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How can a 35-year-old working woman in Chennai save tax on salary income with mutual funds and Sec 80C investments?

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Financial Planner - Answered on Sep 28, 2024

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Asked by Anonymous - Sep 27, 2024Hindi
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I’m working woman around 35 age living in Chennai with my son aged 6. How can I save tax on my salary income through investments in mutual funds and other tax-saving instruments under Section 80C?

Ans: Understanding Section 80C
Section 80C of the Income Tax Act offers a deduction of up to ?1.5 lakh on your taxable income. This can be claimed by investing in various financial instruments. Here are some popular options that align with your goals:
1. Public Provident Fund (PPF):
• Pros: Safe, long-term investment with guaranteed returns.
• Cons: Lock-in period of 15 years.
2. Equity Linked Saving Scheme (ELSS):
• Pros: Potential for higher returns, shortest lock-in period (3 years).
• Cons: Market-linked risks.
3. National Pension Scheme (NPS):
• Pros: Tax benefits, pension income, additional deduction of ?50,000 under Section 80CCD(1B).
• Cons: Early withdrawal penalties.
4. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY):
• Pros: Dedicated for a girl child, tax-free interest.
• Cons: Limited to two children, long-term investment.
5. Employee Provident Fund (EPF):
• Pros: Employer contribution, tax-free interest.
• Cons: Limited control over investment.
6. Tax-Saving Fixed Deposits:
• Pros: Relatively safe, fixed interest rate.
• Cons: Lower returns compared to other options.
Additional Tips:
• Diversify: Consider a mix of investments to manage risk and potentially maximize returns.
• Consult a financial advisor: Seek professional advice tailored to your specific financial situation and goals.
• Consider your risk tolerance: Choose investments that align with your comfort level.
• Review regularly: Periodically assess your investments to ensure they meet your evolving needs.
Remember: The best tax-saving strategy depends on your individual circumstances. It's essential to evaluate your financial goals, risk appetite, and time horizon before making investment decisions.
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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Hardik

Hardik Parikh  |106 Answers  |Ask -

Tax, Mutual Fund Expert - Answered on Aug 22, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 21, 2023Hindi
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I work for a private company with annual CTC of Rs 17.6 lakh, What are the investments which I must do in order to save the tax, Currently I have 4 Life Insurance policies with premium Rs 1 lakh Senior Citizen health insurance of Rs 25k I have a 3 year old daughter, this year I m planning for Sukhanya Samruddhi of Rs 1.5 lakh
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!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4463 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 25, 2025

Career
Sir my daughter got 90% in jee mains she can get NIT cse course sir I. Am genral category
Ans: Miranalini Madam, Here is, How to Predict Your Daughter's Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide.

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 daughter's admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

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

Her JEE Main percentile
Her category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Her Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Her 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 she is 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 her preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Her 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 your daughter belongs 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 Her 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 her 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 daughter's admissions!

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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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