Thursday, January 2, 2014

Prajna Capital

Prajna Capital


Invest in Tax Free bonds or Prepay Home Loan

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 05:37 AM PST

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

 

 

When you factor in the tax benefits, the returns from tax-free bonds are much higher compared to the effective cost of a home loan for investors in the higher tax brackets

 

 


The market is flooded with tax-free bonds. Besides the three existing offerings, the National Housing Bank is also expected to hit the market soon. These are compelling investment options because the tax-free interest rates offered are very high and comparable with the pre-tax rates on bank fixed deposits.


The decision may not be that easy for those with a home loan to pay. The common refrain is that if there is any surplus money, shouldn't it be used to prepay the loan? Most borrowers may opt to prepay their loans than invest in tax-free bonds. If you are faced with the same dilemma, consider these factors before you decide.

Look at prepayment as an investment

Much of the confusion gets cleared if you see debt prepayment as just another investment. If you prepay 1 lakh of a personal loan which was charging you an interest rate of 15%, you save 15,000 in interest per annum. And since money saved is money earned, your 1 lakh will effectively earn you 15,000 in a year. Evaluate your debts on the basis of the interest you are paying and start with repaying the costliest ones.
The credit card balance and personal loans should be the first in your cross-hairs. It doesn't make sense to keep money in a fixed deposit that fetches only 9% when you have a credit card outstanding with interest cost of around 42% and personal loans with interest cost of around 15%.


You may also encounter situations where the loans are cheaper than what your investments can earn. That's when you should stop prepaying the loan and start investing. Follow the simple rule that the return from the investments should be more than the interest on the loans.


A small caveat here: You must also consider the risks involved in the investments when you make the comparison. You should only consider relatively safe investments such as bank fixed deposits and bonds.

Take tax into consideration

The maximum returns offered by the tax-free bonds currently on offer is 8.92%, so the prepayment of loans continues to be a viable option if one goes with the above mentioned simple rule. However, the tax benefits on certain loans can change the equation in favour of investing. The effective cost of some loans comes down if the tax benefits on the interest is taken into account. Interest paid on education loan is deductable for 8 years from the starting date of repayment. For someone earning over 10 lakh a year, the cost of the education loan comes down from 13% to 8.98%. Similarly, the effective cost of a housing loan at 10.25% also comes down to 7.08% for the borrowers in the 30.9% tax bracket. The investor should not prepay the housing loan if he is in the highest tax bracket. Else, he can pay off the loan instead of investing. Here's another caveat: if the house is self-occupied, you can claim a maximum deduction of 1.5 lakh in a year. If your loan amount is very large and the annual interest far exceeds the 1.5 lakh limit, it may still make sense to prepay the home loan than invest in the bonds. There is no limit on the deduction of the interest if the house has been rented out.


Another point that needs consideration is the tax treatment of the returns from the investment. The post-tax return of a fixed deposit that offers 9% is only 6.22% for an investor in the 30.9% tax bracket. This is below the 7.08% effective cost of the housing loan. But the 8.92% coupon rate offered on tax-free bonds is significantly higher than the effective cost of the housing loan for investors in the 20.6% and 30.9% tax brackets. These investors should use surplus funds in this order: first invest in tax-free bonds, then prepay home loan and lastly invest in FDs.

 
Interest rates are expected to fall once the RBI is done with its measures to stabilise the rupee and control inflation. If rates fall, the taxfree bonds should fetch good returns in the medium to long term. However, don't think that this strategy is completely devoid of risks. Most housing loans are not fixed but at floating rates of interest. In the unlikely event of rates going up, the EMI will also rise. On the other hand, the value of the long-term tax-free bonds in the secondary bond market will come down.

Future requirements

The future cash flow requirement is another thing to consider when prepaying your home loan. It is always better to keep some extra money in hand for contingencies. If you prepay your housing loan to your maximum ability and need money in future for some unexpected event, you will be forced to go for personal loans.


To conclude, debts such as a home loan are should not be prepaid aggressively. Irrespective of whether or not you prepay your loan, the ultimate objective is to have a large pool of investments and no debt by the time you retire. All these debt versus investment discussions are only short-term decisions.

Happy Investing!!

We can help. Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

Leave your comment with mail ID and we will answer them

OR

You can write back to us at PrajnaCapital [at] Gmail [dot] Com

---------------------------------------------

Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds ( ELSS Mutual Funds ) to upto Rs 1 lakh and Save tax under Section 80C.

