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Selling farmland for house construction: Tax implications and avoidance strategies?

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  | Answer  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Jan 05, 2025

Milind Vadjikar is an independent MF distributor registered with Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) and a retirement financial planning advisor registered with Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
He has a mechanical engineering degree from Government Engineering College, Sambhajinagar, and an MBA in international business from the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune.
With over 16 years of experience in stock investments, and over six year experience in investment guidance and support, he believes that balanced asset allocation and goal-focused disciplined investing is the key to achieving investor goals.... more
Vishwanath Question by Vishwanath on Jan 05, 2025Hindi
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Hi Sir, I am Vishwanath. I have 6 acres of forming land in my village. Wanted to sell that and construct house in non metropolitan city. Since I am using sold land money for house construction,Do I need to pay tax in this case? If yes, where can I invest to avoid tax.

Ans: Hello;

Agricultural land in rural areas in India is not considered a capital asset under section 45 of the Income-tax Act,1961.

Therefore any gains from its sale are not taxable under the head 'Capital Gains'.

However it would be appropriate for you to seek specific feedback on this matter from a CA specializing in tax advisory.

Best wishes;
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  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Feb 18, 2025

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I am selling my 3bhk flat around 6000000 is it compulsory to invest that money in other property? if i want to invest it what is the best options available to avoid tax?
Ans: Selling a property attracts capital gains tax. Since your flat is a long-term capital asset (held for more than 2 years), the Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax rate is 20% with indexation.

LTCG Calculation = Sale Price - Indexed Cost of Acquisition
Tax Payable = 20% on the LTCG amount
However, you can avoid paying tax by reinvesting the capital gains under certain sections of the Income Tax Act.

Ways to Save Capital Gains Tax
1. Reinvest in Another Residential Property (Section 54)
If you buy another residential property within 2 years or construct within 3 years, you get an exemption on the LTCG amount.
The new property must be in India and should be held for at least 3 years.
If you sell it before 3 years, the exemption is reversed.
? Best for: Those who want to own another property.

2. Invest in Capital Gains Bonds (Section 54EC)
You can invest up to Rs 50 lakhs in NHAI or REC capital gains bonds within 6 months of sale.
The lock-in period is 5 years.
Interest is taxable but the capital gains are exempt.
? Best for: Those who want a risk-free investment with tax savings.

3. Deposit in Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS)
If you haven’t decided where to invest, deposit the LTCG in a Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS) before the IT return filing deadline.
This gives you time to buy property or construct a house.
The funds must be used within 3 years, or they become taxable.
? Best for: Those who need time before investing in real estate.

Other Investment Options (But No Tax Exemption)
If you don’t reinvest in property or bonds, the LTCG amount will be taxed at 20%. You can still invest the remaining amount in:

Mutual Funds – Equity funds for long-term growth
Fixed Deposits – Safe returns but fully taxable
Stock Market – High risk, high return potential
These options do not offer tax exemption but help grow wealth.

Final Insights
If you want tax-free gains, reinvest in property or capital gains bonds.
If you don’t want to lock funds, pay LTCG tax and invest in other assets.
Use the Capital Gains Account Scheme if you need time to decide.
Plan based on your financial goals and liquidity needs.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

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

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 29, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 29, 2025Hindi
Money
Hello Just wanted to know about the capital gain which arise from sale of empty land. Capital gain may be arround 40 lakhs. Kindly let me know how I can minimise, avoid it , as somebody suggested me to transfer the property to my adult child through a gift deed, and then proceed for the sale. Is it a good idea or I need to just lock-in in bonds for 5 years or pay the capital gain tax to use the money. Pls note I already have 2 house, I don't want to invest in property anymore.
Ans: You’ve done well to ask this question before executing the transaction.
A capital gain of Rs. 40 lakhs is sizeable.
Your awareness of alternatives shows good planning.
Let’s assess your options carefully from all angles.

» Understanding the Type of Capital Gain

– Sale of empty land results in capital gain.
– If held for more than 2 years, it becomes long-term capital gain (LTCG).
– In your case, it is assumed to be LTCG.

– LTCG on land is taxed at 20% with indexation.
– Health and education cess at 4% will also apply.
– Effective tax will be about 20.8% on indexed gains.
– On Rs. 40 lakhs gain, tax will be around Rs. 8.3 lakhs.

» Gifting to Adult Child – Pros and Cons

– Gifting to an adult child is tax-free at the time of gift.
– There is no tax on the giver or receiver for gift of immovable property.

– But future capital gain will not disappear.
– The cost of acquisition is carried forward to the child.
– Holding period is also inherited.

