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<ul><li>STT increased on futures and options trading </li><li>Changes in <keyword id="22258595" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TDS-rates" source="keywords">TDS rates</keyword> (from 5% to 2%) on payments for life insurance policy, brokerage </li><li>Buybacks to be treated as dividends for taxation purposes</li><li>Small savings account rates left unchanged for Oct-Dec 2024</li></ul>Starting October 1st, a lot is set to change with your money. From <keyword id="20852321" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="FO-trading" source="keywords">F&amp;O trading</keyword> (futures and options) and buybacks getting more expensive in the hands of the individual, to changes in TDS slabs for payments concerning life insurance, brokerage, and more, here's a ready reckoner for all that you need to know: 1. STT upped for F&amp;O (Futures and Options) trading This budget, in a bid to discourage retail investors from burning their hands in the highly risky F&amp;O segment, the government had proposed raising the STT (securities transaction tax) for both futures and options. Starting today, you will have to pay an STT of 0.1% on premium earned from option sales, as opposed to 0.0625% previously. As for futures, the STT is set to rise to 0.02% of trade price, up from its previous mark of 0.0125%. Notably, STT is levied every time an individual purchases or sells a security, which significantly increases its incidence and coverage. For instance, if the trading price of the futures you're selling today is Rs 1,000, you'd have to pay Rs 0.2 as STT today. Till September 30th, the STT applicable would be Rs 0.12. Similarly, for options, if the settlement price of your options contract is Rs 1,000, your STT payable today would be Re 1, which earlier stood at Rs 0.625 While this may sound super inconvenient for frequent or intraday traders, a recent SEBI study has highlighted that a staggering 93% individual traders have incurred just losses while trading in the F&amp;O segment between FY22 and FY24, with the total losses exceeding Rs 1.8 lakh crore during this period. Only a tiny 1% traders managed to rake in profits above Rs 1,00,000. Perhaps SEBI is thinking along the lines of prevention being better than cure? 2. Changes in Debit card rules for ICICI bank ICICI debit card users, who also happen to be frequent flyers, listen up! Starting today, you will be able to access the complimentary airport lounge service twice, but only if you have spent Rs 10,000 or more via your card in the previous quarter. So, suppose you've spent just Rs 8,000 between July-September 2024 via your ICICI debit card. Since this falls below the Rs 10,000-threshold, you wont be able to access complimentary airport lounge service two times between October-December 2024. 3. Changes in rules for PPF, small savings account The interest rates on various small savings schemes were left unchanged by the Finance Ministry for the upcoming quarter i.e. October-December 2024. For this quarter, Public Provident Funds (PPF) will earn you 7.1% interest p.a., while Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) and Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) will offer interest at the rate of 8.2% p.a. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="113692667" title="Attention! Here's what's changing with your PPF accounts starting 1st October, 2024" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Also, these changes in PPF accounts will kick in from today: <ul><li>Have a PPF account in your child's name i.e. a minor? This account would earn the same interest as a POSA (Post Office Savings Account) i.e. at 4% p.a. currently. Once your child turns 18, the prevailing PPF interest rate, which is presently at 7.1%, will be levied. </li><li>No more interest earning via multiple PPF accounts! Starting today, only your primary PPF account will be eligible for interest. </li><li>Are you an NRI who currently holds an active PPF account, and you have not disclosed your residency status in Form H (used to extend the tenure of your PPF account by blocks of 5 years)? Starting today, such accounts will earn zero interest. </li></ul>4. Buyback set to get more expensive Buybacks happen when a company decides to buy back its own shares from its existing shareholders. What's in for the shareholders, you ask? The buyback price is usually higher than what is offered by the markets. You are eligible to participate in a company's buyback if you hold its shares on or before the record date that's set by the company. Starting today, buybacks will be treated just like dividends. This means starting today, the burden of tax payable on buybacks will fall on the shareholders selling the shares, and not the company. Buybacks will be taxed as per the individual's personal income tax bracket. 5. Revision of TDS rates Starting today, the TDS (tax deducted at source) on various payments you make for life insurance, lottery tickets and more is also set to change. Here's how TDS rates will look, starting today: <table class="redcator-table-advance"><tbody><tr><td>Category </td><td>Previous TDS rate</td><td>New TDS rate (Effective October 1st, 2024)</td></tr><tr><td>Payment made towards life insurance policies</td><td>5%</td><td>2%</td></tr><tr><td>Commission earned on sale of lottery tickets </td><td>5%</td><td>2%</td></tr><tr><td>Payment of commission/ brokerage </td><td>5%</td><td>2%</td></tr><tr><td>Payment of rent by certain individuals/HUF </td><td>5%</td><td>2%</td></tr><tr><td>Payment made by e-commerce operators/platforms to e-commerce participants/sellers </td><td>1%</td><td>0.1%</td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table>

Attention! Here's what's changing with your PPF, F&O trading, and buybacks, starting today!

