Whom is this Blog meant for?

This BLOG is meant for those INVESTORS who want to benefit from the India story & are on the look out for expert, unbiased & easy to understand Investment advice about MUTUAL FUNDS & other investment avenues.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

CRISIL report confirms my view on Tax saving Mutual Funds (ELSS)


Great!!! I now have the backing of India’s leading credit rating agency CRISIL confirming my view that Tax Saving Mutual Funds, also known as ELSS, are an Investors best bet as far as Tax Saving Investments are concerned. The investors favourite, PPF & NSC, have been beaten black & blue by good ELSS funds over a 10 year period, as per a recent report published by CRISIL.

So all those articles that I have written on Tax Saving Mutual Funds or ELSS have not gone in vain.

Here is the list of my previous articles on Tax Saving Mutual Funds; in fact, my latest article titled “Invest and therefore save tax and not vice versa” was published by me a few weeks back on this BLOG and sums up and provides links to my previous articles on Sec 80C and tax saving investment options…

Some of my articles on ELSS or Tax Saving Mutual Funds:

No.
Article Heading
Link to the article
1
Invest and therefore save tax and not vice versa
2
Death and Taxes
3
4 Strong Reasons to Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds
4
Tax Saving Mutual Funds: Grab them with both hands

CRISIL, India's leading credit rating agency, carried a detailed analysis of various tax saving options available based on past 10 years performance & it confirms that ELSS or Tax Saving Mutual Funds are better that most other tax saving avenues like PPF or NSC
over a 3 year and more important a 10 year investment horizon....

Here are the links to CRISIL’s report in India’s leading business dailies:

Business Daily
Article Link
Article Heading
The Economic Times
ELSS better investment option than PPF, NSC: Crisil
Business Standard
The Financial Express
ELSS better than PPF, NSC: Crisil
Indian Express
ELSS trumps PPF on returns
Moneycontrol.com
ELSS better investment option than PPF, NSC: Crisil



Snippets from some of the above articles worth reading and pondering on:

Indian Express put it very nicely:

A penny saved is a penny earned. In the long run, those who follow this simple yet very powerful principle would probably be more financially sound than those who don’t. And those who go one step further by not just “saving” but “investing” in appropriate asset classes and products would likely benefit all the more.

Equity Linked Savings Schemes (commonly known as ELSS schemes or Tax Saving Mutual Funds) offered by mutual funds combine these two principles to create a product that not only help investors to save tax but also has the potential to help build wealth in the long run. However, ELSS funds differ from most of the other tax saving investment instruments in terms of their risk-return characteristics and for that reason, many investors tend to prefer traditional tax saving investments over ELSS funds.
Like most equity funds, ELSS funds also tend to be volatile in the short term but have the potential to help investor generate wealth in the long run. Their wealth generation potential along with the compulsory minimum investment period of at least three years makes it a great investment option for investors looking to benefit from tax deductions under Section 80C.

As per a study carried out by Fidelity Worldwide on Indian Tax Saving Mutual Funds, Rs. 1 lakh invested in ELSS funds on an average would have grown to Rs. 3,23,036 in a five-year time-frame whereas the same amount invested in PPF or NSC would have grown to just Rs 1,49,120 and Rs 1,50,317 respectively. It was also interesting to learn that more than three times out of five, ELSS funds outperformed PPF by over 10 per cent on an annualised basis.

Economic Times quoted CRISIL and said:

The PPF accounts fetched 8.12 percent over the last 10 years and in the similar period, the NSC gave an interest of 9.10 percent. The average inflation over the past 10 years stood at 6.05 percent. 

As per CRISIL analysis, Tax Saving Mutual Funds or ELSS gave 26 percent and 22 percent annualised returns over three and 10 years respectively vis-a-vis 8 to 9 percent offered by traditional tax saving investment products such as public provident fund (PPF) and national savings certificates (NSC).

