SBI Interest Certificate: How to Download It and Open the PDF Password

What Is an SBI Interest Certificate?

An SBI interest certificate is a statement from the bank that shows how much interest you paid on a loan in a financial year. It also shows the principal repaid, so you can claim the interest part in your tax return. This guide covers loan certificates, mainly for education loans and home loans. For interest on a fixed deposit, SBI issues a TDS certificate (Form 16A), and net banking has a TDS enquiry option under the Fixed Deposit tab.

How to Get an SBI Interest Certificate

Option 1: Net banking (online)

• Log in to SBI net banking with your user ID and password.
• Open the e-Services tab and click My Certificates.
• Select the certificate you need. For a home loan, the menu shows Home Loan Int. Cert. (Prov) for the provisional certificate.
• Choose the loan account.
• View, download or print the PDF.

SBI net banking menus change from time to time, so if you cannot find the option, use the SMS route below. You can log in at the SBI personal banking site.

Option 2: SMS to SBI (official format)

SBI lists the interest certificate request on its SBI Quick page. Send the SMS to 917208933145 in this format, with a single space between each part:

The code is any 4-digit number of your choice. SBI uses it to encrypt the PDF, and the certificate is sent to your registered email address. Example: if you send ELI 12345678901 4821, the PDF will open with the password 4821. Keep your mobile number and email updated with the bank, because the certificate goes to the email on record.

Also Read: SBI education loan for studying abroad: interest rates and documents

Option 3: Branch or customer care

• Visit the branch that holds your loan account and submit a written request for the interest certificate.
• Mention your name, loan account number, PAN, email and address, and carry a copy of your PAN, Aadhaar or passport.
• If you cannot visit, you can also call SBI customer care and ask for the certificate to be sent to you. Get the current toll-free numbers from the SBI website.

Branch steps are described in this home loan certificate guide. Ask the branch whether any processing charge applies for a branch request.

YONO app

Some guides describe a YONO route: Home Loan, then TDS Enquiry, then the financial year, then Download (see this description). App menus change between versions, so treat this as a backup and use net banking or SMS if you do not see these options.

SBI Interest Certificate PDF Password: What It Is and How to Open It

The password depends on how you got the certificate.

Many websites give different password formulas, such as date of birth plus mobile digits. These rules contradict each other and are not documented by SBI for loan interest certificates, so do not rely on them. The only password rule SBI states for these certificates is the 4-digit code you choose in the SMS.

Tip: save the 4-digit code in your phone notes the moment you send the SMS. If you forget it, the quickest fix is a fresh SMS with a new code.

Provisional and Final Interest Certificate

The provisional certificate shows interest paid so far in the running financial year, and it is available before the year ends. The final certificate for a financial year is available only after the next financial year begins (Housing.com explains the difference). Use the provisional certificate to estimate your deduction or give your employer an early declaration, and use the final certificate when you file your return.

Using the Education Loan Interest Certificate for Tax

The certificate is the document that supports your education loan interest deduction. Under the Income-tax Act, 1961, this is Section 80E. The Income Tax Department lists the same deduction as Section 129 under the Income-tax Act, 2025, which covers tax years from 2026. The rules on the department pages are:

• Only individuals can claim it, and the interest must be paid from income that is chargeable to tax.
• The loan must come from a bank, a financial institution or an approved charitable institution, and must be for higher education after the senior secondary examination.
• The loan can be for you, your spouse, your child or a student for whom you are the legal guardian.
• The deduction runs from the year you start paying interest for 8 years in total, or until the interest is fully repaid, whichever is earlier.
• There is no upper limit on the interest amount. Only interest qualifies, so principal repayments do not.

The earlier rules are on the Section 80E page. The Income Tax Department says the 1961 Act applies to assessment year 2026-27 (income of financial year 2025-26), and the 2025 Act applies from tax year 2026-27 onward. Have a tax advisor confirm the section and wording for your return before you file, because the deduction depends on your tax year and eligibility.

Also Read: Education loan tax benefits: all about Section 80E

If you work abroad after your degree, read whether you can claim 80E on an Indian education loan while working in the USA.

Using the Home Loan Interest Certificate

The home loan certificate supports your claim for interest paid on a housing loan. Interest on a home loan is a deduction from your income, not an exemption. For a self-occupied property, the deduction has been claimed under Section 24(b) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Check the matching section for tax years from 2026 on the Income Tax Department site or with your tax advisor. Employers may ask for the certificate for tax declarations, so download the provisional version early in the financial year.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Also Read: What is an educational loan sanction letter and how to get it

SBI Interest Certificate vs Form 16

Students often mix up these two documents. They come from different issuers and cover different income.

Plan your repayment before the moratorium ends with the education loan moratorium guide and check monthly payments with the education loan EMI calculator.

Related Articles

• Know Education Loan Tax Benefits: All About Section 80E of Income Tax Act
• SBI Education Loan for Studying Abroad: Interest Rates and Documents
• What Is an Educational Loan Sanction Letter and How to Get It
• Education Loan Moratorium Period: A Detailed Guide
• Compare Education Loan Interest Rates

Planning an education loan for study abroad? Use GradRight to compare education loan interest rates and shortlist lenders that fit your course and budget.