request an exemption from Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on interest income earned from investments like fixed deposits and recurring deposits.

Form 15G is for individuals below 60 years of age, trusts, and Hindu Undivided Families. Form 15H is specifically for senior citizens aged 60 years and above. Non-resident individuals and companies cannot submit these forms.

These forms should be submitted at the beginning of each financial year, ideally in April, if you expect your interest income to exceed the threshold and wish to avoid TDS.

For the financial year 2024-25, the TDS threshold for interest income is ₹1,00,000 for senior citizens and ₹50,000 for other individuals. TDS is only deducted if the interest income exceeds these limits.

Besides banks, these forms can be submitted to other financial institutions such as post offices, on EPF withdrawal, for income from corporate bonds, LIC premium receipts, insurance commission, and to companies required to deduct TDS on interest income.

No, from 1st April 2026, Forms 15G and 15H will be replaced by a single Form 121, which will be applicable for Tax Year 2026-27 onwards.




About the Author

Finance Professional

I write about Income Tax, GST, TDS, RBI updates, government schemes, and personal finance in India. My focus is on simplifying complex tax and compliance topics into easy-to-understand guides that help readers stay updated with the latest financial rules, investment options, and regulatory changes.

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