ELSS is not only an attractive option to save tax, but also helps create wealth over the long run. ELSS as a category has outperformed the Nifty 500 across three and 10 years. With average inflation around 7 percent over the past three years, top ranked ELSS gave an inflation adjusted return of 14 percent, which is significantly higher than returns offered by other tax saving products.

Crisil, however, cautioned that the ELSS investment requires some amount of market risk and had to cherry pick those schemes which have performed consistently well. 

Since investments in ELSS are subject to market risks, investors must take into consideration their age and risk-taking abilities. The investment horizon should be more than five years for higher inflation-adjusted returns. 

Further, investors must choose funds that have performed well both in good and bad times.

Business Standard says:
Though the traditional debt products like PPF & NSC are considered to be relatively safer bet as they are not affected by volatility, they are unable to generate higher inflation-adjusted returns in the long run.

The PPF accounts fetched 8.12% over the last 10 years and in the similar period, the NSC gave an interest of 9.10%. However, the average inflation over the past 10 years stood at 6.05%. So post-inflation returns of PPF & NSC are not at all attractive which is not the case with ELSS.

To sum up:

So, based on the CRISIL Report and what various leading business dailies in the country have quoted, if one has to put it in a tabular format:

ELSS Returns v/s PPF & NSC post inflation

Tax Saving Investment option u/s 80C
10 year Annualised returns as per CRISIL report
Average Inflation rate assumed
Post Inflation rate per annum
Top ranked Tax saving Mutual Funds or ELSS*
22% per annum
7.0% per annum
14% to 15% per annum
PPF
8.12% per annum
7.0% per annum
1.12% per annum
Employees Provident Fund (EPF)
8.25% per annum*
7.0% per annum
1.25% per annum
NSC
9.12% per annum
7.0% per annum
2.12% per annum
*going forward; Source: Crisil Report

A few words of caution here:

1.     As of today, there are more than 35 ELSS or Tax Saving Mutual Funds in existence today. If you have to invest Rs. 1 lac under section 80C in ELSS funds, you should invest in 1 or 2 ELSS funds.

Which ELSS funds will you chose? My advise is that an Investor should either himself do a thorough research while choosing a good ELSS fund or take help of a Financial Planner or a  Mutual Fund Expert / Advisor (not the typical commn agent; hope you know the difference by now).

2.     Even though Tax Saving Mutual Funds require you to stay invested for 3 years, for the sake of safety, keep a 5 years investment horizon

3.     Go for dividend payout option rather than a growth option for your ELSS funds…

4.     Keep visiting this BLOG for further inputs…

HAPPY TAX INVESTING!

Friday, March 16, 2012

BUDGET 2012 Simplified for the retail Investor


         
        So the d-day has arrived. The suspense relating to BUDGET 2012 is now out in the open and the Pandora’s box is has now opened.

      Now, if you google "BUDGET 2012" now, you will get 100s of hits, if not more.
So why should you visit my BLOG today to read about the Budget? 

      Because here, I have attempted to remove all unnecessary info, data etc and the article below is written in a simple, easy to understand manner keeping the retail Investor’s point of you in mind.

No jazzy talk, no extra details, just talking plainly about the couple of things that matter most to a retail Investor like you and me.

So, what matters to a retail Investor in India?
What does a retail Investor look for in the BUDGET document?

     According to me, the following things matter to a retail Investor?

1.     What are the New Income Tax Rates applicable to me the next financial year (FY 2012-13)? Basically, tax kitna lagega are kitna tax bachha?
2.     What is the impact on my Investments? Should I change my tax investments especially under section 80C where I can invest up to Rs. 1 lac and save tax?
3.     What has changed under section 80D that deals with Medical Insurance? A section where up till last year I could pay medical Insurance premium and get deduction up to Rs.15,000 (Rs. 20,000 in case I am paying premium for parents who are Senior Citizens)
4.     Any other extra deduction that I can avail off and therefore save some Income Tax?
5.     What about changes in Indirect Tax laws or rates?
6.     Any major legislative (tax laws) changes that I need to worry about? For example people were talking about Income Tax Act 1961 being abolished and replaced with DTC (Direct Tax Code).
7.      
So let me attempt to answer all the above questions one by one?

