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Should I Pay Tax on My Equity Mutual Fund Returns?

Samkit

Samkit Maniar  |180 Answers  |Ask -

Tax Expert - Answered on Aug 10, 2024

CA Samkit Maniar has eight years of experience in income tax, mergers and acquisitions and estate planning.
He has graduated from Mumbai’s N M College of Commerce and Economics and has completed his CA from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India."... more
Asked by Anonymous - Aug 10, 2024Hindi
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Kindly advise on taxability of the returns on / growth of Equity Mutual Funds

Ans: Unless you book the same, there ought not be any tax implications ie any unrealised gains will not be subjected to income tax. Once you sell the mutual funds and book the profits then you will be taxed at 12.5% / 20% depending upon period of holding (ie long term / short term).

Please take advice from your CA before moving ahead.
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  |8320 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 29, 2024

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Dear sir I have invested many mutual funds in equity oriented in begining period. I have not consantration on which in growth option and which is dividend payout or reinvest option. So many mutual fund schemes is dividend reinvestment option and now last three years dividend income is taxable in the hand of me which is taxable income @ 30% and education cess% on tax amount . Now Please guide to me can I have change the dividend reinvested plans to growth option for the taxation purpose . Thanks & regards Pravin B Khatavkar
Ans: Dear Pravin B Khatavkar,

It's commendable that you've taken the initiative to reevaluate your mutual fund investments, especially concerning their taxation implications. Let's delve into your situation and explore the best course of action.

Assessing Your Current Scenario

Your decision to invest in equity-oriented mutual funds reflects a sound long-term investment strategy. However, the choice between growth and dividend reinvestment options holds significant implications, particularly in terms of taxation. Dividend reinvestment may seem convenient, but it can inadvertently increase your tax burden, as you've experienced.

Understanding Tax Implications

The dividends reinvested are considered as income and taxed accordingly, which can be a burden, especially if you're in the higher tax bracket. At 30% tax plus cess, the tax liability can significantly impact your overall returns. This scenario underscores the importance of revisiting your investment choices to optimize tax efficiency.

Exploring the Transition to Growth Option

Transitioning from dividend reinvestment to the growth option can be a prudent move from a taxation perspective. In the growth option, dividends are not distributed but instead reinvested in the fund, leading to capital appreciation. This approach can potentially reduce your tax liability, as you're not immediately taxed on the reinvested dividends.

Considering the Long-Term Benefits

Switching to the growth option aligns with your long-term investment objectives by optimizing tax efficiency and enhancing overall returns. By allowing your investments to grow without the immediate tax implications of dividends, you can potentially compound your wealth more effectively over time.

Navigating the Transition Process

Transitioning from dividend reinvestment to the growth option is relatively straightforward. You can typically request this change directly through your mutual fund distributor or online portal. However, it's essential to consider any exit loads or tax implications associated with the switch, ensuring that the transition is cost-effective.

Seeking Professional Guidance

While the decision to transition to the growth option appears beneficial, it's crucial to consult with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) to assess your specific circumstances comprehensively. A CFP can provide personalized guidance tailored to your financial goals, risk tolerance, and tax situation, ensuring that your investment strategy remains aligned with your objectives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, transitioning from dividend reinvestment to the growth option can potentially optimize tax efficiency and enhance long-term returns. However, it's essential to seek professional guidance from a Certified Financial Planner to navigate this transition effectively. By aligning your investment strategy with your financial goals, you can strive for greater financial security and peace of mind.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4488 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on May 06, 2025

Career
Sir , i got 67000crl rank and 20000obc rank in jee mains . I also got 18000 rank in vit. I am also going to write cusat, met and bitsat , i think i might not crack jee advance . i am hoping to pursue mechanical or electrical, Could sir kindly tell me its scope. From my current options which college should i choose among GFTI,s North east nits, VIT, MET, BITSAT for me to develop a good career
Ans: Rohan, considering your JEE performance, disregard BITSAT as it requires a minimum score of 250 out of 390 for admission into Mechanical Engineering or Electrical branches. Designate CUSAT as your primary selection if your Home State is Kerala and you qualify for OBC Category consideration. Compile a list of 4-5 esteemed colleges affiliated with CUSAT that possess commendable placement records. Secondly, prioritize GFTIs and North East NITs over alternatives such as VIT and MET. Regarding GFTIs and NITs, it is prudent to examine the placement records of the past three years and assess them prior to selecting preferences in JoSAA. Consider MET as your final alternative. Here is a step-by-step guide for predicting your chances of admission into NIT, IIIT, or GFTI following the JEE Main results.

Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories both Home State (HS) i.e. State you belong to & also Other State (OS).
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in, separately for HS & OS Categories for a quick reference.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.

Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know more on 'Careers | Health | Money | Relationships'.

