Under the old tax regime, investments in Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) are the only instrument eligible for a deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, subject to a 3-year lock-in period. Under Section 80C of the Income-tax Act, 1961, investing in ELSS enables you to claim a deduction of up to Rs. 1.50 lakh from the gross total income for the fiscal year. Considering that ELSS, also known as a tax-saving fund, has the dual advantage of wealth potential and tax savings under Section 80C, you might save tax up to ₹46,800 a year if you fall in the highest tax bracket and choose the old tax regime. Since the financial year comes to an end on March 31, here are the mistakes that investors should avoid and wisely make an approach towards investing in ELSS funds.
Karan Batra, Chief Product Officer, MarketsMojo
Don’t invest only to save tax on your investment. Like in all fund categories, there are various funds with varying degrees of track record, investment style, etc. Choose the ELSS fund that has displayed consistent performance and has a strong portfolio, tax savings are an added advantage.
Nitin Rao,Head Products and Proposition, Epsilon Money Mart
It is our firm belief that planning, especially when it comes to making tax-saving investments, should begin as early as possible. Yet, we Indians, only rush at the financial year end. ELSS Funds can be one of the best investments when it comes to tax planning, however few mistakes to avoid are:
A. Redeeming ELSS investments after lock-in ends: Since ELSS funds have the shortest lock-in period most people start redeeming as soon as the lock-in period ends. Thus, they miss out on the most important aspect of equity investing- compounding. ELSS funds perform best when they are held for longer periods.
B. Choosing ELSS funds only based on their returns: In the long run, choosing funds only based on their past returns doesn’t work well. This is because different investment styles perform well at different times. Thus, consistency should be the most important factor to look into before investing.
C. Timing the markets: Markets are supreme. Even if you’re able to invest at the bottom every time, which is not humanly possible; you aren’t able to generate a lot of alpha. Thus, investors should ask themselves is doing the hard toil even necessary when staying invested for long time and following a disciplined approach can help you reach your goals.
Gautam Kalia, SVP & Head Super Investor at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas
ELSS is not only for Tax Savings. You are investing in an Equity Mutual Fund. The aim of these funds is capital appreciation over the long term and hence these funds need to be viewed as such. If you invest only for the tax benefit you are missing the forest for the trees. Most scramble at the last minute to invest in ELSS for tax saving. SIP in ELSS is also a good option as it gives you the benefit of value averaging (as most SIPs do).
Mr. Arun Kumar, VP and Head of Research, FundsIndia
Usually a lot of us sort the funds based on their 3 year and 5 year returns and tend to pick funds with the highest returns. This approach of selecting funds only based on their past returns usually doesn’t work well in the long run.
This is because Equity funds go through cycles. Different investment styles, market cap segments, sectors, and geographies perform well at different times. Due to this, basing the selection of funds solely on returns does not work well over long periods of time. While past performance is a useful metric to evaluate a fund, it can never be the only one.
Ideally, you should look at a number of quantitative and qualitative factors to derive conviction on the future potential of a fund such as:
1. Consistency in the underlying investment strategy and philosophy over time.
2. Consistency in performance across long periods of time (percentage of times the fund outperformed the benchmark on a 5Y and 3Y Rolling Return basis over the last 10-15 years)
3. Performance track record over market cycles
4. Risk – Maximum Drawdown, Downside Capture Ratio, Extent of declines during bear markets etc
5. Concentration Risk
6. Portfolio Turnover
7. Possible Size Constraints (if the fund size becomes large)
8. Fund Manager Track Record & Experience
9. Fund Manager Communication
10. AMC pedigree
11. Expense Ratios
Ajay Agarwal, Associate partner, Alpha capital
Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) is a type of mutual fund scheme that invests primarily in equities and offers tax benefits to investors under section 80C of the Income Tax Act. While ELSS can be a good investment option for those looking to save tax and earn good returns over the long term, it is important to avoid the following mistakes:
Risks: An investor needs to understand that ELSS ultimately invests his/her money in Equities. Equity ultimately is a risky asset class, which can be volatile in the short term. It is important to understand the risks associated while investing in equities and be prepared to hold on to your investment for a longer term to reap its benefits. Investors who are risk averse or very senior citizens should opt for other stable options like PPF.
