Lot of investors not aware about the fact that there are two mutual fund schemes from different companies which offers you the tax benefit of Sec. 80 C as well as treated as pension plans in India. So let us explore few details on these two.
These are the only two schemes notified by Govt as pension plans in mutual fund schemes. They are eligible for Sec. 80 C deduction and features as retirement product. Beauty of these two plans are tax efficiency and return (past performance).
1) Templeton India Pension Plan-This is a pension plan from Franklin Templeton India, a well known mutual fund company. This fund was started on 31st March 1997. So it is around 17 years old fund. This fund is actually a debt oriented balanced fund. Means maximum around 40% will be invested in Equity and rest in Debt products. Once you attain the age of 58 years then you have option to withdraw the accumulated amount in below manners.
For a detailed scheme information you can visit Templeton India Pension Plan link.
Load Structure-
Entry Load-Nil
Exit Load-3% if redeemed within 58 years of age.
How fund performed?
(Source-Valueresearchonline, as on 31st May 2014)
2) UTI Retirement Benefit Pension Fund-This is a pension plan from UTI Mutual Fund, a well known and oldest fund house in India. It was launched in December 1994. So it is almost a 20 year old fund. This too is debt oriented balanced fund and the ratio of investment towards Equity: Debt is same as that of Templeton India Pension Plan. Here also retirement age is fixed as 58 years. But in this fund unlike few withdrawal options of Templeton India Pension plan, you have only option of SWP once you attain the age of 58 years. For a details scheme information you can visit “UTI Retirement Benefit Pension Fund link.
Load Structure-
Entry Load-Nil
Exit Load-Less than a year-5%, One year to three years-3%, more than three years but less than five years-1% and more than five years-Nil.
How fund performed?
(Source-Valueresearchonline, as on 31st May 2014)
So from above fund features, you notice that they have given around 11% return for 10 years period which is decent in it’s category. But how they are taxed??
Tax liability of investing in both the funds–
STCG-Taxed at normal tax rates based on your income tax slab.
LTCG-20% with Indexation and 10% without Indexation, whichever is less.
Who can Invest?
People who are looking for accumulation of retirement corpus with tax deduction can definitely look for these funds. Both funds are debt funds. So investors who are bit risk averse can go for such funds. Both are old funds (more than 15 years). Also when you compare withdrawal taxation of typical pension plans to these funds, then these funds holds upper hand. Because in typical pension plans, whatever you receive will be taxed according to tax slab of an individual. But in these funds it will be around 10%. So for higher tax bracket individual, these plans seems better tax efficient. Also apart from typical ELSS (Equity Linked Saving Schemes), these are the only two schemes which entertain such tax benefit under Sec 80 C.
Unlike typical pension product like NPS, here in this plan you are free of withdrawal all accumulated amount at the time of retirement. Which makes these funds bit liquidity option than NPS. But do remember to have your eye on exit loads of both funds.
I am still confused why only two mutual fund companies offering these plans, why not others?? Any idea… Please share.
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View Comments
HI Mr. Tongatti, I am 52 years old and wish to invest in building a corpus for retirement through SIPs in MFs. I already fully availing 80C benefits. I am looking for an option where at the end of 58 th/60th year, I can withdraw either lump sum or a mix of lump sum & monthly income- without any tax impact at the time of withdrawals. Frankling Templeton retirment plan is broadly looks good, but from my understanding, if i withdraw lump sum, it may attract long term capital gains tax. Please correct me whether my thought process is fine?? Is there any other funds you recommend to achieve my objective?? Thank you very much in advance for your advise.
Subramanyam-For a tenure of just around 6 years, I will not suggest any equity oriented funds. However, you can use short term or ultra short term debt funds. Your goal tenure is too short for equity investments. Stay away from this equity product.
I m 35. I have started monthly Sip of 5k ( 2k for Axis long term equity Growth, 1.5k each in MIRAE ASSET EMERGING BLUECHIP FUND - REGULAR PLAN GROWTH & SBI Blue Chip Fund Reg Plan-G ). I hv 5k investment in PPF MONTHLY. 12K IN NPS yearly. I hv small kid of 6 months. Pls suggest me better investment.
Digvijay-Try to invest more towards equity than PPF. Asset allocation must be around 30:70 between debt (PPF):equity.
Thank you for your quick response.
Can u please suggest some of the funds which would sort out 80C tax benefit + fund growth + Pension
Digvijay-Refer my earlier post "Top 5 Best ELSS or Tax Saving Mutual Funds to invest in 2016".
I will have approx.Rs.5 lacs ( by maturity of FDs) by end December 2016. I wish to invest this lumpsum in a Fund ( like a pension fund) which can give me a regular monthly income . This monthly income, I wish to re-invest as a SIP in some Mutual fund schemes.
Will this investment in Pension Fund will attract any income tax? How can I save on this Income Tx. Which is the best way?
I am a 74 year old pensioner. I am saving this for my daughter/grand daughter's future.
Sathamoorthy-What is scaring you to not invest Rs.5 lakh lump sum in one go into mutual funds?
Dear Sir, Thanks a lot for your kind prompt response.
I have already availed 80C benefit to the extent of Rs.1,01,000 per year.So there is only another Rs.50,000 I can avail as tax benefit under 80C. Supposing I invest all the Rs.5 lacs with Templeton
India Pension Fund, will I get the 100% tax benefit for the full invested amount?
