Pay 10,000/month for 10 years, Get 1,65,805/Year* for next 15 years.
- Guaranteed@ Income Benefit for upto 25 years
- Flexibility to choose income period
- Premium break for females on child birth or any listed specific illnesses
- Life cover for the premium payment period
- Enhance your life cover with rider offerings
ARN. No. KLI/23-24/E-BB/1201
Features
- Increasing Life Cover*
- Guaranteed^ Maturity Benefits
- Enhanced Protection Through Riders
- Tax Benefits
- Dual Benefits: Guaranteed^Maturity + Death benefits
Ref. No. KLI/22-23/E-BB/999
Invest in Tax-Free Bonds: Understanding the Benefits and Who can Invest?
When looking for profitable investment opportunities, tax-free bonds prove to be one of the most sought-after solutions. Not only do these bonds offer more reliability, but they also ensure higher returns.
- 7,224 Views | Updated on: Jun 05, 2024
The government issues tax-exempt bonds to the public for a variety of budgetary needs. The investor, with a fixed deposit, can commit a large quantity of money to tax-free bonds in exchange for a steady return on their investment.
Fixed-income tax-free securities are universally favored, while safe capital investments are preferred. However, they give lesser returns than equities and other high-risk investing choices. In addition, the return decreases further owing to tax liabilities. Nevertheless, there is one fixed-income product with a negligible tax burden, and that is the tax-free bond.
This article focuses on the definition of tax-free government bonds, their primary benefits, and their operation.
What are Tax-Free Bonds?
As the name implies, tax-free bonds are exempted from taxation since they enable the government to earn interest revenue, making it a popular option. Government agencies generally issue these bonds, reducing the danger of interest non-payment to a minimum.
A government entity issues tax-free bonds to raise revenue for a specific purpose. Bonds issued by municipal entities exemplify these bonds. They give a set interest rate and seldom default, making them a low-risk investment opportunity.
As per Section 10 of the Income Tax Act of India, 1961 the 100% tax exemption on interest is its most appealing feature. Generally, tax-free securities have a maturity of ten years or more. The government spends the proceeds from these bonds on housing and infrastructure initiatives.
Who Needs to Invest in Tax-Free Bonds?
Tax-exempt bonds are ideal for investors seeking a stable income, such as retirees. As government entities typically issue these bonds for a longer duration, the failure risk is relatively low. You are guaranteed a fixed income for a longer term, often ten years or longer.
The money obtained via the issue of these bonds is invested in infrastructure and housing projects by government businesses. Therefore, tax-exempt bonds are the best option for investors with the highest tax rate. High-net-worth (HNW) individuals, Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) members, trusts, cooperative banks, and qualified institutional investors can benefit from tax-free bonds.
Benefits of Tax-Free Bonds
Tax-free bonds offer a number of advantageous features. The following are the principal advantages of tax-free bonds.
Tax-Exemption
In the case of tax-exempt bonds, all interest income is exempt from taxation. Additionally, tax deducted at source (TDS) does not apply to these bonds. Therefore, the original amount invested in tax-free bonds does not qualify for a Section 80C tax deduction. Which makes it necessary to record your interest income. You can acquire tax-free bonds both physically and electronically. Compared to bank FDs, tax-free bonds give investors in the highest income tax bracket a tax-efficient return.
Risk Factors
As the government gives these programs, there is a relatively minimal likelihood of failure on principle and interest payments. Additionally, it also provides capital protection and a monthly or yearly guaranteed income, making it highly secure.
Liquidity
Tax-free bonds cannot be liquidated as rapidly. Since government bonds are long-term investments with longer lock-in periods, it may be difficult to liquidate tax-free bonds, which in turn can be beneficial to meet long-term financial goals.
Transaction and Insurance
Tax-exempt bonds can be issued via Demat or in physical form. In addition, you may purchase tax-free bonds on the secondary market for short-term financial objectives.
Interest Rate
The range of interest on tax-free bonds is typically between 5.50% and 6.50%, which is quite favorable when the tax exemption on interest is considered. A bondholder receives yearly interest. However, the rates are subject to change because they are based on the current yield on government securities. For example, investing in tax-free bonds at current rates might give a return of 6% tax-free.
Did You Know?
Bonds that are exempt from taxation may be traded on stock exchanges. On the stock markets, these tax-free bonds are available for purchase and sale by any potential investor.
Conclusion
Bonds exempt from federal income tax are a viable alternative for those seeking a steady stream of tax-free earnings. Bonds issued by the government don’t incur capital gains tax and are an alternative to fixed deposits and corporate bonds. This fail-proof backup plan won’t leave you high and dry if other plans fail.
- Tax exemption
- Negligible risk
- Liquidity
- Transaction and issuance
- Interest rate
Key Takeaways
The primary benefits of tax-free government bonds are mentioned below.
Amit Raje is an experienced marketer who has worked in various Fintechs and leading Financial companies in India. With focused experience in Digital, Amit has pioneered multiple digital commerce in India. Now, close to two decades later, he is the vice president and head of the D2C business department. He masters the skill of strategic management, also being certified in it from IIMA. He has challenged his challenges and contributed his efforts in this journey of digital transformation.
Prasad Pimple has a decade-long experience in the Life insurance sector and as EVP, Kotak Life heads Digital Business. He is responsible for developing user friendly product journeys, creating consumer awareness and helping consumers in identifying need for life insurance solutions. He has 20+ years of experience in creating and building business verticals across Insurance, Telecom and Banking sectors
Pay 10,000/month for 10 years, Get 1,65,805/Year* for next 15 years.
- Guaranteed@ Income Benefit for upto 25 years
- Flexibility to choose income period
- Premium break for females on child birth or any listed specific illnesses
- Life cover for the premium payment period
- Enhance your life cover with rider offerings
ARN. No. KLI/23-24/E-BB/1201
Features
- Increasing Life Cover*
- Guaranteed^ Maturity Benefits
- Enhanced Protection Through Riders
- Tax Benefits
- Dual Benefits: Guaranteed^Maturity + Death benefits
Ref. No. KLI/22-23/E-BB/999
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The information herein is meant only for general reading purposes and the views being expressed only constitute opinions and therefore cannot be considered as guidelines, recommendations or as a professional guide for the readers. The content has been prepared on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other sources believed to be reliable. Recipients of this information are advised to rely on their own analysis, interpretations & investigations. Readers are also advised to seek independent professional advice in order to arrive at an informed investment decision. Further customer is the advised to go through the sales brochure before conducting any sale. Above illustrations are only for understanding, it is not directly or indirectly related to the performance of any product or plans of Kotak Life.
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