About 6 crore <keyword id="19948101" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="income-tax-returns" source="keywords">income tax returns</keyword> have been filed for income earned in 2023-24, of which 70 per cent were filed under the new <keyword id="22442211" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="simplified-tax-regime" source="keywords">simplified tax regime</keyword> which offers lower rate of tax, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra said on Tuesday. Addressing the post-budget session of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Malhotra said there were apprehensions as to whether people would shift to the simplified tax regime. "About 6 crore filed for last year and 70 per cent is under the new income tax regime. The whole move has been towards simplicity with the ultimate purpose being to reduce the <keyword id="20380188" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="compliance-burden" source="keywords">compliance burden</keyword>," Malhotra said. For the 2022-23 fiscal, 8.61 crore ITRs were filed. The idea behind comprehensive income tax review as announced in the <keyword id="19936553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget" source="keywords">Budget</keyword> is to make the tax law simpler. "We will come up with a draft and then we will seek suggestions," Malhotra said. Currently, India has two <keyword id="20155151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-income-tax" source="keywords">personal income tax</keyword> regimes. In the old income tax regime, the <keyword id="20452955" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-rates" source="keywords">tax rates</keyword> are relatively high but taxpayers can claim several exemptions and <keyword id="20385232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="deductions" source="keywords">deductions</keyword>. However, in the <keyword id="19935168" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-tax-regime" source="keywords">new tax regime</keyword>, tax rates are lower but fewer deductions.

About 6 cr ITRs filed for FY24; 70% under new tax regime

Indian financial services firm <keyword id="19913826" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Zerodha" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zerodha" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zerodha">Zerodha</keyword> made headlines recently for hitting ₹8,320 crore revenue in FY24. However, its CEO and co-founder <keyword id="19923447" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nithin-Kamath" source="keywords">Nithin Kamath</keyword> says that the company is preparing for a decline in revenue as several regulatory changes are expected to take effect later this year. Kamath, in a blog post, outlined the challenges ahead, which could result in a <keyword id="20168027" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="revenue-drop" source="keywords">revenue drop</keyword> of up to 50% as Zerodha faces a combination of stricter regulations and shifting market conditions. <h2>Zerodha braces for revenue drop</h2>One of the main concerns for Zerodha is the new Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulation, which will be implemented on October 1, 2024. Kamath expects a 10% dip in revenue as the "true-to-label" circular is enforced. This change will impose stricter guidelines on brokers like Zerodha regarding the kind of financial products they offer, potentially limiting some of their key revenue-generating activities. Another significant factor affecting Zerodha’s future revenue is the ongoing review of index derivatives regulations. Index derivatives, which are a crucial part of Zerodha's business model, could soon face changes that might severely impact the company’s earnings. Kamath estimates that such modifications could reduce earnings by 30-50%. Additionally, with the <keyword id="20930760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Securities-Transaction-Tax" source="keywords">Securities Transaction Tax</keyword> (STT) set to rise in October 2024, the costs of futures trading could further impact Zerodha’s profitability, though the effect on options trading may be limited. Zerodha is also set to face revenue pressures due to changes in Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) under the new Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA) thresholds. From October 2024, brokers will only be able to charge full AMC fees from customers with holdings of ₹10 lakhs or more, up from ₹4 lakhs currently. Combined with Zerodha's removal of account opening fees, this is expected to significantly impact their revenue. Yet another challenge comes from Zerodha’s decision to halt payouts from its referral program. The program, which incentivised customers to refer others to the platform, will now only allow payouts to Authorised Persons (AP) registered with exchanges. This new regulation limits the number of people who can refer customers, slowing the firm's growth. <h2>Zerodha's financial results</h2>Despite these looming challenges, Zerodha posted strong financial results for the fiscal year 2024. The firm recorded a 62% increase in profits, reaching ₹4,700 crore, with revenue climbing by 21% to ₹8,320 crore. Traders using Zerodha's platform are also sitting on over ₹1 lakh crore in unrealised profits, largely driven by strong market performance and increased retail participation. However, Kamath also cautioned that the profitability boost in recent years has been fuelled by a bull market, which could reverse at any time. If the market turns, Zerodha, like many other financial service providers, may face significant challenges. To prepare for such an eventuality, the company has built up a strong financial position, with Kamath stating that their net worth now stands at nearly 40% of the customer funds they manage.

Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath says bracing for a huge revenue hit even as the company hits ₹8,320 crore revenue in FY24

Economists at the country's largest lender, SBI, today said they see India's Q2 real GDP growth slowing down further to 6.5% in the September quarter of this fiscal year. Amid concerns over the country's economic growth rate and whether it is slowing down, the analysts said they expect FY25 growth to come "closer to" 7%. SBI analysts join a long line of agencies like Fitch, ADB, IMF, Moody, World Bank, S&amp;P, and even RBI in forecasting India's GDP growth for FY25 in the range of 6.8% to 7.2% for FY25, driven by robust consumption and investment. SIP inflows have been at an all-time high, and so has QIP (qualified institutional placement) fundraising. As many as 71 companies raised Rs 88,678 crore this year through QIPs. Activity in Indian primary markets also remained robust, with 78 mainboard IPOs in 2024; this is a 111% rise from just 38 listings in FY23. Between April and June 2024, India's real GDP grew by 6.7%, the lowest growth seen in 15 quarters, pushing experts to believe that India is caught in a cycle of slowdown. "There is some incipient pressure evident on the domestic economy. Based on our analysis of 50 meaningful leading indicators (both consumption and demand-centric), a dip looks plausible across select cohorts of agriculture, industry, and services in Q2," the <keyword id="22337294" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-economists" source="keywords">SBI economists</keyword> added. Stating that they track 50 indicators to gauge economic activity, SBIs note said the proportion of indicators showing acceleration declined to 69% in Q2 FY25, as against 80% in Q2 FY24 and 78% in Q1 FY25. However, things might be changing now, given that rural demand has started looking up amidst muted urban demand. SBI also explained that the ongoing regulatory tightening on unsecured lending and roadblocks that are hindering rollover/refinancing of debt through unsecured credit are dismantling the unwarranted exuberance that had built up post-pandemic, especially in the urban areas. Madhu Lunawat, CIO &amp; Fund Manager, Bharat Value Fund states that the overall investment environment remains strong due to favorable economic conditions supporting government policies &amp; reforms. "The sustainable inflow from domestic investors is going to support the Indian equity market in any kind of correction. The long-term bullish structure of Indian economy will continue to attract new domestic &amp; global investors to participate in India’s growth story through various Investment avenues.” <h2>Rate cuts not on cards</h2>RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das clarified today that changing the monetary policy stance to 'neutral' does not mean a rate cut is imminent in the central bank's next policy announcement. Notably, RBI MPC is set to meet between December 4 and 6, 2024, to decide if the prevailing repo rate of 6.5%, which has stayed unchanged for the last 2 years, should be brought down or not. In its last meeting, The <keyword id="20501100" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI-monetary-policy" source="keywords">RBI monetary policy</keyword> committee had shifted its stance to 'neutral' indicating that it is open to adjusting interest rates based on economic conditions. "It should not be assumed that we have done this, so therefore the next step is a rate cut. A change in stance doesn't mean that the next step is a rate cut in the very next meeting. It's not so," Das said. Das also cautioned that inflation remains a key factor, and inflation and CPI prints for October are expected to stay high.

