Five Tax-Saving Investment Options To Get Tax-Free Returns - Kadva Corp (2024)

Before choosing a tax regime, a salaried person should examine their total tax obligations under the two tax systems. It’s critical to pick the life insurance tax benefits even if you would be better off with the previous tax system (All that we must know about the new vs current tax regime).

The investment choices listed below can help you not only reduce your income tax burden but also generate returns that are tax-free.

Five Tax-Saving Investment Options To Get Tax-Free Returns - Kadva Corp (1)
  • PPF, or the Public Provident Fund

By making an investment in the Public Provident Fund (PPF), a person can reduce their income tax under Section 80C. This small savings programme has “exempt-exempt-exempt” status or EEE. In other words, the investor can deduct the amount they invested and avoid paying taxes on the interest they earn or the amount of the maturity.

The PPF account has a 15-year lock-in term. When the investment is made, the end of the fiscal year is the starting point for the 15-year lock-in computation. From the third right up to the sixth financial year following account opening, a loan facility is offered. Subject to a few restrictions, the premature withdrawal facility is accessible starting with the seventh financial year after account opening. A PPF account may be prematurely closed under certain circ*mstances.

A PPF can be opened with a bank or a post office. One PPF account may be opened in a person’s name only.

In a financial year, the minimum and maximum investments are 500 and 1.5 lakh rupees, respectively.

  • The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

The “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” government programme established the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY). This is a deposit programme for young girls. It enables parents to pay for a girl’s education or marriage while also claiming an income tax break.

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account has an EEE tax status, just like PPF. As a result, the investment amount, interest earned, and maturity amount are all tax-free.

The scheme has a 21-year lock-in period starting on the day the account was opened. Premature withdrawal is permitted but under certain restrictions.

The guardian of the girl child may open an account under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana in her name. The girl youngster shouldn’t be older than ten years old. The account can be opened at a post office or a bank.

  • Voluntary Provident Funds (VPF) And Employee Provident Funds (EPF)

Employees Provident Fund (EPF)-eligible salaried individuals are required to contribute 12% of their pay to the EPF account. Additionally, the employer contributes in a similar manner. Section 80C allows for a deduction for the employee’s own contributions to the EPF account.

  • Mutual Funds For ELSS

Equity-linked savings system is known as ELSS. These are the mutual fund programmes that invest in stocks and providelife insurance tax benefits. Under Section 80C, a person may claim a tax advantage of up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

These programmes run the risk of losing money because they invest in stocks. Returns are neither guaranteed nor fixed. The returns are market-linked and reliant on how well the equity market performs.

The government has made dividends received by people taxable beginning in 2020–21. The tax rate on dividends is the same as the tax rate that applies to your income. The dividends are taxed at the same rate if your taxable income falls into the highest tax bracket (30%).

Gains from stocks and mutual funds that invest in stocks are now taxed at 10% without the indexation benefit. However, only if capital gains surpass Rs 1 lakh in a fiscal year will they be subject to taxation. In other words, there is no tax due as long as capital gains on equities shares and equity mutual funds do not exceed Rs 1 lakh in a fiscal year.

  • Insurance Plans For Life

An individual can purchase a life insurance policy to qualify for Section 80C income tax savings. These consist of regular insurance policies, unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs), and term insurance plans. The total premium for all life insurance policies is the maximum deduction that may be made.

Keep this in mind while purchasing life insurance coverage. The least expensive life insurance policy available is a term policy. This is so since there is no maturity payment.

A ULIP generally has a lock-in period of 5 years and a premium-paying term of 15 or 20 years. The person can redeem the funds after the lock-in period and before the premium-paying term expires.

Five Tax-Saving Investment Options To Get Tax-Free Returns - Kadva Corp (2024)

FAQs

Which type of investment can offer tax-free interest? ›

Municipal Bonds

Like Treasury bonds, investors receive interest payments in the form of coupons, and their capital will be returned at maturity. Unlike Treasury bonds, however, interest earnings from municipal bonds are tax-free at the federal level.

Which is the best tax-free investment? ›

Which are the best tax free investments in India?
  • PPF. ...
  • NPS. ...
  • SCSS (Senior Citizens Saving Scheme) ...
  • Life insurance. ...
  • iSelect+ Term Plan. ...
  • ULIPs. ...
  • Invest 4G. ...
  • Conclusion. Saving tax is essential, but make sure that your investment decisions are not guided by one motive alone.

Which investment grows tax-free and can be withdrawn free of taxes? ›

Traditional IRA/Roth IRA: Tax-free growth with income and contribution limits. Traditional IRAs use pre-tax money while Roth IRAs use after-tax money, offering tax-free withdrawals in retirement.

