Investing can be daunting for those who aren’t well versed in its art. However, investing is one of the best ways to build your corpus and save money for a brighter future. It is also a reliable alternate source of income that could help you manage your day-to-day life better. Moreover, it contributes to the domestic economy and equity market of the country, harbouring growth and development on all fronts.
Hence, the Government of India introduced an equity savings scheme, Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act of 1961, also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme, to motivate the larger population to invest in the country’s equity market. Moreover, this scheme proves to be a great stepping stone for first-time investors to try their hand at investing in a safer and more secure manner.
Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act is a boon for all investors in India. This section offers investors with deductions on tax to invest in the equity market of the country. The provisions were introduced to primarily boost the equity market of India and to provide an extra incentive to potential investors, motivating them to take the leap into investments. Also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme, Section 80CCG focuses on uplifting the domestic capital of the country all the while helping investors save money through deduction in taxation. The deductions offered through this scheme are applicable to an investor’s first equity investment only.
Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act was introduced in the Union Budget of 2012-13.
Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act of 1961, or the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme is reserved for individual tax-payers and investors only. Other entities such as societies, companies, trusts, etc. cannot benefit from the provisions stated under this section. These individuals must live up to certain eligibility criteria in order to access the provisions of Section 80CCB and the eligibility criteria is explained as follows.
First-time investors in the domestic equity market of India are the only individuals who can enjoy tax exemptions of Section 80CCG.
The total annual income of a first-time investor must range under ₹12 Lakhs in order to qualify for this scheme.
Individuals are required to make investments under listed equity funds only. However, mutual funds and ETFs should be eligible for the provisions stated under Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act of 1961.
Investments with a lock-in period of three years are eligible.
All first-time investors who wish to qualify for this scheme must have a valid Demat account.
Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act of 1961 was primarily introduced to open a way to safer investing for new investors or those with a smaller risk-appetite, and to increase the contributions coming into the Indian domestic equity market at large.
A new investor who has never before contributed their parked funds into equities or other investments in their financial life. This includes physical shares as well since the asset hasn’t been dematerialised.
Features and Benefits of Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act
Tax Deduction
3-year Tax Benefits
Reduced Risk
Savings and Stability
Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act requires only a set of basic documents for qualified investors. They are as follows.
Demat account documents
PAN Card
Furnished Form B
The deduction limit under Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act of 1951 is up to ₹50,000. Hence, any value above ₹50,000 is not taxable.
Let’s assume that you invested ₹50,000 in equities as a first-time investor. Therefore, according to Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act of 1961, you can claim tax benefits up to ₹25,000 and subsequently, the taxable amount is reduced by ₹25,000.
At its inception, Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act of 1961 the capping on an investor’s yearly income was ₹10 Lakhs and the lock-in duration was prescribed as only one year. However, changes were made in the provisions hence and the income capping was pushed to ₹12 Lakhs and the lock-in period was extended to 3 years. Furthermore, the original provisions allowed only equity funds to qualify, but Mutual Funds and ETFs were included to the list later.
However, the financial year of 2017-18 saw the end of the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme. The batch of investors in this financial year were the last to enjoy Section 80CCG’s benefits and provisions. The scheme was shut down due to a lack of adequate number of assessees.
With the dissolution of Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act, you can explore various investment options that are similar to the investment made through this section, and those alternatives are as follows:
Unit Linked Insurance Plan
Unit Linked Insurance Plans or ULIPs is a type of life insurance that offers investment returns as well. ULIPs offer a diverse equity and debt funds portfolio which can be changed as many times as the investor wants across the investment tenor. Unit Linked Profit Funds are also secure since the demise of the insured would lead to the assured amount being transferred to the primary nominee or, at the cusp of the policy term, you will receive the fund value.
From income that can be taxed, the premium amount is deductible under Section 80C while every payout is not taxable as per Section 10 (10D). After holding a ULIP for 5 years, partial withdrawals are tax-free.
Another special feature allows the investors to analyse market risks and further strategize through a portfolio management that is entirely automatic. Additionally, holding a ULIP until 99 years provides all investors a golden opportunity to withdraw tax-free pension through this savings and investments option.
As a long-term investor in ULIPs, you are offered special perks and benefits as well. For those maintaining their ULIP account on a long-term basis, the protection programme under this investment can ensure that the intended maturity amount is transferred to the primary nominee in case of an early demise.
Mutual Funds
Mutual Funds is one of the most popular investment options on the equity market. Here, funds from various investors (individual and non-human entities alike) are pooled and invested further in equities. With very targeted investment habits, Mutual Funds give you the liberty to analyse your risk-appetite and your return goals, in order to help you choose the Mutual Fund type of your choice.
Even though Mutual Funds are primarily investments and are bound to be affected by market fluctuations, choosing corporate debentures, government securities and bonds can help you receive guaranteed returns. Equity Linked Savings Scheme, or ELSS, is one such Mutual Funds type that locks your funds in for a period of three years and it is eligible for deductions from income that is taxable as per Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
National Pension Scheme
Much like an ELSS investment or a ULIP investment, funds parked, up to ₹50,000, in a National Pension Scheme, or NPS, are deductible from taxable income as per Section 80C and Section 80CCD (1B).
At maturity, you can withdraw funds from an NPS Tier 1 account before the age of 60 years. However, 25% withdrawals from your total contribution is the strict limit of exemption benefits.
Purchasing an annuity helps you get 100% tax exemption on the amount you contributed, although each payout is liable to taxation.
Upon entering the senior citizen criteria after turning 60 years of age, you are eligible to withdraw up to 40% of your fund value with no taxation levied on that withdrawal. Should you choose to reinvest the remaining 60% in purchasing an annuity, on this component, you are not liable to paying any tax. However, the payouts are subject to taxation.
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FAQs
Yes, Equity Traded Funds, or ETFs, are an eligible investment option under Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act.
No, the provisions under Section 80CCG are not applicable to NRIs.
No, Section 80CCG has been discontinued due to a lack of assesses applying for this scheme.
Only certain types of mutual funds can be considered under Section 80CCG. Usually, they are equity related mutual funds.
Section 80CCG/Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme was discontinued in the financial year of 2017-18.
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