People make a lot of effort to save money from their income and these savings needs to be mobilised strategically to make the most out of them. It is imperative that one starts planning for their future finances to create a stable corpus that can be used for funding the lifestyle post retirement.
In this context, a wise idea would be to invest in mutual fund. Mutual funds pool money from various investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. They offer several benefits, including liquidity, hassle free investing, flexibility and diversity. Investing in tax saving mutual funds can be a smart financial move that allows you to grow your wealth while potentially benefiting from tax advantages.
If one wants to invest in mutual funds while experiencing dual benefits of saving taxes as well as growing their wealth, then tax saving mutual funds or ELSS funds as they are popularly known, are an attractive option. Tax saving mutual funds are open-ended equity-oriented funds that invest primarily in equity and equity-related instruments. They come with a mandatory lock-in period, which is usually for 3 years. This is used to ensure that investors remain committed to their investments for a specified period of time. These funds also offer tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, up to a maximum limit of Rs. 1.5 lakhs in a financial year.
Benefits of tax saving mutual funds-
Here are various advantages of choosing to invest in mutual funds with double benefits, here are a few-
- Tax Deductions: Investing in tax saving mutual funds allows individuals to claim deductions of up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs from their taxable income. This helps to reduce their overall tax liability and help in optimizing tax planning.
- Potential for Wealth Creation: As tax saving mutual fundschemes invest primarily in equity, they have the potential to generate higher returns over the long term compared to traditional tax-saving instruments such as fixed deposits or Public Provident Fund (PPF).
- Diversification: By investing in tax saving mutual funds, investors gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of stocks across various sectors and market capitalizations. This helps to reduce risk by spreading investments across multiple companies and sectors.
- Lock-in Period: Tax saving mutual funds come with a mandatory lock-in period of three years, during which investors cannot redeem or withdraw their investments. It is important for investors to consider their liquidity requirements and align their investment horizon accordingly, before investing in ELSS mutual funds. This, of course, helps to inculcate financial discipline.
A few things to note regarding tax saving mutual funds would be-
- Risk and Returns: As tax saving mutual funds primarily invest in equities, they carry market-related risks. Investors should assess their risk appetite and choose funds that align with their investment objectives and risk tolerance.
- Fund Selection: Investors should research and evaluate different tax saving mutual funds based on parameters such as fund performance, fund manager’s track record, expense ratio, and portfolio composition. A financial advisor’s advice and direction can be extremely helpful.
Tax saving mutual fund investments offer investors an opportunity to save taxes while potentially generating higher returns compared to traditional tax-saving instruments. By investing in tax saving mutual funds, individuals can optimize their tax planning and simultaneously participate in equity markets. If you want to invest in mutual funds ELSS schemes, consulting a financial advisor or your mutual fund distributor can help get personalized advice based on individual circumstances, ensuring a well-informed investment decision.