SBI economists see Q2 GDP growth slowing down to 6.5%; FY25 growth to be closer to 7%

<ul><li>LTCG of up to Rs 1,20,000 in a single financial year is tax-free. </li><li>Effective July 23rd, 2024, <keyword id="21006654" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="indexation-benefits" source="keywords">indexation benefits</keyword> will no longer be available for real estate, gold</li><li>Effective July 23rd, LTCG will be charges at 12.5%, sans indexation benefit</li></ul> After FM <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> proposed to remove indexation benefits on <keyword id="20584761" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="long-term-capital-gains" source="keywords">long-term capital gains</keyword> (LTCG) on real estate, gold, and other unlisted assets, discussions were abuzz on the internet as to how this would lead to significantly higher <keyword id="20118944" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="taxation" source="keywords">taxation</keyword> on gains from <keyword id="20008581" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="property-sales" source="keywords">property sales</keyword>. Previously, LTCG on long-term capital gains was marked at 20%, but it came with indexation benefits, which eventually lowered the individual's overall <keyword id="19974193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-liability" source="keywords">tax liability</keyword>. Now, it has been lowered to 12.5%, but minus any indexation benefit. So, with indexation gone, how will gains from property sales be taxed going ahead? Is this applicable to all properties? What is set to change? Does it help that the <keyword id="22480102" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LTCG-tax" source="keywords">LTCG tax</keyword> has been brought down from 20% to 12.5%? Lets take a deep-dive First, explain this long term short-term conundrum to me So, how much capital gains tax you're supposed to pay depends on how long you hold a particular asset before selling it. Prior to yesterday's announcement, there were 3 holding periods which determined whether an asset was held for long-term or short-term: The situation before- <ul><li>Shares, units of mutual funds would qualify for LTCG tax, if they are held for more than 12 months. If the holding period is less than 1 year, you'd have to pay short-term capital gains (STCG).</li><li>Real estate and immovable property would qualify for LTCG tax, if held for more than 24 months (2 years), along with indexation benefit. </li><li>Bonds, debentures and gold were to be considered long-term capital assets, if they were held for more than 36 months (3 years), with indexation benefit. </li></ul>But going ahead, there will only be two waiting periods which will determine whether an asset would be classified as long-term or short-term The situation now- <ul><li>For all listed securities (stocks, mutual fund units), the holding period for LTCG tax purposes would be more than 1 year (sans indexation benefits) All other assets (real estate, gold, bond, debentures) will qualify for LTCG tax, if they are held for more than 24 months (minus indexation benefits). </li></ul>What was the taxation situation earlier on long-term capital gains? What has changed? So, lets say Tara purchased a property in FY 2004-05 for Rs 20,00,000. In FY 2024-25, she decided to sell it for Rs 60,00,000. You'd think she'll have to pay a flat 20% on Rs 40,00,000, which was her total profit earned from selling her property (Rs 60,00,000-20,00,000). But this is where indexation swooped in and helped cushion the overall tax liability. Prior to July 23rd, 2024, the government considered something known as "indexed cost of acquisition" for determining an individuals' total LTCG tax liability, which was calculated using the following formula: [Cost Inflation Index (CII)value for transfer/sale year/CII for purchase year, or 2001-02 (whichever is later) X cost of acquisition]. Thankfully, you don't have to go about calculating this CII value, since the government does this for you, and notifies the same officially. What CII essentially does is that it compares the current prices of basket A(which contains a bunch of products and services) to the price of the same basket A in the year of comparison, to reflect the change in prices caused by inflation. So, for Tara, her indexed cost of acquisition would come down to Rs 64,24,778 [363(CII for 2024-25) /113(CII for 2004-05)X 20,00,000]. This would mean she incurred a capital loss of Rs 4,24,778, since her indexed cost of acquisition is more than her sales receipts. So, she does not need to pay any LTCG tax. She can set off this loss, but only against her other long term gains with a limit of Rs 2 lakh in one financial year, and can carry forward the same for a maximum of 8 years. However, this changed when the budget memorandum noted yesterday, "indexation available under the second proviso to section 48 is proposed to be removed for calculation of any long-term capital gains which is presently available for property, gold, and other unlisted assets. This will ease the computation of capital gains for the taxpayer and the tax administration". This means that indexation benefits on LTCG will be applicable starting July 23rd, 2024. To understand its impact, assume that this rule is in effect from April 1, 2024. In that case, Tara's LTCG will be a flat 12.5% of her total gains of Rs 38,75,000 (remember, Rs 1,25,000 per year on LTCG are tax-exempt). This would bring Tara's taxability to Rs 4,84,375 Long story, short, minus the indexation benefit, Tara will have to pay Rs 4,84,375 as long-term capital gains tax. However, there has been a slight increase in the basic tax exemption limit for LTCG. Previously, LTCG of up to Rs 1,00,000 in a single financial year was tax-free. But now, this threshold has been raised to Rs 1,25,000. Small wins! <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111956035" title="Decoding capital gains taxes: What FM Nirmala took from your pocket, what she gave you in Budget 2024" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Okay, is there something that continues to be the same for long-term capital gains? Yes, roll-over benefits continue without change. This means you can re-invest the proceeds from sale of your old property into buying a new, residential one, in order to avoid capital gains tax. But that too, is not without its share of catches: You can reinvest these funds in either 54EC bonds, which have a maximum annual investment limit of Rs 50,00,000. Or, you can avail this exemption for a maximum of 2 residential houses, provided your capital gains are limited to Rs 2 crore. Also, if you've it purchased a property, or held from before 2001, you can continue to avail indexation benefits, thanks to something called a grandfathering clause. Does indexation or lower tax rates work better? There's no general rule here. But a cursory look indicates that high capital gains would be favorably taxed under these reduced tax rates, while lower returns and holding periods would find indexation to be a better option. Says Pankaj Kumar, VP – Fundamental Research, Kotak Securities, "the Union Budget-FY25 has rationalized long-term capital gains tax on real estate transaction. It proposed to remove indexation benefits and reduce the long term capital gains tax rate from 20% to 12.5% with immediate effect (grandfathering for properties held before 2001). We find that the new capital gains tax structure for real estate favours investors, who have generated high IRRs, while investors with poor IRRs would be worse off in the new regime". "On the other hand, it is expected to have limited impact on end users who purchase homes for personal consumption. The budget has also talked about encouraging states to lower the stamp duty and consider lower duties for women buyers. Lowering of stamp duties would reduce the overall acquisition cost in high stamp duty states/markets like Gurgaon, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata", continued Kumar.