1.   What are the New Income Tax Rates applicable to me the next financial year (FY 2012-13)? Basically, tax kitna lagega are kitna tax bachha?

Ok. Here is the Old Income Tax slabs (FY 2011-12)
Income Tax Slabs for FY 2011-12 (current Financial Year)
Income tax slabs 2011-2012 for General tax payers
Tax slab (in Rs.)
Tax

0 to 1,80,000*
No tax
1,80,001 to 5,00,000
10%
5,00,001 to 8,00,000
20%
Above 8,00,000
30%
*For Individuals other than Woman assesses and who are not Senior Citizens
Basic exemption limit for other assesses
Rs.
Women assesses less than 60 years of age
   1,90,000
Senior citizen (60 years to 80 years)
   2,50,000
Very Senior citizens ( Age > 80 years)
   5,00,000

And here are The Revised Income Tax Slabs as per Budget 2012 applicable to Individuals for next financial year (FY2012-13):
New Income Tax Slabs for FY 2012-13
(Next Financial Year 2012-13)
Income (Rs.)
Tax rate
(%)
Savings (Rs.)
Up to Rs. 2,00,000* of Income
NIL
Rs. 2,060
Rs. 2,00,001 to Rs. 5,00,000
10%
Rs. 2,060
Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs. 10,00,000
20%
Rs. 2,060
Above Rs. 10,00,000
30%
Rs. 22,660
*For Individuals other than Woman assesses and who are not Senior Citizens
Basic exemption limit for other assesses
Income (Rs.)
Women assesses less than 60 years of age
     2,00,000
Senior citizen (60 years to 80 years)
     2,50,000
Very Senior citizens ( Age > 80 years)
     5,00,000
Source: DNA India
Comment:
As you can notice from above, Budget 2012 has given an income tax savings of mere Rs. 2,060 is available to an Individual male assesses earning income up to Rs. 8 lacs. However, if your income is above Rs. 8 lacs, than your tax savings next year is Rs. 22,660 approximately.

2.   What is the impact on my Investments? Should I change my tax investments especially under section 80C where I can invest up to Rs. 1 lac and save tax?
The most important Section under the Income Tax Act to claim tax deduction is Sec 80C wherein you and I can invest in various instruments and claim tax deduction up to Rs. 1 lac. Well, fortunately or unfortunately, not much has changed under Sec 80C. Neither the investments avenues have been reduced nor added, barring a small clause on Insurance plans on which clarifications are awaited. Thankfully, and that GOD for this, the most profitable investment avenue u/s 80C, Tax Saving Mutual Funds or ELSS are still going to be there next here. This is the best thing that has happened according to me…(to know more about Tax Saving Mutual Funds or ELSS, read my past article titled INVEST and therefore SAVE tax and not vice versa http://niravpanchmatia.blogspot.in/2012/03/invest-and-therefore-save-tax-and-not.html)

3.   What has changed under section 80D that deals with Medical Insurance? A section where up till last year I could pay medical Insurance premium and get deduction up to Rs.15,000 (Rs. 20,000 in case I am paying premium for parents who are Senior Citizens)
After you have used section 80C to avail deduction of Rs. 1 lac, the other option is to use Sec 80D and avail deduction of another Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 by paying premium towards Medical Insurance for Self, spouse and 2 children (Rs. 15,000) or parents who are senior citizens (Rs. 20,000). Now senior citizen up till last year meant citizens above 65 years of age. That definition of senior citizen has been revised to include citizen above 60 years of age. A good amendment according to me…
While the above limits of Rs. 15,000 and 20,000 still hold true, the FM has given an additional deduction of Rs. 5,000 if you have incurred it “on any payment made on account of preventive health check-up for yourself or any member of your family”. Also, a deduction is available even if this check-up cost is paid for in CASH. A small but necessary change... (I believe this will help you and me to avail tax deduction on those innumerable medical check-ups that our doctors make us to do throughout the year).



