The last quarter of the current fiscal year has arrived and this is the time when most people look for tax deductions and investments through which they can save their hard earned money from tax.
Needless to say, this is not the right approach to save tax as it only leads to last-moment chaos. This not only leads to less savings but also in an inability to save what you actually would have if you had planned earlier.
Here is a quick guide on how you can invest in instruments listed under section 80C of Income Tax Act 1961. Check your eligibility for various options and invest right all through the fiscal year.
If the government is charging for tax, it is also providing the options to save tax. Most effective tax-saving instruments defined under section 80C are listed below.
Traditional life insurance: If you invest some of your amount in a life insurance policy, it provides you life coverage as well as it lets you exempt that amount from tax, if it is limited to Rs 1,50,000. The limit was Rs 100,000 till previous year and it has been revised in the Budget 2014 to Rs 1,50,000.
Unit-linked insurance plans: Unit-linked insurance plan gives you protection as well as lets you invest some of the amount in equity or debt instruments, which depends on your risk-appetite. The good news is that the maturity amount received by you or the nominee is tax-free.
EPF/PPF: EPF stands for Employee Provident Fund and PPF stands for Public Provident Fund. Investing in EPF/PPF lets you save for retirement. Similar to life insurance premium, the amount saved in these schemes as well, lets you avail tax exemption and the limit should not exceed Rs 1.5 lakh.
NSC: NSC or National Saving Certificate is the investment in government savings bond. You gather interest when you buy them for a specific duration that is, 8.5 per cent per annum for 5 years investment and 8.8 per cent per annum for 10 years investment. These saving instruments can be purchased from post office. To get the exemption on accrued interest as well, you need to re-invest it. However, if the exempted amount exceeds Rs 1.5 lakhs, it would be taxable.
Fixed deposits: Fixed deposits with banks and post offices also offer tax exemption but the lock-in period for these deposits should be 5 years. The banks have been demanding to decrease the lock-in period to 3 years so that people prefer bank deposit as well, as a viable option to invest.
Senior Citizens Savings Scheme: An individual with the age of 60 or above can only apply for this scheme. It is one of the most profitable schemes as it offers the interest rate of 9.2 per cent per annum but again this interest is payable quarterly and is not compounded if it is not claimed. The interest accrued is taxable.
National Pension Scheme (NPS): NPS is compulsory for government employees. Other individuals can apply for this scheme voluntarily if they belong to age range of 18 to 55 years. The government contributes equal amount to that of the contributed by the government employee, which is 10 per cent of basic pay. No amount is contributed for other individuals.
Equity-linked Savings Schemes: Equity-linked savings schemes, in short ELSS, are the 100-per cent diversified equity funds. These schemes are also called as mutual fund schemes or tax-saving mutual funds. They come in with lock-in period of 3 years. You can direct your savings, which should be at least Rs. 500 on a monthly basis, towards ELSS through systematic investment plan (SIP). There is no eligibility criterion to invest in ELSS.
Tuition fees: You can get tax-exemption if you are paying tuition fees for maximum of two children. The exemption is specifically limited to institutional tuition fee. That is, it does not cover fees paid towards coaching or private tuitions. The school, college or university should be within the country itself. Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) is not allowed to take exemption through tuition fees.
Housing loan: If you are paying instalment for house loan, you are eligible to get tax exemptions under section 80C for the payment of principal amount. The exemption on the interest paid by you can be claimed through Section 24 under Income Tax Act. If there is second house loan as well, the exemption would be allowed on the principal amount paid back for the house you are occupying.
You can plan your investment in the above-listed instruments as per your need and age. The point to be noted is- in which ever option or combination of instruments you choose to invest, the amount invested should not exceed Rs 1.5 lakhs. Otherwise the difference is taxable.
Top 10 Tax Saving Mutual Funds to invest in India for 2016
Best 10 ELSS Mutual Funds in india for 2016
1. BNP Paribas Long Term Equity Fund
2. Axis Tax Saver Fund
3. Franklin India TaxShield
4. ICICI Prudential Long Term Equity Fund
5. IDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund
6. Birla Sun Life Tax Relief 96
7. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
8. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund
9. Religare Tax Plan
10. Birla Sun Life Tax Plan
Invest in Best Performing 2016 Tax Saver Mutual Funds Online
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