Sunday, June 6, 2010

80C tools explored

These tools you can use to get a quick idea of what to do & how to do for 80C deductions. For details, just ping me up.

Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) - Some mutual fund (MF) schemes specially created for offering you tax savings, are called Equity Linked Savings Scheme, or ELSS. The investments that you make in ELSS are eligible for deduction under Sec 80C. Most popular are - SBI Magnum Tax gain, BNP paribas Tax saver, Canara Robecco Tax saver etc.
Recommendation - It's famous for its good returns but as it's totally dependend on share market, its more risk prone too. So the point here is, if you can invest some time into share market too, this is one of the best option for tax saving. Best thing here is unlimited profit & unlimited loss.

Provident Fund (PF) & Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) - PF is automatically deducted from your salary (currently 12%). Both you and your employer contribute to it. While employer’s contribution is exempt from tax, your contribution (i.e., employee’s contribution) is counted towards section 80C investments. You also have the option to contribute additional amounts through voluntary contributions (VPF). Current rate of interest is 8.5% per annum (p.a.) and is tax-free if withdrawn after 5 years.
Recommendation - The usual way of regular savings. Better to go for default PF percentage deduction only. Best thing in this is, its risk free & assured returns kind of thing.

Public Provident Fund (PPF) - Among all the assured returns small saving schemes, Public Provident Fund (PPF) is one of the best. Current rate of interest is 8% tax-free and the normal maturity period is 15 years. Minimum amount of contribution is Rs 500 and maximum is Rs 70,000. A point worth noting is that interest rate is assured but not fixed. You can go to post office or bank ( SBI & Allahabad bank) to open one for you
Recommendation - If you feel yourself cool while dealing with Govt banks/offices staff, or luckily you have a nearby SBI branch where at least one employee is happy with his/her job or like your face to the extent that he/she can listen to you, go for it.

Life Insurance Premiums - Any amount that you pay towards life insurance premium for yourself, your spouse or your children can also be included in Section 80C deduction. Please note that life insurance premium paid by you for your parents (father / mother / both) or your in-laws is not eligible for deduction under section 80C. If you are paying premium for more than one insurance policy, all the premiums can be included. It is not necessary to have the insurance policy from Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) – even insurance bought from private players can be considered here. Here you can also go for ULIPs. ULIP is again a share market linked plan so you need to keep a watch on the NAVs. ULIP stands for Unit linked Saving Schemes. ULIPs cover Life insurance with benefits of equity investments.They have attracted the attention of investors and tax-savers not only because they help us save tax but they also perform well to give decent returns in the long-term.
Recommedation - Opting to it means you are more intrested in insurance than savings. Also, make sure you have read all terms & conditions before investing coz it also attracts heavy charges (mostly in ULIP).

Home Loan Principal Repayment - The Equated Monthly Installment (EMI) that you pay every month to repay your home loan consists of two components – Principal and Interest.The principal component of the EMI qualifies for deduction under Sec 80C. Even the interest component can save you significant income tax – but that would be under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act. Please read “Income Tax (IT) Benefits of a Home Loan / Housing Loan / Mortgage”, which presents a full analysis of how you can save income tax through a home loan.
Recommendation - Obviously go for it, if you are elegible.

National Savings Certificate (NSC) - National Savings Certificate (NSC) is a 6-Yr small savings instrument eligible for section 80C tax benefit. Rate of interest is eight per cent compounded half-yearly, i.e., the effective annual rate of interest is 8.16%. If you invest Rs 1,000, it becomes Rs 1601 after six years. The interest accrued every year is liable to tax (i.e., to be included in your taxable income) but the interest is also deemed to be reinvested and thus eligible for section 80C deduction.
Recommendation - Again, its a slow way of growth. totally your call.

Infrastructure Bonds - These are also popularly called Infra Bonds. These are issued by infrastructure companies, and not the government. The amount that you invest in these bonds can also be included in Sec 80C deductions.

Pension Funds – Section 80CCC - an investment in pension funds is eligible for deduction from your income. Section 80CCC investment limit is clubbed with the limit of Section 80C – it maeans that the total deduction available for 80CCC and 80C is Rs. 1 Lakh.This also means that your investment in pension funds upto Rs. 1 Lakh can be claimed as deduction u/s 80CCC.
Recommendation - same as for ULIP.

5-Yr bank fixed deposits (FDs) - Tax-saving fixed deposits (FDs) of scheduled banks with tenure of 5 years are also entitled for section 80C deduction.
Recommendation - Again, its a slow way of growth. Point to be noted is, interest is also taxable here. so returns is also less.

Senior Citizen Savings Scheme 2004 (SCSS) - A recent addition to section 80C list, Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) is the most lucrative scheme among all the small savings schemes but is meant only for senior citizens. Current rate of interest is 9% per annum payable quarterly. Please note that the interest is payable quarterly instead of compounded quarterly. Thus, unclaimed interest on these deposits won’t earn any further interest. Interest income is chargeable to tax.

5-Yr post office time deposit (POTD) scheme - POTDs are similar to bank fixed deposits. Although available for varying time duration like one year, two year, three year and five year, only 5-Yr post-office time deposit (POTD) – which currently offers 7.5 per cent rate of interest –qualifies for tax saving under section 80C. Effective rate works out to be 7.71% per annum (p.a.) as the rate of interest is compounded quarterly but paid annually. The Interest is entirely taxable.

NABARD rural bonds - There are two types of Bonds issued by NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development): NABARD Rural Bonds and Bhavishya Nirman Bonds (BNB). Out of these two, only NABARD Rural Bonds qualify under section 80C.

Others: Apart form the major avenues listed above, there are some other things, like children’s education expense (for which you need receipts), that can be claimed as deductions under Sec 80C.

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