4.   Any other extra deduction that I can avail off and therefore save some Income Tax?
YES. 3 more avenues to save on Income Tax…
1.     Till this financial year, even the nominal interest that you and I earned on our savings bank accounts (@ 4 %) was subject to tax. Going forward, Interest earned on deposits in Savings Account with Banks, Co-operative Societies and Post Offices shall not be taxed up till a maximum limit of Rs. 10,000 per annum. This deduction is available under a new section Sec 80TTA.
However, the above deduction until Rs. 10,000 is applicable to Individuals & HUFs only and not to Firms, associations and companies and the deduction is available for Interest earned on Savings accounts only and not applicable for Interest earned on Fixed Deposits. (that’s why Debt Mutual Funds give better income post-tax then Bank FD’s; read my article “The Rich Man’s Bank Accounts” http://niravpanchmatia.blogspot.in/2011/03/rich-mans-bank-accounts.html )

2.     One more, more options for tax-free bonds would be available next financial year. Further clarification awaited.
3.   
  One more to go. Yes, one extra Investment avenue has been added but not much clarity on it available yet. Even the Govt of India and the Finance Minister wants you to Invest in the Stock Markets. This in order to boost investment in the equity markets, FM has introduced Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings scheme. The scheme allows for Income Tax (I-T) deduction of 50 percent to new retail investors, who invest up to Rs 50,000 directly in equities and whose annual income is below Rs 10 lakh. The scheme will have a lock-in period of three years. The details of the scheme will be announced in due course.
4.     No Income tax return to be filed for Salary Income below Rs. 500,000; not a deduction but a relief to newly salaried guy...

5.   What about changes in Indirect Tax laws or rates?
Yes, after good news comes some bad news. While the FM has given us some avenues to save Income Tax, he has given us a double whammy by increasing tax rates on Excise as well as Service tax rates that do not impact us directly but go on to increase prices of goods and services that we consume and therefore pinched our pocket.

a.   Standard Rates of Excise duty (a tax on manufacture of goods that is passed on to you and me and applicable to most manufactured items) raised to 12% from 10% earlier.
b.   Service tax rates also increased from 10% to 12%.
c.     More important, and this is the double whammy; while currently Service tax is applicable on selected items and most items were excluded from Service tax; going forward Service Tax would be applicable on most items barring 17 major categories of items that would be specified under the negative list…
d.     Import duty increased @4% on GOLD…so Gold prices likely to go up…
e.     Excise duty increased on big cars; therefore they will become costlier

What? Have you still not had enough? You want more bad news then Google Budget Highlights and you can read the Summaries provided by other people.

6.   Any major legislative (tax laws) changes that I need to worry about? For example people were talking about Income Tax Act 1961 being abolished and replaced with DTC (Direct Tax Code).
That is the biggest disappointment from BUDGET 2012. All the hype that FM will finally deliver and bring in the necessary reform by introducing the Direct Tax Code (DTC) by replacing the Income Tax Act 1961 and the Goods & Services Tax (GST) by consolidating various Indirect taxes was a mere hype. The FM , sadly, failed to deliver miserably on this front. Major Reforms? There are no reforms in this budget…

To conclude, our beloved Finance Minister today opened his Budget Speech with this remark,
“I must be cruel to be kind”

Well, what do I say! Our FM is a MAN of his word…He is a thorough gentleman..

Whatever benefits he has given to the common man under Income Tax, he has taken away under Indirect taxes by increasing Service Tax and excise duty rates and so on. But to be fair to our honourable FM, he is currently walking a tight rope after what happened in the Railway Budget. I just hope that all the major reforms that he has postponed like bringing in the DTC and GST, he brings sometimes during the next financial year. If not, join me in praying for this govt.

One Question: What do you do if the FM does not deliver a Budget to your expectations?
ANS.: You tighten your own family budget!!!

HAPPY BUDGETING…