Explained: How can income tax be saved on selling urban agricultural land?

Explained: How can income tax be saved on selling urban agricultural land?

I have Long Term Capital Gain (LTCG) on selling an ancestral urban agriculture land. How can I save taxes on such long-term capital gains? Regarding the sale of agricultural land capital gain, which is taxable because it is not farmland and is not treated as a capital asset for taxation purposes, an individual and HUF … Read more

Should PMS investors switch to focused funds after new tax changes?

Should PMS investors switch to focused funds after new tax changes?

Portfolio management services (PMS) are navigating new challenges after the Union Budget for 2024-25 increased tax on long-term capital gains (LTCG) and short-term capital gains (STCG). As stocks are held in the investor’s demat account in PMS, every buy and sell decision of the PMS manager has a tax impact for the investor, unlike a … Read more

Be careful! We are already halfway through the bull run, says Jayesh Faria of Motilal Oswal

Be careful! We are already halfway through the bull run, says Jayesh Faria of Motilal Oswal

New investors should be cautious as they invest in the financial markets since we are already half-way through the bull run. And a lot of sectors and stocks are trading at a very high premium to their P/E averages, says Jayesh Faria, Director, Regional Head, West, Motilal Oswal Private Wealth in an email interview with MintGenie. He also … Read more

How you can save 60% in taxes by selling listed bonds after 12 months

How you can save 60% in taxes by selling listed bonds after 12 months

Fixed-income investments such as fixed deposit (FD) interest, bond interest, and debt mutual funds are typically taxed at the marginal rate (slab rate). The 2023 budget had abolished the benefit of long-term capital gains tax or LTCG for debt mutual funds. However, there’s a notable exception in the tax system for certain bond transactions. If … Read more

From simplicity to fairness: Indexation benefit for property restored, but is it enough?

From simplicity to fairness: Indexation benefit for property restored, but is it enough?

The recent amendment to the Finance Bill, which offers the choice of a 20% LTCG tax with indexation or a 12.5% tax without indexation for property deals before 23 July, is a welcome change.  This move marks a U-turn from the finance minister’s announcement in the Budget 2024 to remove indexation. However, the amendment should … Read more

LTCG amendment: Experts cheer decision to restore indexation benefit for property. Why this govt move matters

LTCG amendment: Experts cheer decision to restore indexation benefit for property. Why this govt move matters

Land and building owners now have a reason to cheer. The government has proposed an amendment to the Finance Bill 2024 regarding long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax, thereby relieving property owners of the extra tax burden that would have arisen on account of the latest changes announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23 … Read more

Budget 2024: What the new proposals mean for your taxes and finances

Budget 2024: What the new proposals mean for your taxes and finances

Individual taxpayers eagerly awaited the Union Budget 2024, anticipating significant tax relief from the Modi 3.0 government. Many expected enhanced deductions or revised tax slabs that would lower overall tax rates. The Reserve Bank of India’s optimistic economic outlook and repeated affirmations of India as the fastest-growing major economy fuelled these expectations. Additionally, the government’s … Read more

Income Tax Changes in Budget 2024: Dos and don’ts for individual taxpayers

Income Tax Changes in Budget 2024: Dos and don’ts for individual taxpayers

The budget has brought in some major changes in taxation which would impact individuals. People may make some knee-jerk decisions as a quick reaction to the tax announcements and this article tends to suggest the do’s and don’ts to help people to avoid unwise actions. Before even getting into any specifics, regardless of changes in … Read more

Budget 2024: How tax-free retail funds will benefit NRIs

Budget 2024: How tax-free retail funds will benefit NRIs

The answer is yes as long as the money is not directly invested in equities. The Union Budget 2024-25 proposed that “retail schemes and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) set up in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or GIFT City, will now enjoy tax exemptions along similar lines as available to specified funds”. “Now retail funds in GIFT … Read more

Sold house in last 2 years? You may get both indexation benefit and lower 12.5% tax rate

Sold house in last 2 years? You may get both indexation benefit and lower 12.5% tax rate

The Budget has dealt a blow to property owners by removing the indexation benefit. Previously, sellers could adjust the purchase price of a property for inflation, which would significantly reduce capital gains tax. The silver lining, however, is that the long-term capital gain (LTCG) tax has been reduced to 12.5% from 20% earlier. But, those … Read more