India Post Forms 2026: Account Opening, Withdrawal, Closure & KYC

Every post office savings transaction beyond a simple deposit runs on a form. Opening an account, withdrawing money, closing a deposit, adding a nominee or replacing a lost passbook each has its own prescribed slip, identified by a code most savers never learn.

Knowing which form does what saves a wasted trip and a second visit. The right slip, filled correctly and carried with the passbook, turns a counter task into a quick one.

This guide lists the main India Post savings forms in 2026 - what each is for, the form code, what to carry, how to fill it, the less-common forms, and where to download them.

The main India Post savings forms

A handful of forms cover almost every routine post office savings task. Each has a code, and the most common ones span opening, withdrawal, closure, nomination and a duplicate passbook.

These cover the everyday lifecycle of a post office account, from opening to closing. Most are available as downloadable PDFs from the official India Post website, alongside the counter copies at any branch.

The account opening form

The Account Opening Form (AOF) is used to open a new Post Office Savings Account or any small-savings scheme such as RD, TD, MIS, NSC, PPF or SCSS. It captures the applicant's details, the scheme chosen and the nominee.

The form is submitted with KYC documents and the first deposit, a process set out in full in IndiaPost's guide to how to open a Post Office savings scheme. A nomination is best added on the same form at opening.

SB-7: the withdrawal form

The SB-7 form is used to withdraw money from a Post Office Savings Account. It is filled with the account details and the amount, and submitted with the passbook at the counter.

This is the standard slip for taking cash out of a savings account, distinct from closing the account entirely. For most everyday withdrawals, the SB-7 plus the passbook is all that is needed.

"The SB-7 withdrawal form allows you to take money out of your account, and it is available for download." (India Post Updates, India Post Forms.)

SB-7A: the account closure form

The SB-7A form is the application to close an account, either on maturity or as a premature closure. It is used to wind up a deposit such as a Time Deposit, RD or MIS and receive the proceeds.

Closing on maturity returns the full amount, while a premature closure applies the scheme's penalty rules. The same form covers both situations, with the type of closure indicated on it.

"The SB-7A is the application for closure of account on maturity, used for closing accounts at maturity or on a premature basis." (India Customer Care, Account Closure Form SB-7A.)

SB-55: the nomination form

The SB-55 form is used to register or change the nominee on a post office account. A nomination names who receives the balance on the account holder's death, which simplifies the claim for the family.

A nomination can be made at opening or any time afterwards by submitting the SB-55 with the passbook at the office where the account is held. Adding or updating a nominee is one of the most valuable and overlooked account tasks.

The duplicate passbook form

If a passbook is lost or damaged, a duplicate is obtained using the application for a duplicate passbook, submitted at the branch with identity and address proof and a fee. The passbook itself and the process are covered in IndiaPost's guide to the post office passbook and e-Passbook.

Because the passbook is the official record of the account, replacing a lost one promptly keeps the account easy to operate. The duplicate carries the same account details as the original.

Documents to carry with any form

Whatever the form, a counter visit goes smoothly when the supporting documents are ready. The passbook of the account is almost always needed, along with KYC proof of identity and address such as Aadhaar and PAN, and a photograph for an account-opening form.

For a withdrawal or closure, the passbook and the holder's identity are the core requirements, while opening an account additionally needs the KYC set and the first deposit. Carrying originals along with copies avoids a return trip if the counter needs to verify a document.

How to fill a form correctly

A form is processed faster when it is filled completely and matches the account record. The account number, holder's name and amount should be written exactly as they appear in the passbook, in clear handwriting, with the holder's signature matching the one on file.

Leaving a required field blank, or a signature that does not match, is the most common reason a form is sent back. Checking the filled form against the passbook before submitting it is the simplest way to avoid a second visit.

Forms for specific schemes

Beyond the common slips, some schemes have their own forms for scheme-specific actions. A PPF account, for instance, has separate forms for a partial withdrawal and for a loan against the balance, while a Sukanya Samriddhi account has forms for a withdrawal for the girl's education or marriage.

An RD has a form to revive a discontinued account where instalments were missed, and certificate schemes such as NSC and KVP have their own application and encashment slips. The branch confirms the correct scheme-specific form, so it is worth naming the exact action when asking at the counter.