...Read more

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4488 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on May 06, 2025

Career
what are the college options i can look up to at 91.8% in jee and 1.21 lakh crl
Ans: Valerica, Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Here is, How to Predict Your Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories both Home State (HS) i.e. State you belong to & also Other State (OS).
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in, separately for HS & OS Categories for a quick reference.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.

Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know more on 'Careers | Health | Money | Relationships'.

...Read more

Radheshyam

Radheshyam Zanwar  |1603 Answers  |Ask -

MHT-CET, IIT-JEE, NEET-UG Expert - Answered on May 06, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, as my son Inter bord got 91% but in Jee mains 1st attempt got 50% and 2nd attempt got 70%, but he was not eligible for Advance, and he was wrote other college exams as (IIIT Hyd + VIT+TSEAPCET) in that VIT got results as 1.20 Lakh rank and he was eligible for Round of Category of 5th for VIT-AP & VIT-Bhopal, and expecting results for IIIT Hyd and also waiting for other Exams as (COMEDK + MIT + BITS), he was sincerely trying the efforts private college entrance exams, but the results which is not satisfy for him, and getting disappoint, but I was giving the motivation for other exams and do the hard work and focus on, BITS & IIT-Hyd also very tuff and more competitive, as i need to think for the negative side, if he could not get any cut of marks, what is the next option....? I request you pls give any other alternate suggestions for which is alternate engineering university for the course of (CSE AI & ML), my son interested in CSE course only
Ans: Hello Rakesh
First and foremost, I would like to commend your son for his earnest efforts in preparing for a range of engineering entrance examinations. His dedication is commendable, even if the outcomes so far haven't aligned with expectations. As you’ve mentioned, he has not yet been able to meet the required cutoff, which understandably may lead to feelings of disappointment or frustration.
However, the journey isn't over. Significant opportunities still lie ahead with BITSAT and IIIT-Hyderabad, both of which are known to be less about difficulty and more about testing strategic thinking and conceptual clarity. It appears that your son may be facing challenges in effectively managing the vast syllabus or might not yet have identified the right approach to tackle these competitive exams. Understanding how to study smartly for such tests often makes all the difference.
It’s important to maintain a positive outlook and avoid negative assumptions at this stage. You haven’t mentioned your financial circumstances, but if your son is determined to pursue fields like Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or Machine Learning, and if merit-based options don’t materialize, admission through the management quota could be a viable alternative. This route is typically available in reputed private engineering colleges, though it comes with a higher financial commitment.
Before considering this option seriously, I would recommend waiting for the results of all the remaining entrance exams. At the same time, it would be wise to proactively visit a few reputed institutions to inquire about the availability of management quota seats, associated costs, and relevant terms and conditions. Many parents secure such seats early on, anticipating the challenges their child might face in clearing competitive cutoffs.
Stay optimistic, there are still several promising pathways ahead.
Follow me if you like the reply. Thanks
Radheshyam

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Dr Nagarajan J S K

Dr Nagarajan J S K   |372 Answers  |Ask -

NEET, Medical, Pharmacy Careers - Answered on May 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - May 06, 2025
Career
can i get admission in NFSU through jee mains score only ? because i gone on NFSU admission portal link for B.Tech-M.Tech Integrated program in Computer Science and Engineering (Cyber Security) but they asking about NFAT exam
Ans: Hi,
I apologize for any confusion, but I want to clarify that when the government asked for our support of the ONE NATION ONE CARD system, we did not accept it. Similarly, everyone is required to open a savings account at a bank, and many of us expressed our discontent. However, we can see the positive changes happening in India. If we support the government, they will reciprocate by providing benefits to the citizens.

In terms of education, the government is attempting to implement a new education policy, which has proven to be quite difficult. The education system has changed significantly before and after the pandemic. Now, the government is working on new policies that align with those of developed countries.

Therefore, we cannot expect the ONE STUDENT ONE EXAM system from the government at this time, as it is not included in the current guidelines. Each council or organization has its own set of guidelines, and synchronizing them will take time. At this moment, it is simply not feasible.

The NFAT exam is different from the JEE. In the case of the JEE, they did not notify the aspirants that they are eligible to apply for NFSU, and similarly, NFSU did not mention that JEE rank holders could also apply. Therefore, if you want admission to NFSU, you need to register and appear for the NFTA.

In the near future, we can expect the ONE STUDENT ONE EXAM system from this BJP government for the benefit of younger generations. For the benefit of postgraduate aspirants (for all courses except a few professional ones), the NTA is organizing the PGCUET exam nationwide. In this exam, you can opt for up to four different courses based on your eligibility.

A similar exam pattern is needed for engineering and medical fields as well. As I mentioned, we can expect this change; however, we, as citizens, should offer moral support for the benefit of younger generations. Unfortunately, we often do not provide this support to the government. For example, in the NEET exam, many aspirants do not follow the guidelines even when appearing for the exams.
BEST WISHES

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