Monday 2 April 2018

ELSS .. Tax Savings and Wealth Creation

ELSS is simply the best investment for tax savings and wealth creation

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Section 80C of Income Tax Act allows tax payers to claim deductions from their taxable income by investing in certain instruments. The investment limit eligible for tax deduction in Section 80C has been increased to  150,000 from FY 2014 – 2015 onwards, allowing tax payers to save up to  46,350 in taxes. The eligible investments in Section 80C include, Employee Provident Fund (EPF) deducted by the employer, Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF), Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificates (NSC), 5 year tax saving bank fixed deposits, 5 year tax saving post office deposits, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS), Life Insurance Premiums, National Pension Scheme, notified mutual fund Pension Plans and Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS). In this blog, we will compare and contrast some of the most popular tax saving investment options under Section 80C, and determine the best investment option for wealth creation. When comparing the popular 80C investment, we will factor in three important considerations:-
  • Returns, in other words, wealth creation potential
  • Tax treatment of the investment
  • Liquidity of the investment
In this we will review five popular eligible investment options under Section 80C
  • Public Provident Fund
  • National Savings Certificate
  • Traditional Life Insurance Plan
  • Unit Linked Insurance Plan
  • Equity Linked Savings Scheme


Public Provident Fund

PPF is one the most popular choices under Section 80C, since it offers one of the best interest rates, ensures capital safety and tax exemption of maturity proceeds. PPF interest rate has been fixed at 8.7% for this fiscal year (2015 – 16). Though rates may vary from year to year, the yield has been pegged at 25 basis points above the 10 year Government Bond yield. The tenure of this instrument is 15 years, and is extendable in blocks of 5 years. Withdrawals not exceeding 50% of 4th year balance are permitted after a lock-in period of 7 years. PPF also offers loan facilities. The maximum and minimum investments currently allowed under PPF is  150,000 and  500/- respectively.

  

National Savings Certificate

NSC has been a popular investment choice for many years. In the new NSC scheme the interest rates at 8.5% and 8.8%, for the 5 and 10 year maturities respectively. However, the effective returns are lower, since interest earned in NSC is fully taxable, at your income tax slab rate.

 

 

Traditional Life Insurance Plan

Life insurance premiums are eligible for tax savings under 80C. You / your nominees get life cover in the event of an untimely death and survival benefits on completion of the policy term. The policy term ranges from 15 to 25 years. Life insurance plans have a lock in period of three years. You can surrender your policy after three years, but usually surrender charges apply. On maturity of the policy you get sum assured plus applicable bonuses. There are primarily two types of bonuses paid by traditional plans. A simple reversionary bonus is accrued every year as a percentage of sum assured and paid at the maturity of the policy. You should note that the bonus accrued is not compounded, it is only accumulated. In addition, a final additional bonus or terminal bonus is paid on the maturity of the policy. The bonus rates paid by traditional endowment plans usually range from 2 – 5% of the sum assured. The final bonus is usually around 1%. Historically traditional plans have given around 6% internal rate of return.

Unit Linked Insurance Plan

Unit linked insurance plans (ULIPs) are market linked instruments. In addition to providing life cover, a portion of your premiums are invested in purchasing units of a fund of your choice. Like mutual funds, ULIPs are also subject to market risks. However, on an average equity oriented ULIP funds have given 15 – 18% annualized returns over a 10 year investment horizon. However, your effective returns can be much lower because of your premium will go towards the mortality charges (life cover) and various fees like premium allocation, policy administration, fund management etc. These fees are deducted from your premium and only the balance amount is invested in the units of the fund. In the initial years of your policy life as much as 10% of your premium can go towards these fees and not be invested to buy units. Mortality charges depend upon the age and health of the investor. For a 30 year old investor, on an average it is  1.4 – 2 per  1,000 of sum assured per annum.

  

Equity Linked Savings Scheme

ELSS is a mutual fund scheme that qualifies for tax savings under Section 80C up to a limit of  150,000. An ELSS is essentially a diversified equity scheme with a lock in period of three years from the date of the investment. If you invest in an ELSS through a systematic investment plan (SIP), each investment will be locked in for 3 years from their respective investment dates. Compared to other retirement planning investments under Section 80C ELSS offers higher liquidity and potentially superior post tax returns. However, as with all mutual fund investments ELSS are subject to market risks. ELSS funds have given an average 20% trailing annualized returns over the last 3 years, 10% annualized returns over the last 5 years and 12% annualized returns over the last 10 years.





Therefore purely in terms of returns ELSS is the best tax saving investment option.