Budget 2024: How will long-term capital tax change your real-estate investments post-budget?

A day before the official release of India's Gross Domestic Product (<keyword id="35050" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GDP" source="Orion">GDP</keyword>) figures for <keyword id="21593310" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Q1-FY25" source="keywords">Q1 FY25</keyword>, a report by <keyword id="20548750" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anand-Rathi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Anand Rathi" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Anand Rathi">Anand Rathi</keyword> research estimates the GDP to grow by 7 per cent, primarily driven by the robust performance of the services sector. The financial advisory firm also maintains its full-year <keyword id="19972825" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GDP-growth" source="keywords">GDP growth</keyword> projection at 7 per cent, though it warns of potential downside risks. Utilities GVA is expected to rise by 11.5 per cent, while the construction sector has slowed due to election-related disruptions and the impact of heat. The mining sector remains strong, supported by increased coal production. The services sector is expected to be the primary driver of GDP growth in Q1 FY25. Despite reduced <keyword id="20155204" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-spending" source="keywords">government spending</keyword> ahead of the elections, which is likely to dampen growth in some service sectors, financial, real estate, and professional services are expected to have performed well. This performance is attributed to strong market activity and credit growth. However, the trade and transport sectors present a mixed picture, with some indicators showing improvement while others remain moderate. Overall, Services Gross Value Added (GVA) is expected to grow by 8.2 per cent in Q1 FY25. As per the report, Investment was a key growth driver in FY24, fuelled by government infrastructure projects and a real estate upswing. However, the momentum appears to have slowed in Q1 FY25 due to pre-election restrictions. Despite this, the report predicts a significant rise in government capital expenditure in the coming months, supported by greater budget allocations. The report highlights the changing dynamics of private consumption in India. FY24 saw weak consumption, especially in rural areas, with final consumption expenditure growing by just 3.8 per cent. However, as FY25 begins, there are signs of a rural revival. Indicators such as increased two-wheeler sales and improving Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) volume growth signal a rebound in rural demand. In contrast, urban demand continues to show signs of sluggishness. The muted sales of passenger vehicles, weaker retail credit transfers, and flat Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections underscore this trend. While consumption is not expected to see a significant rise in Q1 FY25, the outlook for the remainder of the year appears positive. This optimism is bolstered by anticipated higher agricultural output and sharper government focus on rural areas. The agriculture sector is expected to post a subdued growth of 2.1 per cent in Q1 FY25, affected by scorching heat and uneven rainfall last year, which led to lower reservoir levels and hindered farming activities. However, the outlook is more promising for the remainder of the fiscal year, with better rains and improved sowing conditions expected to boost agricultural output Additionally, a rebound in stamp duty collections suggests buoyant real estate sales. Private capital expenditure, which was previously subdued, is expected to expand in FY25, driven by rising capacity utilisation and strong order books. The industrial sector, which grew by 9.5 per cent in FY24, is expected to see a shift in growth drivers in Q1 FY25. The focus is now moving towards utilities and mining, with manufacturing growth slowing. While government infrastructure projects and private capital expenditure will continue to support industrial growth, the global growth slowdown poses potential risks.

