What is a Bond?

A bond is a fixed income investment in which an investor loans money to an entity (typically corporate or government organizations) which borrows the funds for a defined period of time at a variable or fixed interest rate. Bonds are used by companies, municipalities, states and sovereign governments to raise money and finance a variety of projects and activities. Owners of bonds are known as debt holders or creditors of the issuer.

Salient Features of 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds

Who can Invest in the Bonds?

These Bonds are open to investment by individuals (including the Joint Holdings) and Hindu Undivided Families.

NRI's are not eligible for making investments in these bonds.

Subscription

Application for the bonds in the form of bond ledger account can be obtained at the designated branches of the agency banks and Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL) in all numbering about 1600.

Issue Price

• The bonds will be issued at par at Rs 100 percent.
• The bonds will be issued for a minimum amount of Rs 1000 at face value and in multiples thereof.
• The issue price will be Rs 1000 for every Rs 1000 (Nominal).
• Bonds will be issued in demat form (Bond Ledger Account) only.

Period

Bonds will be on tap until further notice and will be issued in cumulative and non-cumulative forms.

Limit of Investment

There is no maximum limit for investment in the bonds.

Tax Treatment

Under the Income Tax - Interest on the bonds will be taxable under the Income-Tax Act 1961 as applicable according to the relevant tax status of the Bondholder.

Under the Wealth Tax - The Bonds will be exempt from the Wealth-tax under the Wealth-tax Act,1957.

Maturity Period

These bonds will have a maturity period of 7 years.

Rate of Interest

The rate of Interest on these bonds is fixed at 7.75% per annum. It is payable on a half-yearly basis. The cumulative value of Rs 1000 at the end of seven years will be Rs 1703.

Transferability

The bonds are not transferable. It cannot be transferred to the Secondary market.

Bonds cannot be used as collateral for securing loans from the banking institutions, non-banking financial companies or financial institutions.

Nomination Facility

The sole holder of the bond or a single surviving holder of a bond, being an individual can make a nomination.

Tax Deduction at Source

• The tax will be deducted at source while making payment of interest on the Non-Cumulative Bonds from time to time and credited to Government Account.
• Tax on the interest amount of the maturity value will be deducted at source at the time of the payment of the maturity proceeds on the cumulative bonds, and it will be credited to the government account.

Conclusion

The 7.75% Savings (Taxable) Bonds issued by RBI is a good investment option for the investors in the current scenario where interest rates offered by banks are falling gradually.

These bonds have some drawbacks like not tradable or transferable, tax deducted at source, lock-in period is lengthy. Its better for an investor to evaluate all the options carefully before investing in these bonds.