 

Tax Treatment

To fully evaluate the return on investment, one must also factor in the impact of taxes on these instruments. Accordingly, one must understand the tax treatment at three different stages of investment:-
  • At the time of making the investment
  • During the tenure of the investment
  • On maturity of the instrument
The table below shows the tax treatment at each stage for various investment options



Therefore, even in terms of tax treatment ELSS is one of the best investment options under Section 80C.

  

Liquidity

Liquidity is an important investment consideration. There is no general financial planning guidance on liquidity. It depends on the financial situation of the investor like, income, fixed expenditure, savings pattern, existing assets, liquidity of those assets etc. When you make an investment, you should make sure that you are comfortable with the liquidity of the investment that you are making. The table below shows the liquidity related considerations for these 80C investment options.



From a liquidity perspective, ELSS is the best tax saving investment option.

 

 

ELSS versus NPS

The only 80C investment option that has the potential to give returns comparable to ELSS is the National Pension Scheme (NPS). In this budget the Government has provide additional tax savings for investment in NPS. Investors can get an additional tax benefit of 50,000 over and above the 80C limit of  1.5 lacs, under Section 80CCD by investing in NPS. This makes NPS an attractive investment option for tax payers. While fund management costs in NPS is lower than that of mutual funds, a major disadvantage of NPS versus ELSS is the tax treatment on maturity. While capital gains in ELSS are tax free, NPS maturity amount is taxable on withdrawal. The other problem is that, under the current rules, 40% of the NPS maturity amount must compulsorily be used to purchase annuities and the annuity income is taxable. There are also limits on equity allocations in NPS, which younger investors may find too conservative relative to their risk profile. These disadvantages notwithstanding, NPS is a good long term investment option. In fact tax payers can maximize their tax savings by both in ELSS (up to 80C Limit) and NPS to get additional tax benefit under Section 80CCD.



Conclusion
In this we have objectively reviewed several tax saving options available to investors. We have seen that ELSS is one of the best tax saving investments for investors looking to create wealth in the long term.



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Thursday 29 May 2014

Cash inflow at regular intervals

SBI Life - Smart Money Back Gold


Introduction:
 
 
SBI Life - Smart Money Back Gold is a savings plan with added advantage of life cover and cash inflow at regular intervals. It is a participating traditional money back insurance plan, meeting your various financial obligations at crucial junctures by its wide range of policy terms. Regular payments of Survival benefits are made at different durations during the policy term. In the unfortunate event of death at any time within the Policy Term, your nominee would receive the full Sum Assured plus Simple Reversionary Bonus & Terminal Bonus (if any), irrespective of Survival Benefits already paid.
 
 








Key Features:


Money Back options specially tailored to suit your requirements
 
Fixed cash inflows which can meet your various financial obligations
 
Survival Benefit of 110% of Sum Assured paid till maturity
 
Rebate on Large Sum Assured
 
Customize your coverage through the wide range of additional benefits - SBI Life -Accidental Death Benefit Rider (UIN: 111B015V02), SBI Life - Accidental Total & Permanent Disability Benefit Rider (UIN: 111B016V02), SBI Life - Preferred Term Rider (UIN: 111B014V02) and SBI Life - Criti Care 13 Non-Linked Rider (UIN: 111B025V02)
 
Given below are the charts with various term options and accompanying Survival Payments:
 
Survival Benefit Installments (% of Basic Sum Assured)
Plan Options
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
End of Policy year / Policy term
12
15
20
25
3
20%
15%


4


15%
5

15%
6
20%
15%

8


15%
9
20%
15%

10


15%
12
50%
15%
15%

15

50%

15%
16


15%

20


50%
15%
25



50%
Total (% of Basic Sum Assured)
110%
110%
110%
110%
Simple Reversionary Bonus is payable along with the last Survival Benefit Payment. Terminal Bonus (if any) will also be paid along with the last Survival Benefit Payment.







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Benefits: 
 
On survival:

Before maturity: The survival benefit installments expressed as a fixed percentage of basic sum assured payable at the end of specified durations during the policy term, as explained above.
 

At maturity: Final survival benefit installment + Vested simple reversionary bonus + Terminal bonus, if any.
 
On Death:

In the unfortunate event of death during the term of the plan, provided the policy is in-force:
 

Higher of A or B is paid to the nominee, where:
A = Sum Assured on death + Vested Simple Reversionary Bonuses + Terminal bonus, if any.

Sum Assured on death is higher of Basic Sum Assured or a multiple of annualised premium; where multiple is:
 


Policy Term
Age at entry of Life Assured less than 45 years
Age at entry of Life Assured 45 years or more
12, 15, 20 or 25
10
7


B = Minimum death benefit which is equal to 105% of all the premiums paid.
 