Which investments produces tax-exempt income? ›

There are two types of tax-exempt municipal bonds, classified by how the money borrowed is repaid: general obligation (GO) bonds and revenue bonds. The tax-exempt sector includes bonds, notes, leases, bond funds, mutual funds, trusts, and life insurance, among other investment vehicles.

What is the most tax-advantaged investment return? ›

Examples of tax-advantaged investments are municipal bonds, partnerships, UITs, and annuities. Tax-advantaged plans include IRAs and qualified retirement plans such as 401(k)s.

Are T bills a good investment in 2024? ›

If you're in the 13% tax bracket in California, your after-tax yield for those T-bills may be equivalent to a CD earning 6.21%, Lach said. However, T-bills purchased via TreasuryDirect aren't as liquid as cash held in a savings account or a penalty-free CD.

Are there any federal tax-free investments? ›

Municipal bonds are generally free of federal tax because the interest from bonds issued by a state, municipality, or other local entity is exempt from federal taxation. As an added benefit, most states will allow a state tax exemption if the owner of the bond resides in the state of issue.

How to create tax-free income? ›

7 Ways To Grow Passive Income Without Paying Taxes
  1. Buy Tax-Free Municipal Bonds. ...
  2. Open a Roth IRA and Invest. ...
  3. Sell Your Home. ...
  4. Earn Long-Term Capital Gains. ...
  5. Collect Social Security Benefits. ...
  6. Get Disability Insurance. ...
  7. Invest In an HSA. ...
  8. Bottom Line.
Nov 22, 2023

How do I get full tax-free retirement income? ›

Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) – Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s have tax-free qualified withdrawals at retirement since taxes are paid on contributions. Municipal Bonds Income – A fixed-income investment that generates interest payments that are typically exempt from federal taxes.

How to reduce taxes for high income earners? ›

2. In higher-earning years, reduce your taxable income
  1. Max out tax-advantaged savings. Contributing the maximum amount to your tax-deferred retirement plan or health savings account (HSA) can help reduce your taxable income for the year. ...
  2. Make charitable donations. ...
  3. Harvest investment losses.
Mar 13, 2024

Are annuities tax-free? ›

Because annuities grow tax-deferred, you do not owe income taxes until you withdraw money or begin receiving payments. Upon withdrawal, the money will be taxed as income if you purchased the annuity with pre-tax funds. You'll only owe taxes on the annuity's gains if it was purchased with post-tax dollars.

What retirement accounts are tax-free? ›

The easiest way to avoid taxes on your retirement money is to use a Roth account. Both IRA and 401(k) plans can be structured as Roth accounts, which don't offer a tax deduction on contributions but allow tax-free withdrawals after age 59 ½.

What are the best tax advantaged investments? ›

Here are the most common accounts that can mitigate your tax burden: IRA, 401(k), or 403(b). Contributions to traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored 401(k)s and 403(b)s are made pre-tax, which lowers your taxable income for the year. Investments grow tax free and you pay income tax on withdrawals in retirement.

What is the downside of tax-free municipal bonds? ›

Municipal bonds, like all bonds, pose interest rate risk. The longer the term of the bond, the greater the risk. If interest rates rise during the term of your bond, you're losing out on a better rate. This will also cause the bond you are holding to decline in value.

What is a super tax-exempt investor? ›

The “super” tax-exempt investors are public pension funds claiming an exemption from U.S. federal income tax under Code Sec. 115. The super tax-exempts are not subject to “unrelated business taxable income” (UBTI) under Code Sec. 511 because their tax-exempt status does not derive from Code Sec. 501(c).

Are there any investments that are tax-free? ›

A Roth IRA isn't an investment itself, but a retirement account for tax-free investing. With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars to your account, up to the annual limit. For 2023, the limit is $6,500 (up from $6,000 in 2022), plus an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution if you're 50 or older.

How to earn interest without paying tax? ›

Strategies to avoid paying taxes on your savings
  1. Leverage tax-advantaged accounts. Tax-advantaged accounts like the Roth IRA can provide an avenue for tax-free growth on qualified withdrawals. ...
  2. Optimize tax deductions. ...
  3. Focus on strategic timing of withdrawals. ...
  4. Consider diversifying with tax-efficient investments.
Jan 11, 2024

Is a Roth IRA tax-free? ›

With a Roth IRA, contributions are not tax-deductible, but earnings can grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are tax- and penalty-free. Roth IRA withdrawal and penalty rules vary depending on your age, how long you've had the account, and other factors.

What type of interest income is not taxed as it is earned? ›

Interest earned on certain U.S. savings bonds, such as Series EE and Series I bonds, is exempt from state and local income taxes. Government bonds such as Series HH bonds and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) may also be tax-exempt. Interest earned on 529 plans is usually exempt from federal taxes.

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