My wife is housewife, and has no other income. To secure her future, from my salary, if I contribute every year around 2Lac into NPS tier-1 account of my wife, will there be any tax implication to her or me, whenever she gets pension from NPS when she becomes 60 years old.

Ans: I understand that amount of PF and VPF is sufficient to claim deduction of Rs 1,50,000 u/s 80C and deduction of Rs 50,000 is taken under 80CCD (i.e. upper limit of deduction specified under both sections are taken); you will not be eligible for deduction for employers contribution.

Ans: Dear Prasanna,

Firstly, congratulations on your upcoming retirement. It's a significant milestone, and I'm here to help you navigate the financial aspects of it.

Now, coming to your question about transferring your pension benefits to your wife. As per the Income Tax laws in India, any gift received from specified relatives, such as a spouse, is not treated as income. Therefore, it is fully exempt from income tax. So, if you decide to give your pension benefits to your wife as a one-time gift, there won't be any immediate tax implications for her.

However, there's an important aspect to consider. While the gift itself is tax-free, any income generated from this gift (for example, if your wife invests this amount and earns interest or dividends) would be clubbed with the income of the giver, i.e., you, and taxed accordingly. This is known as the clubbing of income.

In conclusion, gifting your pension benefits to your wife could be a good idea if the aim is to let her manage the funds. However, the income generated from the gifted amount would still be taxable in your hands.

I hope this clarifies your query.

Best,
Hardik

Ans: Your wife is 31 years old and contributes Rs. 25,000 monthly to her NPS. She will retire at 65. Let’s evaluate if NPS alone can support your retirement.

Understanding NPS
Benefits of NPS
Tax Benefits: NPS contributions provide tax deductions.
Market-Linked Returns: NPS invests in equity and debt.
Low Cost: NPS has low fund management charges.
Expected Returns
Equity Allocation: Equity in NPS can offer 10-12% returns.
Debt Allocation: Debt allocation may yield 6-8%.
Overall Returns: Expect 8-10% returns annually.
Projected NPS Corpus
Accumulation Phase
Regular Contributions: Rs. 25,000 monthly until retirement.
Compounded Growth: Funds grow due to compounding.
Estimation: Use conservative growth rate for projections.
Retirement Income
Annuity Purchase
Mandatory Annuity: 40% of NPS corpus goes into an annuity.
Regular Pension: Annuity provides a monthly pension.
Lump Sum Withdrawal
60% Withdrawal: The remaining 60% can be withdrawn.
Tax-Free: This withdrawal is tax-free.
Diversification Strategy
Beyond NPS
PPF: Continue contributions for safe returns.
EPF: Maintain EPF for steady growth.
Mutual Funds: Diversify with equity and debt funds.
Insurance: Ensure adequate health and life coverage.
Expected Retirement Needs
Income Requirements
Inflation Adjustment: Account for rising costs.
Healthcare: Allocate funds for medical expenses.
Lifestyle: Maintain a comfortable lifestyle post-retirement.
Calculating Retirement Corpus
Corpus Size
Monthly Needs: Rs. 50,000 per month post-retirement.
Inflation-Adjusted: Needs will increase with inflation.
Life Expectancy: Plan for 20-25 years post-retirement.
Income Sources
NPS Pension: Regular income from the annuity.
Lump Sum: Withdrawn amount can be invested.
Other Investments: Income from PPF, EPF, and mutual funds.
Final Insights
NPS Alone: NPS is good but not sufficient alone.
Diversify: Invest in PPF, EPF, and mutual funds.
Plan for Inflation: Ensure corpus adjusts for inflation.
Regular Review: Monitor and adjust investments.
Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: When your National Pension System (NPS) Tier-1 account matures, the 60% lump-sum withdrawal you receive is currently exempt from income tax under Section 10(12A) of the Income Tax Act, irrespective of any additional voluntary contributions you make. Therefore, both your regular and additional voluntary deposits in NPS Tier-1 enjoy the same tax benefits upon maturity, with no tax implications on the 60% lump-sum payout. However, the remaining 40% directed towards annuity purchase is subject to tax as per your income tax slab when you receive the annuity payments.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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