Post Office MIS: Invest With Your Spouse and Get Up to ₹9,250 Monthly—See the Full Calculation

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme 2026: Investors looking for a predictable monthly income without taking direct stock-market risk often consider government-backed small-savings schemes. One such option is the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS), which allows eligible investors to make a lump-sum deposit and receive interest every month.

The scheme can be particularly useful for couples because it permits joint accounts. Under the prevailing structure, a joint account can hold up to ₹15 lakh. At an annual interest rate of 7.4%, a ₹15 lakh deposit generates approximately ₹9,250 per month in interest.

However, the ₹9,250 should not be confused with a pension or guaranteed lifelong payment. It is the monthly interest generated on the maximum ₹15 lakh joint-account investment at the stated 7.4% annual rate during the scheme's five-year tenure.

Here's the complete calculation and the important rules investors should understand.

How Can a Couple Get ₹9,250 Every Month?

The calculation is straightforward.

Suppose a husband and wife open a joint Post Office MIS account and invest ₹15 lakh.

At an annual interest rate of 7.4%:

₹15,00,000 × 7.4% = ₹1,11,000 annual interest

Now divide this annual interest by 12:

₹1,11,000 ÷ 12 = ₹9,250 per month

Therefore, the account can generate approximately ₹9,250 in monthly interest.

The calculation assumes that the applicable interest rate at the time the account is opened is 7.4% per annum.

What If You Open an Individual Account?

Post Office MIS can also be opened individually.

Under the applicable investment limits, an individual account can accept up to ₹9 lakh.

At 7.4% annual interest, the calculation on ₹9 lakh would be:

₹9,00,000 × 7.4% = ₹66,600 per year

Dividing that by 12 gives:

₹66,600 ÷ 12 = ₹5,550 per month

So an individual investing the maximum ₹9 lakh could receive approximately ₹5,550 per month in interest at a 7.4% rate.

Individual vs Joint MIS: Monthly Income Comparison

The higher joint-account investment limit is what allows a couple to generate a larger monthly interest amount.

The ₹9,250 monthly figure therefore applies to a joint account with the full ₹15 lakh invested.

A smaller investment will naturally generate proportionately lower monthly interest.

What Is Post Office Monthly Income Scheme?

POMIS is a government-backed small-savings scheme available through the Post Office.

Unlike a market-linked investment, the return is based on the interest rate applicable to the account rather than daily movements in equity or commodity markets.

An investor deposits a lump sum, and interest is paid monthly.

This makes the scheme potentially useful for retirees, families and other investors who want periodic income from their savings while keeping the principal in a government-backed small-savings product.

How Long Does the MIS Account Run?

The Post Office Monthly Income Scheme has a five-year maturity period.

During this period, interest is payable monthly according to the scheme rules.

At maturity, the deposited principal is returned to the investor.

This is an important distinction. The ₹9,250 monthly amount represents interest; the original ₹15 lakh is not being divided into monthly instalments.

For a ₹15 lakh joint investment at 7.4%, the simple annual interest works out to ₹1.11 lakh.

Over five years, that would amount to approximately ₹5.55 lakh in interest, assuming the same contracted rate and uninterrupted account operation.

The original ₹15 lakh principal is then repayable at maturity according to the scheme conditions.

Does the ₹9,250 Increase Every Month?

No.

The monthly payment is based on the deposit amount and the applicable interest rate.

If ₹15 lakh is invested at 7.4%, the monthly interest works out to ₹9,250.

The scheme should not be confused with an investment where returns are automatically reinvested and compounded to create a larger monthly payout.

MIS is primarily structured to provide periodic interest income.

Can Only Husband and Wife Open a Joint Account?

No. The joint-account feature is not restricted only to married couples.

A joint MIS account can be opened by eligible adults according to Post Office rules.

The husband-wife example is commonly used because couples may want to combine their savings and use the joint-account investment limit to generate regular household income.

Investors should check the latest Post Office rules regarding joint holders, ownership shares and account operation before opening the account.

Can You Invest Less Than ₹15 Lakh?

Yes.

₹15 lakh is the maximum joint-account limit under the stated scheme rules, not a mandatory investment amount.

Someone who does not want to invest ₹15 lakh can start with a smaller eligible amount.

For example, at a 7.4% annual rate:

These calculations are illustrative and assume a 7.4% annual interest rate.

Can You Withdraw the Money Before Five Years?

Post Office MIS has premature-closure provisions, but investors should understand that early closure can involve deductions.

Under the scheme rules, the account cannot ordinarily be closed immediately after opening. Premature closure is permitted only after the prescribed minimum period.

If an account is closed after one year but before three years, a deduction from the principal applies under the scheme rules. A lower deduction applies when closure occurs after three years but before the five-year maturity date.

Because premature closure can reduce the amount returned, investors should avoid putting emergency funds into MIS if they are likely to need the money at short notice.

Is Post Office MIS Interest Tax-Free?

No. Monthly interest from Post Office MIS should not automatically be treated as tax-free income.

The interest is generally taxable in the hands of the investor according to applicable income-tax provisions.

The actual tax impact depends on the investor's total income, applicable tax regime and individual circumstances.

Investors should therefore compare the post-tax return rather than looking only at the headline interest rate.

Is the ₹15 Lakh Investment Government-Backed?

POMIS is a government-backed small-savings scheme administered through the Post Office.

This distinguishes it from market-linked products where the value of an investment can fluctuate with market conditions.

However, "government-backed" does not mean investors should ignore other factors.

Liquidity requirements, taxation, the five-year tenure and the opportunity cost of locking a large amount into a fixed-income product should all be considered before investing.

Who May Find MIS Useful?

The scheme may appeal to investors whose priority is predictable monthly interest rather than aggressive capital growth.

Retired individuals, senior citizens and households seeking supplementary monthly cash flow may consider such an arrangement depending on their financial needs.

It can also be used as one part of a broader savings strategy rather than putting all available money into a single product.

The right allocation depends on an investor's income requirements, emergency reserves, tax position and investment horizon.

₹15 Lakh Can Generate ₹9,250 Monthly at 7.4%

The calculation behind the ₹9,250 monthly income is simple.

A ₹15 lakh joint investment at 7.4% per annum generates ₹1.11 lakh in annual interest, which works out to ₹9,250 per month.

An individual account with the maximum ₹9 lakh investment would generate approximately ₹5,550 per month at the same interest rate.

The Post Office Monthly Income Scheme runs for five years, and the original principal is repayable at maturity according to scheme rules.

For couples looking for predictable monthly cash flow, the joint-account option can therefore be useful. But investors should check the latest interest rate, investment limits, premature-closure provisions and tax implications before depositing a large amount.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment or tax advice. Calculations use a 7.4% annual interest rate and the stated POMIS limits of ₹9 lakh for an individual account and ₹15 lakh for a joint account. Small-savings rates and scheme rules can be revised by the government. Check the latest official Post Office terms before investing.