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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11000 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 26, 2025

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Rajni Question by Rajni on Jul 25, 2025Hindi
Money

Hello sir..but the new purchased underconstruction flat total value is 65 lacs. So would i be able to keep money for interior after the sold propery calculation of indexation and expenses on the propery.

Ans: No, you cannot claim exemption for interior expenses under Section 54F. Only the flat’s purchase/construction cost (Rs.?65?lakh) qualifies.

If your indexed capital gain is more than Rs.?65?lakh, the excess is taxable. You can’t keep that balance tax-free for interiors.

To save full tax, the entire sale proceeds (Rs.?1.15?cr) must be invested in the property (not interiors).

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
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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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11000 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 22, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 17, 2025Hindi
Money
I have invested 65 lacs in an underconstruction residential flat in Nov 2024which possession is expected in Dec 2027..50% payment has been given to builder and sale deed has been done..I have also sold a commercial property in June 2025 for 1.15 cr..will I be able to use the capital gain for already purchased underconstruction flat to save my income tax ..please guide..
Ans: You invested Rs.?65?lakh in an under-construction flat (purchased Nov 2024, possession in Dec 2027). You’ve paid 50% and executed the sale deed. You sold a commercial property in June 2025 for Rs.?1.15?crore. You wish to know if gains from that sale can be used tax-efficiently by applying them toward your current flat purchase. Let’s explore carefully from all angles.

? What Is Your Capital Gain Status?

– You sold the commercial property in June 2025.
– That counts as a long-term capital asset.
– Indexation benefit applies if held for over 24 months.
– If bought more than 2 years earlier, it’s a long-term gain.

You can compute your taxable gain using indexed cost. This will reduce your tax liability significantly.

? Key Tax Rule: Exemption Using Reinvestment

– Section 54F allows exemption if you reinvest sale proceeds into a residential property.
– The new property must be purchased or under construction.
– You must invest within specified periods.

The flat you purchased in Nov 2024 is under-construction, so it may qualify. But detail matters.

? Conditions Under Section 54F

– You must invest the net sale proceeds fully into a residential property.
– You bought the new flat before or within 2 years of sale.
– You must complete construction within 3 years of sale.
– Unsurpassed funds become taxable.
– You must not hold more than one residential property at sale time.

Check off each:

You haven’t completed construction yet.

Purchase occurred before sale or within 2 years.

You must complete by June 2028 (i.e., within 3 years).

So far, you meet timelines.

? How Much Can You Exempt?

– Exemption is proportional to amount reinvested vs proceeds.
– If full proceeds are used, full gain is exempt.
– If only part is used, exemption is partial.

Your sale fetched Rs.?1.15?crore. You invested Rs.?65?lakh so far.
Thus Rs.?50?lakh remains to be invested by Dec 2027 or by sale of new flat (within 3 years).
Exemption equal to Rs.?65?lakh / Rs.?1.15?crore portion.
Balance gain above that proportion becomes taxable.

? Timeline You Should Meet

Sale date: June 2025 → 3-year window ends June 2028.
So you must complete construction and register possession transaction by June 2028.

Ensure builder’s possession date of Dec 2027 gives enough latitude.

? Using Capital Gain Account Scheme

– If you can’t invest full proceeds before filing ITR, you can deposit balance in Capital Gain Account Scheme.
– That deposited amount must be used within allowed period.
– Until used, exemption holds.

This helps meet exemption while ensuring proper use.

? What If You Don’t Reinvest Full Amount?

– Only the reinvested portion is exempt.
– Unused capital gain becomes taxable in that financial year.
– Therefore, plan whether to invest balance of Rs.?50?lakh.

? Long-Term Gain Tax Calculation Example

– Assume indexed profit was Rs.?40?lakh.
– If you reinvest Rs.?65?lakh fully, entire gain is exempt.
– If you reinvest Rs.?35?lakh only, exemption proportion = 35/115.
– Rest becomes taxable.

So invest wisely. Full exemption depends on complete reinvestment.

? Your Action Steps

– Ensure that new flat purchase is registered before June 2027.
– Keep track of total payments made before due date.
– After purchase, invest balance sale proceeds into Capital Gain Account Scheme if needed.
– Use deposit and payments toward construction by June 2028.
– At ITR filing, submit proof of purchase, payments, and bank statement of deposit.

Your tax officer will check these.

? Multiple Property or Joint Ownership?

– You should not hold any other new property at sale time.
– Joint ownership of original home is allowed.

If you already own another residential property before sale, then Section 54F exemption won’t apply.

? If Construction Gets Delayed

– If builder delays possession beyond Dec 2027, your exemption eligibility still holds as long as possession is before June 2028.
– If builder delays further beyond June 2028, your exemption may be in jeopardy.
– In that case, un-invested capital gain becomes taxable.

So keep proof of builder timeline and extension documents.

? What Happens on Flat Possession?

– After possession and registration, your flat becomes the asset for exemption.
– Any remaining funds deposited in CGAS must be withdrawn/used within allowed time.
– Copies of registration and builder receipts are needed at ITR time.

? If You Repay Loan Instead?

– You can use sale proceeds to pay loan on flat.
– This counts as investment in property.
– Accounts for Section 54F exemption.

This helps utilize funds fully while getting exemption.

? Importance of Record Keeping

– Retain sale deed and purchase deed.
– Keep all builder payment receipts.
– Maintain CGAS deposit challans.
– Builders estimates on completion timelines.
– These help support exemption claims.

Poor documentation may invite inquiries.

? Alternative: Invest into Capital Gain Bonds?

– Under Section 54EC, you can invest in specified bonds within 6 months of sale.
– But the lock-in is 5 years.
– And you can invest only up to Rs. 50 lakh in one financial year.
– These bonds offer exemption on gain only partially.