Anand Rathi anticipates Q1 FY25 GDP growth at 7%, a little lower than RBI's estimate of 7.1%

Over the past few months, there’s been a lot of brouhaha about the lagging pace of bank deposits in India. Simply put, the rate at which Indians are depositing their hard-earned money in banks has been falling constantly, and some blame the increasing financialization of household savings in the country, or the rising preference of Indians towards mutual funds and shares. So, the hypothesis is that people are choosing to invest more in mutual funds and the Indian equity markets through direct investments, IPOs, or NFOs, the money flowing into Indian banks in the form of deposits is slowing down. But is that really the case? <h2>A crisis or a phase?</h2><keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rbi" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> data suggested that for the quarter ended June 2024, bank deposits grew at 11.7%. On the other hand, credit growth has outpaced this at 15%. This means that the outflow from banks as loans is far greater than the inflow into them in the form of deposits in Q1 of FY 2024-25. The situation largely saw cut-copy-paste in the first week of September as well, with loans registering a 13.3% YoY growth during the period, while deposits rose only 11.1%. This gap has only been widening for the last 3 years. Since deposits are how banks gather assets to further lend and earn interest income as a consequence, even a slight dip could set the alarm bells ringing for banks, and rightfully so. And truth be told, mutual funds are indeed taking on bank deposits in a big way. Per a report by <keyword id="20250971" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="franklin-templeton" source="keywords">Franklin Templeton</keyword>, in August 2024, the AUM (assets under management) of Indian mutual funds, or the total funds managed by them, stood at 31.3% of total bank deposits in the country, up from 24.20% during the year-ago period. As of August 2024, the AUM of mutual funds stood at Rs 66.17 lakh crore, an all-time high. But all said and done, is this really the reason why the rate of bank deposits is falling behind? SBI has dismissed this to be a “statistical myth”, and experts point out that since equity and fund houses also keep the cash in their respective bank accounts, there’s no cause for concern. So, is financialization really to be blamed for the trailing tempo of deposits? Or is something else happening behind the scenes? We take a closer look: <h2>First, are <keyword id="4000333" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="household-deposits" source="Orion">household deposits</keyword> really slowing down? And is that a cause of concern?</h2>Data from Motilal Oswal suggests the contrary. Deposits grew by around 10.4% between March 2020 and August 2024. Data from RBI also highlights that as of August 9, 2024, bank deposits witnessed a YoY growth of 10.8%. The loan-to-deposit ratio for the retail segment, which indicates what percentage of its total deposits the banks lend out as loans, has stayed at 77.5%, above the 77% mark for the tenth straight month. Also, we can’t forego the fact that the share of Indian <keyword id="20319599" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="households" source="keywords">households</keyword> in bank deposits has indeed slowed down. However, data from Axis AMC shows that the dip is marginal—from 63% in 2022 to 62% in 2023 and 61% in 2024. What has slowed down even more considerably is the share of government deposits in the aggregate bank deposits, which has dipped from 14% in 2018 to 9% in 2024. So, it's not just household deposits, you see. Moreover, as of March 2024, the collective CASA ratio (current and savings account deposits) of all commercial banks in India stood at 41.00%, down from 43.1% in March 2023 and 45.2% in March 2022, marking a nearly 5% point decline over the past year, while still staying over the 10-year average of 39.2%. This implies that Indian banks are relying more on higher-cost funds (savings accounts), which can limit their profitability. <h2>What is this financialisation of savings we are talking about?