Also will the earnings which I withdraw once a year also enjoy tax-free status?
2)What is your view about investing this in Jeevan Akshay VI plan of LIC? I will get an annuity of Rs.30,000 approx. which of course is not tax free. Kindly advise which option is better sir. Thanks again
Sathyamoorthy-Whether your concern is tax saving or investing for your financial goals?
Surely financial goals Mr.Basavarj.
Sathyamoorthy-Then for a moment stop concentrating on tax saving. Think whether the asset class suites to your risk taking ability and how to minimize the risk.
I want to invest Rs 2000 per month via SIP in each of below categories
1. Large Cap - 7-8 years time frame
2. Diversified- 15 years time frame
3. ELSS 7-8 years time frame
I am 38 years of age.Please advice if the categories chosen are correct and if so suggest couple of mutual fund options for each of the categories
Gautham-First identify the goals. For each goal, you must include large cap, small and mid cap, multi cap and debt portion as per time frame. You are doing it wrong.
Dear Basu
After reading many of your blogs continuously from past several months I have made up my mind to invest in MF's now.
I have few queries,
Is it the right time to enter as the market is down?
I have finalized the few funds kindly advise in selecting.
1. Franklin India Prima Plus/UTI MNC fund
2. ICICI Pru Dynamic/UTI Midcap/HDFC Mid cap
3.ICICI Pru Long Term Plan
Wants to invest 5000/month . The basis for selecting these funds by reading your answers to Queries from the readers and my own bit research.
Kindly advice,
Satish-If you have long term view, then invest NOW. Regarding funds, I don't know how you selected. Because I never recommended UTI MNC, UTI Midcap or ICICI Long term.
Thanks Basu,
As I mentioned its a bit of my research and your recommendations. After going through value research, money control, funds india etc., I zeroed on these two funds UTI MNC and ICICI long term,but UTI mid cap you did mention in your top list of 2016 funds along with SBI magnum, I do agree with one of your comment to reader about ranking in these web sites may change. I shall go ahead with your list, One large cap, mid cap and one Debt fund to balance 70:30 equity/debt ratio, but I didn't see any debt fund you recommended but the equity oriented balanced funds. Will these balanced funds should be treated as Debt fund? bit confused!! so my request to you is, suggest me how shall I start my 15k /month SIP. My investment will be for 7+ years to 15 yrs.
Just by reading blogs we can not gain right knowledge, but certainly plan better. Thumps up to you for spreading the knowledge to thousands among readers.
Many Thanks
Satya
Satish-First decide which is your investment period. This is the BIGGEST Problem of many that they don't know when they need money and how much. There is a huge gap of around 8 years between your 7-15 years of gap. I suggest balanced fund, because these funds invest around 35% to 40% in debt category, which automatically balance your portfolio and again this debt investment is treated tax free exactly like equity.
Thanks again Basu,
Wants to create some corpus for my daughter's marriage, she is 13 now and wants to create around 8-10 lac by her age 20-22yrs(depends on her marriage)I have also a small plot which is 12 lac market price today in her name. I can invest 15 k/month and may step up in between depends on financial situation. As you suggested, Shall I go with balanced fund HDFC and ICICI pru 7.5k each.
Please sir Advice.....
Satish-More towards balanced fund. Because there you get debt exposure.
Dear Basu
Greetings,
These are Retirement plans but what about we need money say after 16 yrs, we can withdraw with applicable exit load?Or will have to wait until 58 yrs? Will this applies to both plans or they differ Pls.clarify
Satish-If you want to withdraw early, then there is a exit load. Yes, rules applies to both the funds.
I am retiring shortly. I want to invest some portion of my retirement proceeds in MF schemes. Please Suggest 2 or 3 good schemes.
Thanks
Vinay-What is your requirement from such an investment?
I am retiring shortly. Can I invest some portion in Franklin Pension Fund instead of Bank FDs
Vinay-These funds are meant for retirmeent corpus creation but not suitable for someone who is about to retire.
Hello Basu ,
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge.
FY2015-2016 : In 80C limit 1,50,000 Here I have investment components like ELSS , FD , SBI ULIP , PF Contribution & PPF. Would like to know for 80CCD apart from NPS is we have any other components to invest ?
Regards
Manian
Manian-To certain extent it looks great to save tax. But if it matches your goal then it is horrible. So concentrate on planning along with tax, instead always looking forward to save few hundred rupees.
Thank you very much for the nice articles and website.
I am an NRI in Dubai, If I invest in retirement plan ofUTI/Franklin and after 7-8 years if not able to invest and stop contribution but do not want to withdraw.What will happen?will my 7-8 year investment grow further? If I invest 10k monthly now can I reduce to 3k later say after 5 years?Out of these two which one better?.I know UTI has its office in Dubai.
I will follow your advice,please help me.
Ravindra-If you stop in middle then the same existing investment will grow. No need to worry. Yes you can reduce or increase the monthly contribution in future. But before that check whether these two are eligible for NRIs or not. My suggestion is to opt a simple diversified fund over these two.
Thanks Basavaraj,
Kindly suggest me simple diversified fund which u mentioned.Can I invest being in Dubai and how?
Appreciate your guidance.
Ravindra-My choice will be ICICI Pru Focussed Bluechip and HDFC Midcap Opp. Regarding investing as an NRI, suggest you directly contact with mutual fund companies.
Thanks Basu Sir,