If you need liquidity soon, CGAS route is better.

? Consider Portfolio Re-balancing

– You already invested Rs.?65 lakh in real estate.
– That is now an illiquid asset.
– Remaining sale proceeds should fund new flat (an asset for same purpose).
– Do not extend to investment property.
– Keep any extra funds in mutual funds for future goals.

That builds long-term wealth and liquidity.

? Mutual Funds vs Real Asset Balance

– Real estate helps save tax via Section 54F.
– But real estate is not a productive investment.
– Mutual fund SIPs offer better return, liquidity, and diversification.
– Once you complete flat investment, any residual amount should go into actively managed equity funds.
– This avoids over-exposure to property and boosts net worth.

? Role of a Certified Financial Planner

– CFP can draft your tax filing plan.
– They ensure exemption is claimed properly.
– They optimise reinvestment and use of CGAS.
– They also crafting your post-leverage portfolio structure.
– They guide review of mutual funds for future goals.

Your situation merits full CFP involvement.

? Timing: When to File ITR?

– Sale happened in FY?2024–25; file ITR after March 2026.
– If you complete flat purchase by Dec 2027, report in ITR FY?2027–28.
– Or deposit in CGAS before due of ITR FY?2024–25 to claim in that year.

Work with your taxation team to align documentation.

? Final Insights

– You qualify for Section 54F exemption for your under-construction flat.
– Exemption is proportional to reinvestment amount in flat.
– Invest full Rs.?1.15?crore sale proceeds to fully exempt tax.
– If you fall short, can use CGAS till June 2028.
– Maintain records of payment and possession.
– Avoid holding another residential property.
– Post-construction, SEBI the residual should be parked in equity.
– MF investments give better growth and liquidity.

Your current plan is workable. Just follow timelines and documentation to secure your exemption.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11000 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 30, 2026

Money
Is it advisable to invest in Midcap and Smallcap ETFs in India compared to Midcap and Smallcap mutual funds? While I understand that Midcap and Smallcap mutual funds may offer higher percentage returns compared to ETFs, the main issue is that no mutual fund consistently remains at the top in terms of returns. The best-performing mutual funds can change over time, making it necessary to monitor and switch from underperforming funds to top-performing ones regularly – a process that can be quite cumbersome and also incurs capital gains tax when exiting a fund. On the other hand, since ETFs track their respective indices, their percentage returns closely mirror those indices, eliminating the need for frequent switching or selling like in the case of mutual funds. However, I am uncertain whether keeping investments in ETFs over the long term (10 years or more) will yield returns comparable to mutual funds once capital gains tax is factored in during fund switches. Could you provide some insight into this?
Ans: I appreciate your thoughtful comparison of ETFs versus mutual funds. You are asking a very practical question and it shows good financial awareness. Let’s look at this carefully so you get clarity without confusion.

» What ETFs and index-linked products really do
– ETFs that track midcap and smallcap indices simply mirror the performance of those market benchmarks.
– There is no active management or stock picking to protect you during weak markets.
– When indices fall sharply, ETFs will fall by almost the same percentage. There is no defensive action.
– Index-linked products may seem low maintenance, but they do not adapt to market changes.

» Why actively managed midcap and smallcap mutual funds are different
– Actively managed funds have professional managers who choose stocks based on research, valuation and risk.
– They can adjust exposure to sectors and companies depending on market conditions.
– This means that in volatile phases, they can protect capital better than index trackers.
– Over long periods, learning to stay invested in well-managed funds often leads to better risk-adjusted outcomes.

» The challenge of “top performing” funds changing over time
– It is true that past performance ranking changes every year. No mutual fund stays number one forever.
– This is why selection should be based on long-term consistency, process, risk management and quality of management. Returns alone should not be the only criterion.
– A Certified Financial Planner helps you choose funds with good fundamentals, not just recent high returns.

» About monitoring and switching funds
– Frequent switching based only on short term performance is not a strong investment habit.
– Every switch can trigger capital gains tax for equity funds if sold within one year at higher short term tax rate, or after one year you still need to consider LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh at 12.5%.
– Good investing means giving time for your chosen strategy to work unless there is a clear reason to change.

» Why ETFs are not always better for long-term goals
– Just because ETFs avoid switching does not mean they give better returns after tax. They still rise and fall strictly with the index.
– In falling markets, index trackers cannot reduce risk, but actively managed funds can.
– Even though ETFs may look simple, they can lead to larger drawdowns when markets are weak since they cannot adapt.
– In the long term, protecting capital during weak phases is as important as chasing returns.

» When actively managed funds make sense in midcap and smallcap space
– If you have a long-term horizon (10 years or more), actively managed funds can add value through stock research and risk calibration.
– They aim for better risk-adjusted returns over full market cycles, not just bull phases.
– With a CFP’s guidance, you can build a diversified portfolio that balances midcap, smallcap and broader equity exposure without frequent tax-triggering switches.

» Practical investor behaviour perspective
– ETFs can make investing easy, but easy does not always mean better outcomes.
– Investors often buy ETFs and then fail to rebalance or adjust when markets change.
– With actively managed funds, the fund manager’s decisions complement your long term holding discipline and take some burden off you.

» Final Insights
– Avoid choosing investments just by how they are labelled (ETF or mutual fund). Look at what they actually do in markets.
– For midcap and smallcap exposure over 10 years, actively managed funds tend to offer better alignment with long-term goals and risk control than index ETFs.
– The idea that ETFs avoid switching costs is true, but it is not a strong enough reason to ignore the flexibility and risk management that active funds provide.
– Tax impact matters, and with wise planning you can manage gains efficiently without frequent switches.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

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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