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Mahesh

Mahesh Padmanabhan  | Answer  |Ask -

Tax Expert - Answered on May 20, 2023

Mahesh Padmanabhan has specialised in payroll, personal and corporate taxation for more than two and a half decades, enabling him to provide practical, realistic and correct advice to his clients.
He is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and has a degree in cost accounting from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
He is also a qualified information systems auditor. ... more
Thomas Question by Thomas on May 20, 2023Hindi
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Sir, On 14-June 1994, I acquired a flat (tenement) in my own name for Rs. 2,98L. In April 2015, I had to spend Rs. 4.15L on general renovation of this flat. Now, I plan to sell this tenement and wish to invest its sale proceeds within two years of the sale in buying a ready possession flat in another city. My queries are follows: 1. Can I invest the sale proceeds in buying two flats in the same society of the new city or do I have to necessarily invest in one property only? 2. Can I add the name of my spouse and my son also as co-owners in the new property(s) even if their financial contribution is nil? 3. Can I add the name of my spouse and my son also as co-owners in the new property(s) in case they also partially contribute financially in the purchase of the new flat(s)? 4. What is the present applicable Indexed Cost of the flat planned to be sold by me?

Ans: Hi Thomas
As the base year for Cost Inflation Index (CII) has been reset to 2001, you may need to get a valuation done through an approved valuer to identify the value as on April 1, 2001. If this value is higher than Rs. 2.98 Lakhs then you could use that as the cost.

As regards the general renovation amount spent, it may not be allowed to be added as cost of the property as generally tax officers are not dispensed to allow it.

W.R.T. your decision to reinvest in a ready possession flat within 2 years, please note that if this investment is extending beyond 6 months OR due date for filing your tax returns (whichever is earlier), you would need to open a Capital Gain Account Scheme (CGAS) account with a nationalized bank and park the capital gain amount in it for reinvestment.

Now answering your queries

Query 1 - If the capital gain amount does not exceed Rs. 2 Crores then you could reinvest in 2 residential units. This however is a one time option and cannot be used again in any other year.

Query 2 - Yes you could add their names but they would be treated as name-sake owners and for all purposes of taxation, you would be taxed singly.

Query 3 - You can add their name as proportionate owners to the value of their contribution. The taxation of income in that case would be based on their contribution

Query 4 - The answer to this would depend on the valuation report. Nevertheless, you could derive the indexed cost yourself by multiplying a factor of 3.48 to the cost. An example would be as follows:

Suppose the cost is Rs. 2.98 Lakhs
Indexed cost would be Rs. 2.98 Lakhs x 348 / 100 OR 2.98 Lakhs x 3.48 = Rs. 10.37 Lakhs
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Mihir

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Dear Mr Mihir, I would like to know the following points: I bought a flat in Thane - 400603 @ rs.one lakh in Dec.'1983 & would like to sell now this year 2022 @ rs.64 lakhs. Pl. let me know the amount of Property Gain Tax (Long Term) which I have to pay now considering 'Ready Reckoner Rate' at Thane - 400603 area or how to calculate the same to get taxable amount? Also can I (as Sr. Ctzn.) get a tax exemption as I already bought (in joint ownership where my wife is 1st owner) another flat @ rs.75 lakh in Thane in Nov '2020? May I invest taxable amount (if any) in Govt. Bonds like NHAI / REC / PFC to get tax exemption & what interest I will get for how many yrs. or else if it will be better to invest my selling amount in good Flexi Cap Mutual Funds for 5 years after paying entire taxable amount to recover the same? Will appreciate your prompt feedback in detail.
Ans: Capital gain on sale consideration will be reduced by Indexed cost of acquisition and allowable expenses incurred on transfer. You have to calculate indexed cost of acquisition by applying Cost Inflation Index as per prescribed formula on cost of acquisition.

For cost of acquisition, you may take actual cost or fair market value of the asset, as on 01.04.2001.

In case of land and building, fair market value on 01.04.2001 cannot exceed stamp duty value as on 01.04.2001.

Exemption is available if amount of capital gain is invested by purchasing a new residential house within one year before or within 2 years after the date of transfer of the residential house.

As you have already got possession of new property in November 2020, you will not be eligible for exemption.

Decision of investment in specified bonds or acquiring tax mutual funds can be taken after considering several factors like risk appetite, amount of tax liability on capital gain, availability of surplus fund etc.