– When the child sells the land, capital gain tax will apply.
– The child will pay tax based on your original purchase cost.
– Hence, capital gain remains the same. Only taxpayer changes.

– If your child has no other income, tax liability may reduce.
– But this is seen as tax avoidance strategy by IT department.
– If intention is only to save tax, it can raise compliance flags.

– Also, once transferred, control is lost.
– Future sale, timing, reinvestment – all will be in child’s hands.
– You may also expose family to potential disputes later.

– So, gifting to child does not erase tax liability.
– It just shifts the tax from you to your child.

– Hence, not a strong tax-saving tool in most cases.

» Investing in Capital Gain Bonds – Section 54EC

– You can invest in specified bonds under Section 54EC.
– These are bonds issued by REC, PFC, NHAI, IRFC, etc.
– Lock-in is 5 years, interest is taxable.

– Max investment allowed is Rs. 50 lakhs in a financial year.
– But in your case, capital gain is Rs. 40 lakhs. So it fits.

– Invest within 6 months from date of sale.
– Interest is approx. 5.25% to 5.5% currently.
– Interest is paid annually and taxable as per your slab.

– Advantage: Full exemption on capital gain tax.
– Disadvantage: Low return, and funds locked-in.

– Ideal if you don’t need money immediately.
– Also suitable if you're not looking for high returns.

– But returns post-tax may be less than 3.75%.
– Over 5 years, that’s quite low.

– Choose this route only if you’re risk-averse and want surety.

» Reinvestment in Residential Property – Not Preferred by You

– Section 54F allows exemption if capital gain is reinvested in house.
– But you already own two residential houses.
– So, Section 54F benefit is not available to you.

– Also, you clearly mentioned no interest in further real estate.
– So, we rule out this option.

» Paying Capital Gain Tax – And Reinvesting the Balance

– If you sell and pay LTCG tax, approx. Rs. 8.3 lakhs goes to tax.
– You get approx. Rs. 31.7 lakhs as post-tax proceeds.

– You can reinvest in mutual funds via SIP or lumpsum.
– This helps build long-term wealth.

– Equity mutual funds can generate 11–13% return over 8–10 years.
– This route gives better liquidity, growth, and flexibility.

– Unlike bonds, you are not locked-in for 5 years.
– You can access funds as per needs.

– You may pay tax again at time of redemption.
– But if sold after 1 year, gains up to Rs. 1.25 lakh are exempt.
– Gains above that are taxed at 12.5% only (new rule).

– Still, your overall tax burden stays lower compared to Section 54EC route.
– Over time, your corpus may also grow significantly.

» Why Not to Choose Index Funds or ETFs

– Many suggest index funds or ETFs for low cost.
– But these have major limitations.

– Index funds don’t offer downside protection in volatile markets.
– They just mimic the market. No active effort to protect capital.

– Actively managed funds are run by expert fund managers.
– They can adjust sector allocation, change stocks, exit weak bets.
– That helps in better returns and risk control.

– Especially in India, active funds often beat index funds.
– Index funds also carry hidden risks like tracking error.
– Returns may lag behind the actual index.

– Hence, for a strategic investment, choose actively managed funds.
– These work better for wealth creation with flexibility.

» Why Regular Mutual Fund Route Through Certified Planner is Better

– Direct plans look attractive due to lower expense ratios.
– But they offer no guidance, no review, no rebalancing help.

– Many investors underperform due to wrong fund choices.
– They also panic during volatility and exit at wrong time.

– Regular plans through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) come with expert hand-holding.
– Planners help in choosing right schemes based on goals and risk.
– They also monitor and review performance regularly.

– More than return, what matters is staying disciplined and goal-focused.
– That is only possible through guided investing.

– Over long term, regular plan + CFP gives better net outcomes.
– This is true even after accounting for slightly higher expense ratio.

» Important Notes Before You Decide

– Do not rush the transaction.
– Keep all sale documents, purchase deeds, and registration records ready.
– Indexation benefit applies only with proper documentation.

– Consult a tax filing expert or CA before executing.
– Plan timeline so that you don't miss the 6-month window for bonds.
– Also watch your overall income to avoid higher tax slab due to capital gains.

– Avoid taking action just based on someone’s suggestion.
– Gifting property for tax evasion is often flagged by IT department.
– Always look for legally compliant and financially sound routes.