Invest Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

These links can be used to Purchase Mutual Funds Online that are regular also (Investment, non-tax saving)

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Applications

These Application Forms can be used for buying regular mutual funds also

Some of the best Tax Saving Mutual Funds available ( ELSS Mutual Funds )

  1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan Invest Online
  2. HDFC TaxSaver Invest Online
  3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund Invest Online
  4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  5. Birla Sun Life Tax Relief '96 Invest Online
  6. IDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  7. SBI Magnum Tax Gain Scheme 1993 Invest Online
  8. Sundaram Tax Saver Invest Online
  9. Edelweiss ELSS Invest Online

------------------

Best Performing Mutual Funds

    1. Largecap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Focused Blue Chip Fund
      3. Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund
    2. Large and Midcap Funds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan
      2. HDFC Top 200 Fund
      3. UTI Dividend Yield Fund
    1. Mid and SmallCap Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund
      2. DSP BlackRock Small & Midcap Fund
      3. Sundaram Select Midcap
      4. IDFC Premier Equity Fund
    1. Small and MicroCap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock MicroCap Fund
    1. Sector Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Banking Fund
      2. Reliance Banking Fund
    1. Tax Saver MutualFunds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan
      2. HDFC Taxsaver
      3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
      4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund
    2. Gold Mutual Funds Invest Online
      1. Relaince Gold Savings Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
      3. HDFC Gold Fund

Rent paid to wife is eligible for exemption if property, home loan are in her name

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 04:25 AM PST

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

 

As the real estate prices in metro cities continue to remain high, many salaried individuals either prefer or are compelled to stay in rented houses. Many are postponing their decisions to purchase a house, given the increasing interest costs. In such cases, tenants should know the tax exemptions they can avail of by staying on rent.

Let us take an example.

Abhijeet Khanna, a management graduate working with a multi- national company in Mumbai, recently got married to Khyati, a doctor. Khanna earns an annual basic pay of 10 lakh. In addition, he is paid a House Rent Allowance (HRA) amounting to 3.5 lakh and city compensatory allowance of 1.5 lakh. Khanna does not own a house. However, Khyati is a doctor earning a net salary income of 7.5 lakh plans to purchase one, for which she is considering taking a bank loan of 60 lakh at an interest rate of 10 per cent.

Are there advantages of buying the property in Khyatis name? Should Khanna rent a flat or stay in the flat to be purchased by Khyati and pay her rent of 3 lakh per annum? Will Khanna stand to gain if he pays rent to his own wife? There are certain taxes that Khanna can save in such asituation, subject to certain conditions.

House rent allowance

Most salaried people receive HRA as part of the compensation structure. A salaried taxpayer is eligible to claim HRA exemption under section 10 ( 13A) of the Incometax Act, 1961 in respect of a residential accommodation occupied by him, except where the same is owned by him or he has not actually incurred the rent expenditure.

Accordingly, an HRA exemption is available for least of the following amounts: Actual HRA amount received from the employer; The amount of rent you pay for your house in excess of 10 per cent of your basic pay; or 50 per cent of basic pay if you reside in a metro city and 40 per cent of basic pay for non- metro cities.

In a recent judicial precedent of Bajrang Prasad Ramdharani v/ s ACIT, the Ahmedabad Income- tax Appellate Tribunal held that the exemption of HRA to the taxpayer husband was available for payment to his wife, who was the landlord and lived in the same house. In its decision, the Tribunal highlighted that for granting a claim of exemption, only use of the house by the taxpayer and payment of rent was mandatory.

Interest deduction

The wife can also claim deduction up to 1.5 lakh towards payment of interest on the housing loan taken for aself- occupied property. However, where the property is let out as in the present case, entire interest paid would be allowed as a deduction. ( See table for tax computation)

While the savings on tax can be substantial, Khanna and his wife have to keep some things in mind: The income- tax slab and rate applicable to the landlord spouse should be lesser than the tax rate applicable to the tenant to enjoy a tax advantage The rental income should be appropriately reported in the tax return of the landlord spouse Income earned by the landlord spouse must not qualify for clubbing with the tenant spouse under the relevant income- tax provisions. Even for wealth tax, wealth acquired by the wife from assets transferred by her husband could be clubbed with the wealth of the husband. Therefore, the wife must make personal contributions to acquire loans towards the purchase Banks insist registration of the property in the name of the person applying for the loan and demonstrating capability of discharging the monthly instalments Appropriate documentation in terms of a proper rent agreement, rent receipts, bank accounts, etc must be maintained to reflect the independence and real nature of the transaction Where the husband incurs business debt or loss, a house registered in the wife's name cannot be attached to cover the loss

Source: The author is Executive Director - Tax & Regulatory Services, EY. Jay Unarkar, Associate Director - Tax & Regulatory Services, EY contributed to the article. ( Views expressed are personal)

