While filing my ITR for AY 2024-25 in new regime, can I claim benefit under section 89 for salary arrears under old regime?

Ans: Please contact the service provider you have chosen to view your credit score.

Ans: You can continue to contribute to the EPF scheme if you join a new company after availing EPF pension at the age of 58, provided that you are a full-time employee on the company’s payroll.

However, you will not be eligible to become a member of the EPS (pension) scheme again, as the EPS membership ceases once you start receiving pension after attaining the age of 58 years.

Therefore, the employer’s contribution of 8.33% that would otherwise go to the EPS will be added to your PF account instead. Hence, the total contribution of 12% employee and 12% employer will go in EPF.

Ans: As per the Hindu Succession Act 1956, all the children of Hindu male fall into class 1 heirs and all are equally eligible to get the claim or benefit in father’s property. In your case, property has been registered in your father’s name and as per the Hindu Succession Act, your sister is equally eligible to claim her portion. At the time of claim, you can showcase your expenses which you have incurred on the property with valid proofs.

If your father had made a will and declared you as a beneficiary to the same property, in that case, your sister would not have been eligible to get the share from the property.

Ans: We are sorry to hear that you were a victim of fraud. It’s important to take immediate action to address the situation.

Below are the Steps that you can take:

1. Contact your bank: To prevent any future unauthorized access, contact your bank and freeze the account, and modify the UPI pin.

2. Contact Paytm: Reach out to PAYTM as soon as possible to report the fraudulent activity and explain the situation. They will guide you through the process of filing a complaint and provide you with further assistance.

3. File a complaint: Visit your nearest cyber security cell and file a complaint about the fraudulent activity. Provide them with all the relevant details, including any evidence you may have, such as transaction records, messages, or emails.

According to RBI guidelines, anyone who falls victim to UPI fraud needs to first report the issue to the payment service provider. However, in case the UPI service provider doesn’t provide much assistance, the user can also file a complaint at the NPCI portal – npci. org. in.

Ans: The Indian stock market is currently at an all-time high and very volatile, and the outlook for the next 10 years is positive. However, there are a few factors that could impact the market in the short term, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, inflation, and interest rate etc.

Mutual funds are a good way to grow your wealth over the long term.

When choosing a mutual fund, consider your risk tolerance and investment goals. Do your research before investing in any mutual fund.

Some good mutual fund categories for a lump sum investment of Rs 50,000 for 10 years include:

Large cap mutual funds: These funds invest in the largest and most established companies in India. They are relatively less risky than smaller cap funds, but offer lower potential returns.

Flexi-cap mutual funds: These funds invest in a mix of large cap, mid cap, and small cap companies. They offer a good balance of risk and return.

Small cap mutual funds: These funds invest in smaller companies with high growth potential. They are riskier than large cap and multi-cap funds, but offer higher potential returns

You can just good and look for the best funds to invest in.
You can invest in mutual funds directly through the mutual fund company or through a mutual fund distributor.

Ans: Considering your age and your requirement, you will need to invest in a mix of debt and equity instruments. Here are some investment options available to you:-

• Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme (SCSS) – This is a pure debt instruments and provides guaranteed returns of 8.2% per annum. The interest is paid quarterly. The maximum amount that you can invest is Rs. 30 Lakhs.

• Corporate FDs – It provides you return more than the regular bank FDs. It contains two options i.e. cumulative and non-cumulative.

• Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS): This is another government-backed scheme that offers guaranteed monthly income. The current interest rate is 7.1%.

• Debt Mutual Funds: As your main concern is to protect the principal amount you may consider debt funds and monthly income can be achieved through the route of SWP (systematic withdrawal plan).

• Equity mutual funds: Equity mutual funds offer the highest potential returns, but they are also the riskiest. A small portion of the amount can be invested in the equity mutual funds for growth of the money in the long-term horizon.

It is good to know that you are adequately insured for any healthcare emergency.

Your requirement of Rs. 30,000 will be changing in the future due to inflation, hence you should consult with your financial advisor for a proper increasing income or SWP (systematic withdrawal plan) which can help you to ensure sufficient amount available for your monthly expenses.

Ans: This particular investment scheme primarily puts money into big company's stocks.

Over the past 3 to 5 years, this fund hasn't done as well as we'd like compared to a standard benchmark. However, if you are concerned about the fund's recent underperformance or if you need to access your money in the near term, you may consider exiting the fund.

The fund managers have been putting a lot of emphasis on specific stocks they believe in for the long term, but this approach hasn't worked out well since 2021 till date.

One of the reasons for the fund's underperformance is its heavy investments in sectors like automobiles and banks. Some specific stocks like Kotak Mahindra Bank and Bajaj FinServ didn't perform as expected.

Overall, this fund didn't provide a good balance of protection during market downturns and gains during market upswings.

If you are unsure about whether or not to continue or exit Axis Bluechip Fund, you may want to consult with a financial advisor. A financial advisor can help you assess your individual needs and goals and make a recommendation that is right for you.

Ans: I understand that your EPF withdrawal claim has been rejected due to an error in your employer's contribution. This is frustrating, but it is important to remember that you are not alone. Many people experience problems with their EPF claims, especially when their employers make mistakes.

When filing a grievance, be sure to provide clear and concise information about the issue. You should also include any relevant documentation, such as your EPF statement and the revised Form 11 from your employer (if you have one).

Once you have filed a grievance, the EPFO will investigate the matter and try to resolve it. This process can take some time, but it is important to be patient.

Here are some additional tips:

• Keep track of all your communication with the EPFO. This includes emails, phone calls, and visits to the office.
• If you are not satisfied with the EPFO's response, you can escalate the issue to the regional or national level. You can also mail on employeefeedback @ epfindia.gov.in for the redressal of your grievance.

Ans: If you’re overweight a drop in weight would definitely help both the problems. If not regulating your salt intake and adjusting your diet will help.