</h2>Then again, there is no doubt about the growing affinity of Indians towards mutual funds and stock markets. Recent data from CBDT (<keyword id="19942037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="central-board-of-direct-taxes" source="keywords">Central Board of Direct Taxes</keyword>) highlights that India’s net direct tax collection surged by around 22%, driven exclusively by the significant uptick in the collection of <keyword id="20930760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="securities-transaction-tax" source="keywords">Securities Transaction Tax</keyword> (STT), which doubled to Rs 26,154 crore, from Rs 13,352 crore in the year-ago period. Why does this matter? STT is levied when you buy or sell equity shares on stock exchanges, sell equity mutual funds, and trade in futures and options in the equity segment. Such taxes, including the multiple other taxes in equity market investments, are considered as leakages as the money moves out of the economy into government coffers. Data from a ValueQuest report explains that over the last 20 years, the markets have handsomely rewarded the investors, generating over $900 billion in incremental value for them. This is the major driver behind the dramatic rise in investment flowing towards the equity markets. There’s further proof of this budding romance, if you check the demat pudding. The number of demat accounts, which are a primary requisite for participating in the stock markets, also burgeoned by 42.3 lakh in August 2024, taking India’s total tally of demat accounts beyond 17 crore. To put this in perspective, this is almost equivalent to the population of just 8 nations in the world, including China, the US, Brazil and more. Vivek Iyer, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat thinks it's rather important, as well. “Financialisation of household savings in India is an indication of deepening capital markets in the market, especially from a retail investor standpoint. Bank deposits with a modest rate of return are no longer the only option for savings for investors. Investors today have more avenues for wealth creation in the form of public capital markets, which have democratized wealth creation and provided equality of opportunity to retail investors”, he says. Yes, Indians are investing more and more in the markets, and in mutual funds. But is it a sin to look out for inflation-beating returns, which the stock markets offer, and vanilla bank deposits don't? After all, the allure of 12-13% annual returns offered by equities can certainly pale the stability offered by good old deposits, which generally do not go beyond 9% when it comes to annual returns. But all of this is not what is behind the slowdown. India is still a toddler in the school of savings financialization, with less than 10% of the population holding a demat account, and less than 5% of us saving in equities. That's a drop in the ocean of deposits, far inadequate to trigger a tsunami. <h2>Tell me why lagging deposits have nothing to do with Indians investing more in mutual funds!</h2>Says Shweta Rajani, Head - Mutual Funds, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited, “Households' equity holdings composition grew from 11.1% in FY 23 to 14.7% in FY 24. This trend reflects a growing awareness of investment options, empowering individuals to take control of their financial futures. Despite this transition towards equities, banks still hold a significant share of household financial savings—33.5% in FY24 compared to 34.9% in FY23”. Also, household savings and their subsequent financialization do not have much to do with deposit creation, which is entirely made by banks. What actually drives increased deposits is credit growth or increased lending. When interest rates are eased, people tend to borrow more and spend more, which circulates more money in the economy. For the past 4 years, RBI has been tightening the screws on interest rates, which raises the cost of borrowings, and makes it more expensive to take loans, putting a dampener on credit growth, but effectively curbing inflationary pressures. The last time RBI cut the repo rate by 40 basis points was back in May 2020, 4 years ago. The lag in deposit growth we’re witnessing is almost 3 years old. Coincidence much, or just good old economics at work? But with the <keyword id="19900043" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fed" source="keywords">Fed</keyword> recently setting a rate cut precedent by slashing 50 bps off its interest rate, RBI is expected to follow suit in the next <keyword id="19918491" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mpc" source="keywords">MPC</keyword> (Monetary Policy Committee) meeting, scheduled for November 2024. A rate cut would ease the aforementioned high cost of borrowing, and increase loan-taking for corporates and institutional investors, thereby stoking consumption in the economy. And then, deposit creation in banks is likely to return to its former glory. If not, then that would be a curious case to unravel! But that worry is for another day.

