Professional Tax Saving: How Much and Where to Invest?

Ans: There are different investment avenues which help you save tax under old tax regime. The main deductions are captured below:

You can invest Rs 1.5 lakh under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act

Public Provident Fund (PPF)

National Savings Certificate (NSC)

Equity-linked savings schemes (ELSS)

80CCD Additional 50,000 for National Pension Fund

80D helps to claim deduction of 25,000 for health insurance premium paid for self and family. You can claim upto 50,000 for senior citizen parents.

Under section 24, you can claim a deduction on interest on home loan up to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh per annum

Ans: Hi,

Given your annual CTC of Rs 17.6 lakh and your current investments, here are some tax-saving investment options you can consider for the financial year 2023-24:

1. Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS): This is a type of mutual fund that not only helps you save tax but also gives you an opportunity to grow your money. They have a lock-in period of 3 years.

2. Public Provident Fund (PPF): You've mentioned planning for Sukanya Samriddhi for your daughter, which is a great choice. In addition to that, you can also consider investing in PPF. It's a long-term investment option that offers tax-free interest.

3. Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP): Since you already have life insurance policies, you might want to look into ULIPs. They offer both insurance and investment under a single integrated plan.

4. National Savings Certificate: This is another safe investment option that you can consider.

5. New Pension Scheme (NPS): It's a voluntary, long-term retirement savings scheme designed to enable systematic savings. It is a mix of equity, fixed deposits, corporate bonds, liquid funds, and government funds.

6. Fixed Deposits: Some fixed deposits offer tax-saving benefits. However, the interest earned might be taxable.

7. Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS): Since you've mentioned senior citizen health insurance, if you or your family members qualify, SCSS can be a good option. It offers a good interest rate.

Remember, the key is to diversify your investments and not put all your money into one basket. It's also essential to keep in mind the lock-in periods, returns, and tax implications of each investment option.

I hope this helps!

Ans: That's great! Having Rs. 2 lakhs saved is a fantastic first step. Now, let's explore how to invest it wisely to grow your wealth.

Understanding Your Goals

The best investment option depends on your goals. Here are some questions to consider:

Short-Term Goal (less than 3 years): Are you saving for something specific soon?
Long-Term Goal (more than 3 years): Are you saving for retirement or a big purchase?
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Investing

Short-Term Goals: For short-term needs, prioritize stability. Fixed deposits or debt funds offer lower risk and predictable returns.

Long-Term Goals: For long-term goals, consider equity mutual funds. They have the potential for higher growth but can be more volatile in the short term.

Actively Managed Expertise

Actively managed funds have experienced fund managers who make investment decisions to try and outperform the market. This approach can be beneficial compared to passively managed funds, which simply mirror an index.

Benefits of a CFP

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional can create a personalized plan for you. They can help you:

Choose the Right Investment: Select an option that aligns with your goals and risk tolerance.
Start an SIP: Set up a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) for regular investing and benefit from rupee-cost averaging.
Regular Plan vs Direct Plan

Regular plans with a CFP professional can offer some advantages over direct plans. A CFP can:

Save on Costs: Help you potentially minimize investment expenses.
Stay on Track: Guide you through market ups and downs to keep you invested.
Remember:

Investing is smart, but there's no one-size-fits-all answer. A CFP can create a plan considering your goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon.

Ready to take the first step? Pls discuss your goals with a CFP and find the perfect investment option to grow your Rs. 2 lakhs!

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Income and Existing Investments
Annual Package: Rs 21 lakhs
Home Loan EMI: Rs 2.28 lakhs per annum
Insurance Investments: Rs 3.6 lakhs
Mutual Fund Investments: Rs 2 lakhs
Tax Saving Investments Under Section 80C
To maximize tax savings under Section 80C, you can invest up to Rs 1.5 lakhs per annum. Here’s a breakdown:

Existing Eligible Investments
Home Loan Principal Repayment: Part of your home loan EMI goes towards principal repayment, which qualifies under Section 80C.
Insurance Premiums: The Rs 3.6 lakhs in insurance schemes might include premium payments that are eligible under Section 80C.
Additional Investments Required
Calculate Existing Deductions: First, identify the portion of your EMI and insurance premiums that qualify for Section 80C. Let's assume your home loan principal repayment is Rs 1 lakh per annum and the insurance premiums are Rs 50,000 per annum.
Investment Suggestions for Additional Tax Savings
To fully utilize the Rs 1.5 lakhs limit, you need to invest an additional Rs 50,000.

Equity-Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS)
Benefits: ELSS funds offer tax savings and have the potential for high returns.
Lock-in Period: They come with a 3-year lock-in period, the shortest among all tax-saving options under Section 80C.
Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Benefits: PPF offers tax-free returns and is a safe investment option.
Lock-in Period: 15-year lock-in, but partial withdrawals are allowed after the 7th year.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
Benefits: If you have a daughter, SSY is a good option with attractive interest rates and tax benefits.
Lock-in Period: Till the daughter turns 21 or gets married after the age of 18.
National Savings Certificate (NSC)
Benefits: NSC is a safe investment option with a fixed interest rate.
Lock-in Period: 5 years.
Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF)
Benefits: You can contribute more than your mandatory EPF contribution.
Returns: Similar to EPF returns and safe.
Other Tax-Saving Sections
Section 80D - Health Insurance Premium
Benefits: Deduction up to Rs 25,000 for self, spouse, and children. Additional Rs 25,000 for parents under 60 and Rs 50,000 if they are over 60.
Section 80E - Education Loan Interest
Benefits: Deduction on interest paid on education loans for higher studies.
Section 24 - Home Loan Interest
Benefits: Deduction up to Rs 2 lakhs on interest paid on home loan.
Review and Reallocate Existing Investments
Insurance Policies
Evaluation: Assess if your insurance policies are purely for investment or provide adequate life cover.
Reallocation: Consider surrendering or reducing investment-cum-insurance policies and reallocating to mutual funds.
Mutual Funds
Focus on Growth: Since your goal is wealth creation, consider allocating more to equity funds for higher growth potential.
Final Insights
Maximize Section 80C: Utilize the full Rs 1.5 lakh limit under Section 80C with a mix of ELSS, PPF, and SSY.
Diversify: Ensure your portfolio is diversified across different asset classes for balanced growth and risk management.
Regular Monitoring: Periodically review and adjust your investments to stay aligned with your financial goals.
Certified Financial Planner: Consider consulting a Certified Financial Planner for personalized advice and strategy.
Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: In the new tax regime, there are no exemptions or deductions available like under the old regime. However, you can still:

Contribute to NPS (National Pension System): You can claim an additional deduction of Rs 50,000 under Section 80CCD(1B).

Opt for Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF): Contributions to VPF can grow tax-free up to a certain limit.

Employer's Contribution to NPS: Ensure your employer contributes to your NPS. Up to 10% of your salary (basic + DA) is tax-exempt.

These options can help you reduce taxable income while investing for the future.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in