Diversification: 80c investment needs to be done every year. Not diversifying your portfolio and investing into the same ELSS scheme every year could lead to concentration risk. It is important to diversify and invest into different ELSS schemes. One can even opt for multiple ELSS schemes in a single financial year
Timing The Market: Timing the entry and exit in the market can be a big mistake. Instead it is important to have a disciplined approach and stay invested for the long term. We suggest putting in SIP rather than doing a bulk investment at the last moment in the month of march.
Monitoring: Investors typically do not bother monitoring investments with lockin. While ELSS is a long term investment, it is important to monitor it on a regular basis.
Expense Ratio: Expenses can impact your returns over long term. It is important to consider the expense ratio while choosing an ELSS scheme for yourself
Overall it is important to do your research and understand the risks associated while investing in ELSS. Seeking advice for a financial planner can be helpful.
Ishkaran Chaabra, founding partner- Centricity Wealth
Under the Mutual Fund investment category, the Equity-Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) is a popular tax-saving investment option. However, not all investors are aware of the drawbacks of investing in ELSS incorrectly or haphazardly.
These are the common mistakes while investing in ELSS-
● Investing for the Sake of Reducing Tax.
Do extensive research and invest in funds that are performing well to enjoy better long-term returns. If you don’t want to take too much risk, consider investing in large cap funds. Also, invest early and stay active in your investment journey to become well-versed in the market while outperforming inflation.
● Last Minute Lump Sum Investment at the End of The Financial Year
Investing in ELSS funds in a lump sum can be a mistake. Because ELSS are equity investments, the market conditions at the time of your lump sum investment will have a significant impact on your returns. Instead, consider lowering your overall risk by making smaller investments throughout the fiscal year.
● Waiting for the Best Time to Invest in the Market.
Nobody can forecast the market. Any seasoned investor will tell you that they have witnessed the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. To be on the safe side, do some research and invest in the top-performing funds, especially if you’re a first-time investor. Invest actively to become acquainted with the market.
● Choosing the scheme based on the current performance.
Because ELSS funds are appropriate for long-term investment goals, a fund’s performance cannot be judged by its current 5-star rating. While there is no harm in selecting such a fund, the best way to be safe is to evaluate the fund’s track record, where its assets are invested, the process behind its consistently good performance, and so on.
● Neglecting the Fund Category.
It is critical to choose a fund category before investing in it. Asset management firms provide ELSS mutual funds in three categories: small, mid, and large-cap funds. The funds you choose are determined by the amount of risk you are willing to take on with your investment.
Finally, your ELSS is about more than just lowering your tax burden. It must also meet two additional criteria: your risk tolerance and financial plan. Invest wisely and with discretion in ELSS to maximise your tax savings while also yielding a higher return on your investment.
Divam Sharma, Founder at Green Portfolio, SEBI Registered Portfolio Management Service Provider
ELSS is an effective way to save taxes by investing in high growth equities assets. Also, considering that there is a 3 years lock-in, this product offers investors to make more returns from a longer term commitment.
1. Investors should always stagger their investments in equities. This should be done throughout the year in an SIP mode and not in an lumpsum mode at the end of the year.
2. Redeeming ELSS right after lock-in might impact the returns on the investments. The exit should be planned also considering overall market conditions, as market cycles, in times of volatile markets, can result in short term drawdown on your investments and if you defer your exit in such times, your actual returns can be substantially higher.
3. If you are allocating money to equities, the compounding benefits come when the money stays invested for a longer period. If you opt for IDCW option, the reinvestment benefits are not received as well as your payouts are taxed at your tax slabs.
4. Over diversifying at multiple ELSS schemes should be avoided
5. Historical returns should not be the only criteria to choose your ELSS, you should evaluate many other criteria’s like the category, investment philosophy, AMC, Fund Manager profile, expense ratio, sharpe ratio before investing.
6. Investors should not invest in ELSS with the sole motive to save tax. They should understand different asset classes, risk associated with ELSS investments, lock-in, returns etc before investing.
The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint.