I am a sr citizen n hv income from fdr interest, sr citizen saving scheme interest, shares dividend etc. Totaling abt 3.5 lacs annualy. Filing tax return of nil tax in itr 2. My question is, if I incur a short term capital gain of, say 3 lacs, in July, do I hv to pay advance tax? Or, can I pay full tax amt @15% by 15th March,2025? I may further incur stcg in current year, then, how to pay?

Ans: Person is required to make payment of advance tax, if tax liability is more than 10,000. In case of capital gain, advance tax payment can be done anytime till 15th March of financial year. However, while calculating advance tax liability on other income like Interest, accrual of Income is not important. Person should estimate advance tax on income (other than capital gain) in totality and make the payment quarterly on or before specified due date.

Ans: Hi Neeraj,

I understand your confusion about advance tax and how it applies to your income sources. Let's break it down for each source and see how you can navigate it effectively.

Interest on Savings Account:

You're right; predicting the exact interest earned on your savings account can be tricky.
But here's a good strategy: Estimate the total interest you earned in the previous year and pay advance tax based on that.
This might lead to a slight mismatch, but it's better than facing a demand notice later.
Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP):

The compounded interest on KVP does add a layer of complexity.
However, you can still estimate the annual interest based on the KVP maturity value and the interest rate.
Pay advance tax considering this estimated interest. Remember, it's better to overestimate than underestimate to avoid interest charges under Section 234C.
Mutual Funds:

This is where it gets a bit trickier. Since you book profits at unpredictable times, estimating advance tax solely on mutual funds can be challenging.
Two options can help:
Consider Past Performance: Look at your past year's mutual fund gains and pay a conservative advance tax based on that.
Staggered Payments: Pay advance tax in installments throughout the year. This way, even if you book a large profit later, you've already paid some tax towards it, reducing your final tax liability.
Additional Tips:

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can help you with more personalized tax planning strategies. They can analyze your income sources, investment plans, and tax bracket to suggest an optimal advance tax payment plan.
The Income Tax Department website has an advance tax calculator that can be a helpful tool for estimation.
About the Demand Notice:

It's understandable that you're frustrated with the lack of clarity from the Income Tax Department.
You can try contacting their grievance cell or visiting their office for a more detailed explanation of the demand notice.

If you receive a demand notice for advance tax, it's essential to respond promptly and seek clarification from the Income Tax Department if needed. Explaining your situation and providing supporting documents can help resolve any discrepancies.

Remember:

Paying advance tax helps you avoid interest charges and penalties under Section 234A and 234C.
Even if your estimates aren't perfect, it's better to pay some advance tax than none at all.
Moving Forward:

By understanding how advance tax applies to your income sources and using the strategies mentioned above, you can ensure a smoother tax filing experience in the future.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Depending upon the tax regime you choose, your tax liability may vary. If you are taking income tax deductions by investing in PPF, NPS etc then those need to be factored in.

As far as advance tax liability is concerned, considering you do not have any business income and you are over 60 years of age, you are not required to pay advance taxes.