Credit card minimum due calculator
Paying the 5% minimum keeps your card active and avoids a late fee, but most of each payment goes to interest and 18% GST. Enter your balance to see how long the minimum due takes, and how much a fixed monthly payment saves.
Enter your card balance
Month-by-month balance comparison
| Month | Min due paid (₹) | Balance (min due) | Balance (fixed pay) |
|---|
Why the minimum due takes decades
Most Indian credit cards charge 3.5% to 3.75% a month on any unpaid balance (42% to 45% a year), plus 18% GST on that interest. At 3.5% a month, the combined charge is 4.13% a month.
Because the minimum due is usually 5% of the bill (or a floor such as ₹500), it shrinks every month along with your balance. Most of what you pay covers interest and GST, leaving the principal to fall very slowly.
A worked ₹1,00,000 example
Take a ₹1,00,000 card bill revolved at 3.5% a month plus 18% GST on the interest, with no new purchases and a 5% minimum due (₹500 floor):
| Plan | First payment | Time to clear | Interest + GST | Total paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Only minimum due (5% / ₹500 floor) | ₹5,207 | 21 yr 4 mo (256 months) | ₹3,56,677 | ₹4,56,677 |
| Fixed ₹10,000 a month | ₹10,000 | 1 yr 2 mo (14 months) | ₹31,664 | ₹1,31,664 |
| Difference | 20 yr 2 mo sooner | ₹3,25,013 saved | ₹3,25,013 less |
On the minimum due, that ₹3,56,677 comes to ₹3,02,269 in interest plus ₹54,408 in GST. After six months you have paid ₹30,410 in total and still owe ₹93,712. After 14 months, when the fixed ₹10,000 plan finishes completely, the minimum-due route still leaves ₹85,939 unpaid. The ₹500 floor only takes over in month 218.
What different fixed payments do
Same ₹1,00,000 balance, same 3.5% monthly interest plus 18% GST, no new spending:
| Fixed payment | Months to clear | Interest + GST | Total paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹5,000 | 44 | ₹1,16,066 | ₹2,16,066 |
| ₹7,500 | 20 | ₹48,283 | ₹1,48,283 |
| ₹10,000 | 14 | ₹31,664 | ₹1,31,664 |
| ₹15,000 | 8 | ₹19,376 | ₹1,19,376 |
In the first month, interest and GST alone come to ₹4,130. Paying ₹5,000 reduces the principal by only ₹870; going from ₹5,000 to ₹7,500 cuts nearly ₹68,000 off the cost.
How the calculator works
Each month it takes your balance, adds that month's interest, and adds 18% GST on the interest. On the minimum-due path, it pays the set share of that bill (or the rupee floor, whichever is higher) until the balance hits zero. On the fixed-payment path, it pays your fixed amount each month instead. Both assume no new spending on the card.
Questions people ask
Why is there 18% GST on credit card interest?
Interest on a credit card is a financial service that attracts 18% GST, so GST shows up on your statement on top of the finance charge. That raises a 3.5% monthly rate to 4.13% a month.
What happens if I keep using the card while carrying a balance?
Once you leave any part of the bill unpaid, you lose the interest-free period (usually up to 45 or 50 days). Every new purchase then attracts interest from the day you make it until you clear the whole bill.
Does paying only the minimum due hurt my CIBIL score?
Paying at least the minimum by the due date counts as paying on time, so there is no late-payment mark. But the unpaid balance keeps your card usage high against your limit, which holds your score down. See what your CIBIL score means and how the statement date affects utilization.
Is converting the balance to an EMI cheaper?
Usually, yes. Many banks let you turn an outstanding card balance into an EMI at roughly 14% to 16% a year plus a processing fee and GST, which is far cheaper than 42% plus GST. Check the fee, any charge for closing early, and whether the converted amount stays blocked from your card limit.
For the full guide, including a worked balance-to-EMI comparison, read Credit card minimum due trap in India: what paying only 5% really costs.
Assumes no new purchases, no late fees, 18% GST on interest, and minimum due calculated as a percentage of the total bill (or the rupee floor, whichever is higher). Your card's terms (MITC) and monthly statement are the final word. This calculator is for education and estimates only.