Dates & reminders
Retention Money & Security Deposit Release Calculator
Security deposit and retention deducted from bills are released after the defect liability period (DLP) ends — often 12 months after completion, longer for some works. Tracking those dates is the difference between getting your money back and leaving it with the department.
Defect liability period
Deposits and retention are released once this period after completion ends.
Defect liability period
Buildings: often 12 months · roads under PMGSY and some state schemes: up to 5 years. Applies to every contract below.
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Security deposits recorded on a contract, plus retention payments still pending. Release date = contract end date + defect liability period.
No deposits or retention recorded yet. Add a security deposit or a retention milestone on a contract to track it here.
How this is worked out
The release date assumes the contract's end date is when the work was completed. If the work finished later, update the end date on the contract.
To get it released: apply in writing once the defect liability period ends, with the completion certificate and a no-dues / no-defects certificate from the engineer-in-charge. Many departments accept a bank guarantee in place of retention earlier — ask if your cash is tight.
Frequently asked questions
When is retention money released?
After the defect liability period in the contract ends and any defects are rectified; some contracts release half on completion and half after the DLP.
Figures are for planning. The conditions in your tender document or contract always take precedence.
Let the calculators fill themselves in
With a free Digi Karya account, these tools pull in your own contracts, tenders, bills and documents — and you also get licence and GST expiry reminders, a tender workspace, milestone billing and EMD & bank guarantee tracking.