Basic Pay 10,00,000 City Compensatory allowance 1,50,000 HRA received 3,50,000

Rent paid in excess of 10% of Basic pay 2,00,000

50% of basic salary 5,00,000

HRA exemption ( 2, 00, 000)* Balance Taxable 1, 50, 000

Income from Salary 13,00,000 7,50,000 Rental Income from Abhijeet 3,00,000

Less: Standard Deduction @ 30% - 90, 000 Less: Housing Loan interest - 6, 00, 000 Income from House Property - 3, 90, 000

Gross Total Income 13,00,000 3,60,000

Less: Deductions under section 80 C - 1, 00, 000 - 1, 00, 000

Total taxable Income 12,00,000 2,60,000 Tax on the above 1,95,700 4,120 Tax on income in ordinary course 2,57,500 61,800 Tax saved 61,800 57,680

Tax saved by the couple - 1, 19, 480

*Number in bold represent deductions/ tax savings

Happy Investing!!

We can help. Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

Leave your comment with mail ID and we will answer them

OR

You can write back to us at PrajnaCapital [at] Gmail [dot] Com

---------------------------------------------

Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds ( ELSS Mutual Funds ) to upto Rs 1 lakh and Save tax under Section 80C.

Invest Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

These links can be used to Purchase Mutual Funds Online that are regular also (Investment, non-tax saving)

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Applications

These Application Forms can be used for buying regular mutual funds also

Some of the best Tax Saving Mutual Funds available ( ELSS Mutual Funds )

  1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan Invest Online
  2. HDFC TaxSaver Invest Online
  3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund Invest Online
  4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  5. Birla Sun Life Tax Relief '96 Invest Online
  6. IDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  7. SBI Magnum Tax Gain Scheme 1993 Invest Online
  8. Sundaram Tax Saver Invest Online
  9. Edelweiss ELSS Invest Online

------------------

Best Performing Mutual Funds

    1. Largecap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Focused Blue Chip Fund
      3. Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund
    2. Large and Midcap Funds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan
      2. HDFC Top 200 Fund
      3. UTI Dividend Yield Fund
    1. Mid and SmallCap Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund
      2. DSP BlackRock Small & Midcap Fund
      3. Sundaram Select Midcap
      4. IDFC Premier Equity Fund
    1. Small and MicroCap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock MicroCap Fund
    1. Sector Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Banking Fund
      2. Reliance Banking Fund
    1. Tax Saver MutualFunds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan
      2. HDFC Taxsaver
      3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
      4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund
    2. Gold Mutual Funds Invest Online
      1. Relaince Gold Savings Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
      3. HDFC Gold Fund

Best Multicap Mutual Funds - PineBridge India Equity Standard

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 03:33 AM PST

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

 


This fund manages to check its fall when the markets tank and gains well in a rising market. The fund has the freedom to invest across market capitalisation and sectors, with quality mid-caps working well to aid performance. The fund's small asset base has further helped in deft management to move across stocks and sectors with the change in market conditions. Its rigorous quality focus on stock selection makes it an attractive low risk multi-cap choice for long-term equity investors.

Happy Investing!!

We can help. Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

Leave your comment with mail ID and we will answer them

OR

You can write back to us at PrajnaCapital [at] Gmail [dot] Com

---------------------------------------------

Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds ( ELSS Mutual Funds ) to upto Rs 1 lakh and Save tax under Section 80C.

Invest Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

These links can be used to Purchase Mutual Funds Online that are regular also (Investment, non-tax saving)

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Applications

These Application Forms can be used for buying regular mutual funds also

Some of the best Tax Saving Mutual Funds available ( ELSS Mutual Funds )

  1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan Invest Online
  2. HDFC TaxSaver Invest Online
  3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund Invest Online
  4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  5. Birla Sun Life Tax Relief '96 Invest Online
  6. IDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  7. SBI Magnum Tax Gain Scheme 1993 Invest Online
  8. Sundaram Tax Saver Invest Online
  9. Edelweiss ELSS Invest Online

------------------

Best Performing Mutual Funds

    1. Largecap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Focused Blue Chip Fund
      3. Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund
    2. Large and Midcap Funds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan
      2. HDFC Top 200 Fund
      3. UTI Dividend Yield Fund
    1. Mid and SmallCap Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund
      2. DSP BlackRock Small & Midcap Fund
      3. Sundaram Select Midcap
      4. IDFC Premier Equity Fund
    1. Small and MicroCap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock MicroCap Fund
    1. Sector Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Banking Fund
      2. Reliance Banking Fund
    1. Tax Saver MutualFunds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan
      2. HDFC Taxsaver
      3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
      4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund
    2. Gold Mutual Funds Invest Online
      1. Relaince Gold Savings Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
      3. HDFC Gold Fund

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