Joint Account Rules and Regulations in India | DBS Bank (2024)

Understanding the Joint Account rules in India

Key Takeaways

  • Joint Accounts have more than one account holder.
  • Depending on the account mode, account holders can enjoy certain privileges.
  • Joint and Joint or Survivor Accounts need all account holders to mandate transactions.
  • For Former or Survivor and Latter or Survivor accounts, account operation gets passed to the other only if one of the account holders dies.
  • Since money can be withdrawn without any consent, you must only open Joint Accounts with people you trust.

A Joint Account is a Bank Account with more than one holder. Such an account can be a Savings Account, Current Account, Fixed Deposit, Loan Account, etc. For these accounts, questions like 'who is the owner', 'who can withdraw money', and 'can I remove other account holders' are legitimate. Our comprehensive guide on Joint Bank Account rules answers all such questions.

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Joint Account Rules in India

Joint Accounts are like Regular Bank Accounts, except they are operated by more than one account holder. Not every account holder of a Joint Account can deposit and withdraw money, transfer funds, make ATM withdrawals, issue cheques, etc.

Account Operation

You can open a Joint Account like you would open a regular bank account, i.e., fill out the account opening form and complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process. Simply select the mode of holding as joint. Following are the Joint Bank Account Rules in India per the account mode.

  • Joint: All transactions in the account must be approved and signed by all the account holders. If any one of the account holders dies, the account will be deemed inoperable, and the bank will pass on the balance in the account to the survivor.
  • Joint or Survivor: This account is similar to the Joint one; however, the survivor can continue to operate the account.
  • Either or Survivor: This account has two account holders, a primary and secondary account holder, and either or both can operate the account.
  • Former or Survivor: Only the primary account holder can operate this account. Per Joint Bank Account rules on death, the other joint account holder can operate the account upon the demise of the primary account holder.
  • Latter or Survivor: The second account holder can operate the account. After their death, the primary account holder takes over the operations.
  • Anyone or survivor: This type of Joint Account is operated by more than two persons, and they do not require each holder to sign off on transactions.

Funding

Account holders must establish the purpose of the joint account to decide how the account will be funded. Depending on the account type, not all account holders can operate the account, which also means limitations on deposits.

Withdrawal

In 'Either or Survivor' and 'Anyone or Survivor' accounts, joint holders have access to funds without consent from others, regardless of who funds the account.

Account Closing

Whether you are the primary account holder or not, you can choose to close the account at any time. However, in the case of 'Joint', all members must sign the account closing form.

Final Note

Joint Accounts come with numerous benefits, especially for spouses and business partners looking to manage their expenses jointly. However, there are certain Joint Account rules and regulations that all account holders must follow. You must open joint Accounts only with those whom you trust. All account holders must agree to the stipulated terms and conditions before opening a Joint Bank Account.

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*Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. We recommend you get in touch with your income tax advisor or CA for expert advice.

Joint Account Rules and Regulations in India | DBS Bank (2024)

FAQs

Joint Account Rules and Regulations in India | DBS Bank? ›

Account Operation

What are the rules for joint bank accounts? ›

The money in joint accounts belongs to both owners. Either person can withdraw or spend the money at will — even if they weren't the one to deposit the funds. The bank makes no distinction between money deposited by one person or the other, making a joint account useful for handling shared expenses.

Can NRIs hold joint savings accounts in India? ›

As a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), holding a joint account with a resident Indian can be a convenient way to secure the financial well-being of your family in India.

Can one person withdraw money from joint account in India? ›

This means any account holder can deposit or withdraw money from the account without permission of the other holder(s). 2. Access: All account holders can access the account via Debit Cards, cheques or online banking without the need to ask the co-owner to make the transaction.

Can a joint account holder withdraw money after death? ›

A joint bank account beneficiary can't set up direct deposits, make withdrawals, or view your bank account when you're alive. They may only access the account when you die.

What are the disadvantages of a joint bank account? ›

Lack of control. You cannot control how the other party spends your money. If your partner decides to spend frivolously, you will both feel the blow.

Can a wife empty a joint bank account? ›

If the funds in your joint bank account are considered separate property and owned exclusively by your spouse, they may legally be able to drain the account. Similarly, even if the account is community property, a spouse may be able to withdraw money for reasonable living expenses, legal fees, and children's expenses.

Can an OCI have a joint account in India? ›

Further, an OCI can open all types of accounts allowed to a Resident customer. A joint account with Resident Indian (RI) who is a close relative can also be opened subject to following conditions: Mode of operation permitted is 'Former (NRI) or Survivor' only.

Can a foreign citizen have a joint account in India? ›

May be held jointly in the names of two or more NRIs/ PIOs. NRIs/ PIOs can hold jointly with a resident relative on 'former or survivor' basis (relative as defined in Companies Act, 2013). The resident relative can operate the account as a Power of Attorney holder during the life time of the NRI/ PIO account holder.

Can I keep my savings account in India if I move abroad? ›

As per the prevailing Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regulations, an NRI is mandated to either: Close the existing resident savings account in India and open a new NRI account; or. Convert your resident savings account to a Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account.

Can my husband take all the money from our joint account? ›

Many married couples have joint bank accounts. Each spouse has the right to make deposits into the account, and, each spouse has the right to withdraw from the account any amount up to the total balance. It's common for married spouses to have joint accounts for practical and romantic reasons.

Who pays tax on joint accounts? ›

If you have a joint account, you both may have to pay taxes on a portion of the interest income. However, the bank will only send one 1099-INT tax form. You can ask the bank who will receive the form because that person has to list the income on their tax return.

What are the tax implications of joint account with spouse in India? ›

Joint Account with Spouse: If the joint account is held between spouses, any interest earned from the account is generally considered to be income of the first account holder (primary account holder) for tax purposes. It will be taxed as per the individual's applicable income tax slab rates.

Will a joint bank account be frozen if one person dies? ›

Joint bank accounts

Couples may also have joint bank or building society accounts. If one dies, all the money will go to the surviving partner without the need for probate or letters of administration. The bank may need the see the death certificate in order to transfer the money to the other joint owner.

Who owns the money in a joint bank account? ›

Joint Bank Account Rules: Who Owns What? All joint bank accounts have two or more owners. Each owner has the full right to withdraw, deposit, and otherwise manage the account's funds. While some banks may label one person as the primary account holder, that doesn't change the fact everyone owns everything—together.

Can a spouse withdraw money from a joint account? ›

The level of conflict, amount of funds in joint accounts and your financial circ*mstances will determine how you approach this issue. You may receive advice to approach the bank to place joint signatures on the account. This will prevent you and your partner from withdrawing funds without you both consenting.

What happens to a joint bank account when one person dies? ›

Joint bank accounts

Couples may also have joint bank or building society accounts. If one dies, all the money will go to the surviving partner without the need for probate or letters of administration. The bank may need the see the death certificate in order to transfer the money to the other joint owner.

What are the requirements for a joint account? ›

How to Open a Joint Bank Account. To open a joint account, you must complete an application with the personal details of all the account holders. In addition, some banks may request proof of address and identity in the form of utility bills, passports or driver's licenses.

Do both parties need to be present to close a joint bank account? ›

Some banks allow one person to close a joint bank account, while others require all involved parties.

Can two people get a joint bank account without being married? ›

You can open a joint bank account regardless of your marital status. Although keeping joint accounts works well for some couples, it can be risky for others. First, both account holders can spend from joint accounts without limit, regardless of how much each has contributed.

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