The National Pension System (NPS) offers Tier 1 and Tier 2 accounts to cater to different savings goals. Tier 1 is designed specifically for retirement planning with restricted access to funds, while Tier 2 resembles a flexible savings account allowing for easy deposits and withdrawals.
NPS Tier 1 and Tier 2: the similarities
Both NPS Tier 1 and Tier 2 share a few similarities.
- They both share similar charges and choices of fund managers and schemes.
- Both incur the same Pension Fund Manager (PFM) charges (0.01%), custodian charges (0.0032%), and POP charges on every transaction.
- You have the flexibility of porting across PFMs and funding options.
Difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2 NPS
Features | Tier 1 | Tier 2 |
Purpose | Retirement Saving Plan | Regular Saving Plan |
Eligibility | Must be an Indian citizen between the ages of 18 and 70 years. | Must be enrolled in NPS Tier 1 |
Lock-in Period | Till 60 years of age | No lock-in period |
Withdrawal | Only after 60 years of age | At any time |
Minimum Contribution | Rs. 1,000 per financial year | Rs. 250 per financial year |
Tax Benefits | You are eligible for a deduction of up to Rs 1.5 lakh under Section 80CCD(1) and an additional Rs 50,000 under Section 80CCD(1B) | No tax benefits |
Maturity of the Scheme | When subscribers turn 60 years of age (60% of the corpus is paid as lumpsum payment, and 40% must be utilised to buy an annuity plan) | Not applicable |
Investment Choice | Active or auto-choice | Active choice |
Annuity | 40% of the corpse | No limit |
Account Maintenance Charges | Applicable | Not Applicable |
Partial Withdrawal | Only 25% is allowed, for which you need to complete 3 years of investing in NPS | There is no such condition |