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Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |812 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 17, 2024Hindi
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Hi , I am 45 yr old, two daughters aged 13,10. My asset are a flat worth 1.75 cr, stocks ,85lacs, PPF- 20lacs, PF 40 lacs, MF -5 lacs, and my has a investment of 15 lacs in equity and 10 lacs in MF. We own two parcels of land worth 75 lacs. We don't have any loans and we take home 3.75 lacs. I am moving to tier 2 city, and moving to a rental property. My flat is 20 yr old and it has reached its full value depending on the area. I want to sell my flat and invest the proceedings into MF for a period of 4-5 yrs before buying a house in tier 2 city. Is it advisable to sell it. The flat is tier 1 city and I don't live inthat city
Ans: I propose that you estimate the long term(assumed) capital gain tax liability that may arise after sale of this flat considering indexation or without indexation as is optimal for you. Next consider the future redevelopment potential in the tier-1 city particularly in the area where you have the flat. Another point to be borne in mind is if your daughters need to move to tier-1 city in future for better coaching, education, prospects then this aspect needs to be considered. If you still want to sell the flat then time it in such a way when you want to buy new residential property in tier2 city because you can utilise all your gains here without paying any capital gain tax(Section 54 of Income tax act allows exemption subject to conditions) and/or buying section 54 EC Capital Gain bonds to save LTCG payment(50L per FY limit & 6 months within sale of property subject to eligibility).

Unless you have strong knowledge of markets or an investment advisor to assist you, I would recommend you to redeem your(family) stock holdings(subject to high volatility and needs regular monitoring) of 85L+15L and invest it in a staggered manner into equity savings and value focussed balanced advantage fund for horizon of 4-5 years.

*Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme related documents carefully before investing

You may follow us on X at @mars_invest for updates

Happy Investing!!

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How to finish home loan faster
Ans: Paying off your home loan early while building wealth requires strategic planning. A parallel SIP in equity mutual funds can complement your goal by leveraging market growth over the long term. Here's a detailed approach:

1. Start a SIP in Equity Mutual Funds
Invest monthly in a diversified equity mutual fund for a period of 7+ years.
Equity funds historically offer higher returns over long periods, outpacing home loan interest rates.
Align your SIP amount with your financial capacity, ensuring consistency.
2. Time the Loan Closure with SIP Maturity
Use the maturity value of the SIP to make a lump sum prepayment towards your loan.
Ensure the investment horizon of the SIP is long enough to mitigate market volatility.
A 7-10 year SIP period can yield significant growth due to the power of compounding.
3. Continue Regular EMI Payments
Maintain your regular EMIs while running the SIP.
Do not compromise on timely loan payments to avoid penalties.
The parallel strategy reduces your loan tenure effectively when executed with discipline.
4. Focus on High-Interest Loan Years
Prepayments made during the initial years have the highest impact on interest savings.
Coordinate your SIP maturity during this time to maximise loan repayment benefits.
5. Leverage Tax Benefits on Both Ends
Claim tax deductions under Section 80C and Section 24(b) for home loan payments.
Equity mutual funds held for over a year qualify for long-term capital gains tax benefits.
Use the tax savings to either increase your SIP or make additional prepayments.
6. Step-Up Your SIP Amount Annually
Increase your SIP amount by 10-15% every year to match income growth.
A higher SIP contribution accelerates wealth accumulation for loan repayment.
7. Avoid Premature Withdrawal from SIP
Do not redeem SIP investments prematurely unless used for loan closure.
The longer you stay invested, the higher the growth potential.
8. Track Loan Tenure and SIP Performance
Regularly review your loan outstanding and SIP performance.
Align your repayment strategy with market conditions and financial goals.
9. Focus on Financial Discipline
Avoid new liabilities while managing your home loan and SIP.
Stick to a budget that prioritises both EMI payments and SIP contributions.
10. Plan for Surplus Investments
Channel any bonuses, tax refunds, or additional income into either SIPs or loan prepayments.
Small additional investments can significantly enhance your repayment capability.
Final Insights
Starting a parallel SIP in equity funds while paying regular EMIs creates a structured pathway to close your home loan early. Over time, the compounded growth from your SIP can ease the financial burden of a lump sum loan prepayment. This balanced strategy ensures financial growth and reduced debt simultaneously.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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