Transfer, pledge and revival forms

A few less-common but useful forms handle account changes rather than routine transactions. An account can be transferred from one post office to another using the prescribed transfer application, and certain accounts can be pledged as security using a pledging form.

A discontinued RD can be revived by paying the missed instalments with the default fee, using the revival route at the branch. These actions are occasional, but knowing they exist saves a saver from assuming an account cannot be moved or restarted.

Forms for a nominee or legal-heir claim

When an account holder passes away, the balance is claimed by the nominee or legal heir using a claim form, supported by the death certificate and identity proof. Where a valid nomination exists, the nominee's claim is the simpler route, which is why keeping the SB-55 nomination current matters.

Without a nomination, the claim follows the legal-heir process, which needs additional documents and takes longer. In both cases the passbook and the account details are the starting point for the claim at the branch.

Online alternatives to paper forms

For some tasks, the paper form can now be avoided altogether through digital channels. The IPPB app and Department of Posts internet banking let a saver check balances, transfer funds and operate certain accounts without a withdrawal slip, as covered in IndiaPost's guide to India Post net banking.

These online routes suit routine money movement, while opening, closure, nomination and claims still generally run on the prescribed forms at the counter. Using the app for everyday transactions reserves the counter trip for the tasks that genuinely need a form.

Where to download the forms

Most India Post savings forms are available as downloadable PDFs from the official India Post website, and as printed copies at every post office. Downloading and filling a form in advance speeds up the counter visit.

For accuracy, the safest source is the official India Post site, since form versions can be updated. A form filled at home should still be submitted with the passbook and any required KYC documents at the branch.

Why the form codes matter

The SB codes look like jargon, but each maps to one precise action, which is exactly why naming the right code at the counter speeds things up. Asking for "SB-7" rather than "the money form" leaves no ambiguity, and the staff hand over the correct slip immediately.

Because several forms look similar, the code is the reliable way to tell a withdrawal from a closure or a nomination. A saver who knows the few codes for their routine tasks moves through the counter faster than one describing the action in words.

Forms for joint and minor accounts

A joint account uses the same forms as a single one, but the signature requirement follows the mode of operation - both holders together, or either one, depending on how the account was set up. A withdrawal or closure on a jointly operated account therefore needs the signatures the operation mode requires.

For a minor's account, the guardian fills and signs the forms on the minor's behalf until the minor comes of age, after which the account is converted to the minor's own operation. The forms are the same; only who signs them changes.

Keeping a copy of submitted forms

It is worth keeping a copy or a photograph of any form submitted, along with the dated counter acknowledgement, so there is a record of the request. For a closure or a claim especially, this proof helps if the proceeds or the processing are delayed.

The passbook entry that follows the transaction is the other record, since it shows the withdrawal, closure or change reflected in the account. Together, the copy and the passbook entry close the loop on any form-based task.

When you do not need a form

Not every task needs a paper form: a simple deposit into a savings or RD account, a balance check, or a routine transfer through the IPPB app can be done without one. The forms come in for actions that change the account - opening, withdrawing, closing, nominating or claiming.

Knowing which tasks are form-free avoids carrying paperwork for a job that does not need it. For the form-based actions, though, the right slip and the passbook remain the fastest route. Matching the task to the right channel - the app for routine money movement, a counter form for account changes - is the habit that keeps post office banking quick.

Methodology

The form names, codes and uses are drawn from India Post and form directories including India Post Updates, as of the time of writing. Form versions and requirements can change; readers should download the current form from the official India Post website or collect it at their post office.

Key takeaways

• The Account Opening Form (AOF) opens a savings account or any small-savings scheme.
• SB-7 is the withdrawal form; SB-7A is the account-closure form for maturity or premature closure.
• SB-55 registers or changes a nominee on a post office account.
• A duplicate passbook is obtained with the prescribed application, ID and address proof, and a fee.
• Carry the passbook and KYC proof with any form; fill it to match the account record exactly.
• Specific schemes have their own forms for withdrawals, loans, transfers and revival.
• Most forms are downloadable PDFs on the official India Post website and available at any branch.

Looking ahead

As more account tasks move to the IPPB app and DOP net banking, some of these forms are needed less often, but the counter and its slips still anchor the system. For 2026, knowing the few codes that matter - AOF, SB-7, SB-7A and SB-55 - is the quickest way to make a post office visit a single, efficient trip.