» Finally

– Gifting to adult child won’t eliminate capital gain tax.
– Capital gain bonds under 54EC give tax exemption, but with low return and lock-in.
– Paying tax and reinvesting balance in mutual funds gives growth, flexibility, and liquidity.
– Avoid index funds and direct plans.
– Prefer actively managed funds through a Certified Financial Planner.
– This keeps your wealth creation journey safe and systematic.
– Think long-term. Choose the route that suits your goals and comfort.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I need some guidance and advice for continuing my mutual fund investments. I am a 36 year old male, married, no kids yet and no debts/liabilities as such. I have couple of savings in PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and long term investing in direct stocks. I recently started below mentioned SIPs for long term to grow wealth. Request you to review the same and let me know if I should continue with the SIPs or need to rationalize. Kindly also advice on how to invest a lumpsum amount of around 6lacs. invesco small cap 2000 motilal oswal midcap 2700 parag parikh flexicap 3000 HDFC flexicap 3100 ICICI prudential largecap 3100 HDFC large and midcap 3100 HDFC gold etf FOF 2000 ICICI Pru equity and debt fund 3000 HDFC balanced advantage fund 3000 nippon india silver etf FOF 2000
Ans: You already built a solid foundation. Many investors delay planning. But you started early at 36. That gives you a strong advantage. You have no liabilities. You have long term thinking. You also have diversified savings like PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and direct stocks. That shows clarity and discipline. This approach builds wealth with less stress over time.

You also started systematic investments in equity funds. That is a positive step. Your selection covers multiple categories like large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap, hybrid and precious metals. So the intent is right. You are trying to create a broad portfolio. That gives balance.

» Your Portfolio Composition Understanding
Your current SIP list includes:

Small cap

Mid cap

Flexi cap

Large cap

Large and mid cap

Hybrid category

Gold and Silver FoF

Equity and Debt allocation fund

Dynamic hybrid fund

This shows you are trying to cover many segments. But too many categories can create overlap. When there is overlap, you get confusion during review. It also makes portfolio discipline difficult. You may think you are diversified. But the holdings inside may repeat. That reduces efficiency.

Your portfolio now looks like:

Equity dominant

Hybrid for stability

Metals for hedge

So the broad direction is fine. But simplifying helps in long-term habit building.

» Fund Category Duplication
You hold:

Two flexi cap funds

One large and mid cap fund

One pure large cap fund

One mid cap fund

One small cap fund

Flexi cap funds already invest across large, mid, small. Then large and mid also overlaps. So the large cap exposure gets repeated. That may not add extra benefit. But it increases monitoring complexity.

So I suggest rationalising. Keep one fund per category in core. Keep satellite space for only high conviction.

» Core and Satellite Strategy
A structured portfolio follows core and satellite method.

Core portfolio should be:

Simple

Long term

Stable

Satellite portfolio can be:

High growth

Concentrated

Based on your thinking level, you can structure like this:

Core funds:

One large cap

One flexi cap

One hybrid equity and debt fund

One balanced advantage type fund

Satellite funds:

One mid cap

One small cap

One metal allocation if needed

This division gives clarity. You can continue SIPs with review every year. No need to stop and restart often. That reduces behavioural mistakes.

» Your Current SIP List Review with Suggested Streamlining

You can consider continuing:

One flexi cap

One large cap

One mid cap

One small cap

One balanced advantage

One equity and debt hybrid

You may reconsider keeping both flexi caps and both gold silver funds. One of each category is enough. Because too many funds do not increase returns. It complicates tracking.

Precious metal funds should not be more than 5 to 7 percent in your portfolio. This is because metals are hedge assets. They do not create compounding like equity. They act as protection during cycles. So keep them small.

» How to Use the Rs 6 Lakh Lump Sum
You asked about lump sum investing. This is important. Lump sum should not go fully into equity at one time. Markets move in cycles. So use a staggered method. You can invest the lump sum through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan). You can keep the amount in a liquid fund and set STP toward your chosen growth funds over 6 to 12 months.

This reduces timing risk. It also creates discipline. So your Rs 6 lakh can be deployed gradually. You may use 50% towards core equity funds and 30% toward satellite growth category. The remaining 20% can go into hybrid category. This gives balance and comfort.

» Regular Funds Over Direct Funds
One important point many investors miss. Direct funds look cheaper. But they demand deep knowledge, discipline, and behaviour control. Most investors lose more through emotional selling and wrong timing than they save on expense ratio.

With regular funds through a Mutual Fund Distributor with Certified Financial Planner qualification, you get guidance, structure and correction. The advisory discipline protects you during market extremes. That is more valuable than a small saving in expense ratio.

A personalised planner also tracks portfolio drift, rebalancing need and category shifts. So regular fund investing gives long-term benefit and behaviour coaching.

» Actively Managed Funds over Index or ETF
Some investors choose index funds or ETF thinking they are simple and cheap. But they ignore drawbacks.