Other Benefits 

Additional cover through four set of riders: -
SBI Life - Preferred Term Rider (UIN:111B014V02): The Preferred Term rider Sum Assured is payable in addition to normal death benefit
 
SBI Life - Accidental Death Benefit Rider (UIN: 111B015V02): In case death due to an accident, the rider Sum Assured is payable in addition to normal death benefit 
 
SBI Life - Accidental Total &Permanent Disability Benefit Rider (111B016V02): The rider Sum Assured will be paid on the Life Assured being found eligible for the Total & Permanent Disability Benefit as defined in the policy document.
 
SBI Life - Criti Care 13 Non-Linked Rider (UIN: 111B025V02): The rider sum assured would be payable on the life assured being diagnosed with any of the thirteen diseases. For details on illnesses covered, please refer the rider brochure. 
 
Tax Benefits*:
Tax deduction under Section 80 C is available. However in case the premium paid during the financial year, exceeds 10% of the sum assured, the benefit will be limited up to 10% of the sum assured.
 
Tax deduction under Section 80(D) is available for premiums paid towards SBI Life - Criti Care 13 Non Linked Rider. 
 
Tax exemption under Section 10(10D) is available at the time of maturity/surrender, subject to the premium not exceeding 10% of the sum assured in any of the years during the term of the policy. However, death proceeds are completely exempt. 
 
* Tax benefits, are as per the provisions of the Income Tax laws & are subject to change from time to time. Please consult your tax advisor for details.


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When tomorrow is certain... today becomes beautiful

SBI Life - Smart Wealth Assure




Introduction: 

SBI Life - Smart Wealth Assure is a Unit Linked non-participating Life Insurance Plan. It is a single premium plan, wherein you have to pay premiums once and you can continue to enjoy the benefits throughout the policy term.

The plan helps you to enjoy market related returns along with insurance cover, with just a single premium

Key Features:
Option to choose a mix of funds providing Market Linked Returns
Market Linked Returns provided through 2 funds – Bond Fund & Equity Fund to give you the best possible returns
Pay only once and get the benefits throughout the Policy Term
Liquidity through Partial Withdrawal(s)
Option to customize the product with Accidental Death Benefit Option




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Benefits: 
 
Maturity Benefit: On completion of Policy Term, Fund Value will be paid.
Death Benefit: Higher of the Fund Value or Sum Assured## is payable; with a minimum of 105% of Single premium paid.
Accidental Death Benefit Option: Provides additional death benefit if the death occurs as a result of an accident.
Tax Benefits:
Tax deduction under Section 80 C is available. However in case the premium paid during the financial year, exceeds 10% of the sum assured, the benefit will be limited up to 10% of the sum assured.

Tax benefits, are as per the provisions of the Income Tax laws & are subject to change from time to time. Please consult your tax advisor for details.
## Net of partial withdrawals






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Monday 3 March 2014

SBI Life's Shubh Nivesh Vs LIC's New Jeevan Anand...


Triple Life Cover, Whole Life Cover, Life Long Monthly Pension for Self & Spouse and Welath Creation for Children
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SBI Life - Shubh Nivesh is a non- linked, with profit Endowment Assurance product with an option of Whole Life coverage. The basic purpose is to provide Savings, Income and Insurance Cover to you and your family. Not only you can save regularly for your future but you also have the flexibility to receive the maturity amount as a lump sum or as a regular income for a chosen period, depending upon your needs.

Key Features:


A savings plan with flexibility of availing whole life insurance as an add-on benefit
Benefits including Wealth Creation, Insurance cover and Regular flow of income
Flexibility to choose between Single or Regular premium payment
Additional rider benefits at an affordable cost
Option to receive the Basic Sum Assured at regular intervals over a stipulated time period of 5/10/15/20 years
Comprehensive risk coverage through 3 Riders:

SBI Life - Preferred Term Rider (UIN:111B014V02)

SBI Life - Accidental Death Benefit Rider (UIN: 111B015V02)

’SBI Life - Accidental Total & Permanent Disability Benefit Rider (UIN: 111B016V02)
Tax benefits as per prevailing norms under the Income Tax Act, 1961





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How does it work?

SBI Life - Shubh Nivesh has two options:
 

Endowment Option:

The base plan is a traditional endowment plan with simple reversionary bonuses which accrue till the end of the endowment term. The sum assured with all accrued bonuses will be paid on survival till the end of the endowment term or on earlier death.

Endowment with Whole Life Option:

If you opt for a policy term of 15 years or more you also have an option to extend your cover for the whole life (or 100 years of age). The option gives you an Endowment + Whole life plan whereby, in addition to the Endowment plan benefits you are entitled to an additional amount equal to the basic sum assured on survival till age 100 years or on earlier death during the extension period.







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