Index funds or ETF will not avoid weak companies in the index. They will invest whether the company grows or struggles. There is no fund manager decision making. So when markets are at peak, index funds continue aggressive exposure. In downturns also they fall fully. There is no cushion.

Actively managed funds work with research teams. They can avoid bad sectors. They can shift allocation based on market and economy. Over long term, this gives better alpha and stability. So continuing with actively managed funds creates better wealth compounding.

» SIP Continuation Strategy
Once the rationalisation is done, continue SIPs every month without interruption. Pause and restart behaviour damages compounding power. SIP works best when you go through all market cycles. You benefit more during corrections because cost averaging works.

So continue SIP amount. You can also review SIP increase every year based on income. Increasing SIP by 10 to 15 percent every year helps you reach large corpus faster.

» Asset Allocation Based Approach
One key point in wealth creation is having the right asset mix. Equity gives growth. Hybrid gives balance. Metals give hedge. Debt gives safety. Your asset allocation should stay aligned to your risk profile and time horizon.

Since you are young and have long term horizon, higher equity allocation is fine. But as time moves, rebalancing is important. Rebalancing protects gains and restores allocation.

So review your asset allocation every year or during major life events like child birth, home buying or retirement planning.

» Behaviour Management
Many portfolios fail not due to bad funds. They fail due to bad decisions. Selling during correction. Stopping SIP when market falls. Chasing past return performance. These mistakes reduce wealth.

Your discipline so far is good. Continue to stay patient during volatility. Equity rewards patience and time.

» Financial Goals Clarity
Since you have no children now, you can decide your long-term goals. Typical goals may include:

Retirement

Future child education

Dream lifestyle purchase

Health care reserves

When goals are clear, investment purpose becomes stronger. So you can map each fund category to goal horizon. Short-term goals should not use equity. Long-term goals should use equity with hybrid support.

» Role of Review and Monitoring
Review once in a year is enough. Frequent review can create anxiety. Annual review helps check:

Fund performance

Expense drift

Category relevance

Allocation balance

Then adjust only if needed. This progress helps you stay confident and aligned.

» Taxation Awareness
Equity mutual funds taxation rules are:

Short term (below one year holding) taxable at 20 percent

Long term (above one year holding) gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxable at 12.5 percent

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

So always hold equity funds for long term. That reduces tax impact and gives better growth.

» SIP Increase Plan
You can create a simple plan to increase SIP over time. For example:

Increase SIP at every salary increment

Increase SIP during bonus time

Use rewards or extra income for investing

This habit accelerates wealth. So by the time you reach 45 to 50 years, your investments could reach a strong level.

» Insurance and Protection
Before investing large, ensure you have term insurance and health insurance. If not already done, it is important. Insurance protects wealth. Without insurance, even a small medical event can impact investment plan. So review this part also. Since you are married, cover both.

» Wealth Behaviour Mindset
You are already disciplined. Just keep these simple principles:

Invest without stopping

Review once a year

Avoid funds overlap

Follow asset allocation

Avoid reacting to media noise

This helps you reach long term milestones.

» Finally
You are on the right track. Only fine tuning and simplification is needed. Your discipline is visible. Your portfolio will grow well with structure, patience and periodic review. Use the Rs 6 lakh with STP approach. And continue SIP with rationalised categories.

With time and consistency, wealth creation becomes effortless and peaceful. You just need to stay committed and avoid overthinking during market movements.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1837 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 05, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, I did my BTech from a normal engineering college not very famous. The teaching was not great and hence i did not study well. I tried my best to learn coding including all the technologies like html,css,javascript,react js,dba,php because i wanted to be a web developer But nothing seem to enter my head except html and css. I don't understand a language which has more complexities. Is it because of my lack of experience or not devoting enough time. I am not sure. I did many courses online and tried to do diplomas also abroad which i passed somehow. I recently joined android development course because i like apps but the teaching was so fast that i could not memorize anything. There was no time to even take notes down. During the course i did assignments and understood the code because i have to pass but after the course is over i tend to forget everything. I attempted a lot of interviews. Some of them i even got but could not perform well so they let me go. Now due to the AI booming and job markets in a bad shape i am re-thinking whether to keep studying or whether its just time waste. Since 3 years i am doing labour type of jobs which does not yield anything to me for survival and to pay my expenses. I have the quest to learn everything but as soon as i sit in front of the computer i listen to music or read something else. What should i do to stay more focused? What should i do to make myself believe confident. Is there still scope of IT in todays world? Kindly advise.
Ans: Your story does not show failure.
It shows persistence, effort, and desire to improve.

Most people give up.
You didn’t.
That means you will succeed — but with the right method, not the old one.

...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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