A Deposit Dilemma — What's the fuss about a crisis in Indian bank deposits? Are mutual fund investments to blame?

<ul><li>Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Thursday presented the Interim Budget 2024-25.</li><li>This budget outlines expenditures and revenues till the formation of the next government.</li><li>Here are the top highlights and major announcements of the Interim Budget 2024-25.</li></ul> Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Interim Budget 2024-25 at <keyword id="19895397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="parliament" source="keywords">Parliament</keyword> on Thursday, February 1 announced that the FY25 capex outlay has been increased by 11.1% to ₹11.11 lakh crore. The FY25 capex outlay is now at 3.4% of the GDP. Fiscal deficit, the gap between the government’s revenue and expenses, is expected to be 5.8% of gross domestic product, said the FM. “The gross market borrowing for the financial year ending March 2025 will be ₹14.3 lakh crore (less than the borrowing in the current financial year).” The FM began her speech by giving a summation of the Narendra Modi government's performance in the past ten years. "The Indian economy has witnessed positive transformation in the last 10 years. Our development steps have covered all elements of inclusivity," she said. This is the final budget of the second term of the Narendra Modi government before the country heads to elections later this summer. Sitharaman stressed on the government's aim to make India developed -- Viksit Bharat – by 2047. The government has tried to provide inclusive development and growth, both socially and geographically, she said in the opening minutes of her sixth budget speech as the country’s finance minister. It is to be noted that this Vote on Account or an Interim Budget is only for the next three months as the next government after the election will come out with a comprehensive budget for the financial year 2024-25 later. In other words, this budget outlines expenditures and revenues till the formation of the next government. Key announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: <ol><li>No relief for taxpayers: Same tax slabs to continue, says FM. “I propose to retain the same tax rates for direct and indirect taxes.”</li><li>FY25 divestment target at ₹50,000 crore. The FY24 target has been curbed to ₹30,000 crore</li><li>Gross market borrowing for FY ending March 2025 will be ₹14.3 lakh crore.</li><li>FY25 capex outlay increased by 11.1% to ₹11.11 lakh crore. The FY25 capex outlay is now at 3.4% of GDP.</li><li>The revised estimate of the fiscal deficit is 5.8% of GDP. The FY25 fiscal deficit target is set at 5.1%.</li><li>The FY25 revenue deficit is set at 2% versus FY24 revised estimate of 2.8%</li><li>The FDI during 2014 to 2023 was $596 billion. India is negotiating bilateral treaties with foreign partners. FM adds that FDI is now “First Develop India”.</li><li>Three major economic railway corridors announced to boost GDP. This includes an energy mineral and cement corridor, port connectivity corridor and high traffic density corridor.</li><li>40,000 rail bogies to be converted to Vande Bharat standards. Airports have doubled to 149 in the last decade.</li><li>Boost for tourism: Projects for enhancing tourism revenue will be taken up, especially for islands, including Lakshawdeep.</li><li>FM says the government has assisted 25 crore people to escape from multidimensional poverty.</li><li>Free ration: Worries of food have been alleviated as 80 crore people are provided with ration.</li><li>Direct benefit of ₹34 lakh crore via Jan Dhan has led to savings of ₹2.7 lakh crore for the government.</li><li>The PM PM SVANidhi scheme has supported over 78 lakh vendors. Out of this, 2.3 lakh vendors have received loans more than two times.</li><li>11.8 crore farmers have been assisted under the PM Kisan Yojna.</li><li>₹30 crore Mudra loans have been given to women entrepreneurs in the last ten years.</li><li>Average real income of people has risen by 50%.</li><li>India-Middle East-Europe Economic corridor is a game changer for India and others.</li><li>Artisanal support: PM Vishwakarma Yojana provides end-to-end support to artisans and crafts people engaged in 18 trades.</li><li>GDP new definition: FM Sitharaman has said that the government is focussed on GDP (governance, development and performance)</li><li>Real estate boost: Government close to achieving the target of three crore houses under the PM Awas Yojana Grameen. Additional two crore houses to be built in five years.</li><li>Sustainability &amp; free electricity: Rooftop solarisation scheme announced to help one crore houses, enabling free electricity and selling of surplus energy. First three hundred units for solar homes.</li><li>Nari Shakti: FM says that female enrolment in higher education is up by 28% in 10 years in STEM courses. Free healthcare under Ayushman Bharat to be extended to Asha workers and Anganwadi workers.</li><li>Target for Lakhpati Didi scheme enhanced from 2 crore to 3 crore.</li></ol>

Interim Budget 2024: FY25 capex hiked 11%; no change in tax slab, says FM Sitharaman

<div type="image" title="For the unversed, trading in futures and options can be akin to setting their hard-earned money on fire" height="900" width="1200" msid="114064202" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For the unversed, trading in futures and options can be akin to setting their hard-earned money on fire&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Once upon a time, there thrived a wild, wild land. Here, it was all about super high monetary stakes, lightning-fast trade deals, and bucketloads of money shifting hands every single second. This wilderness lured millions of individuals with the promise of super duper high returns. But, at what cost? Welcome to the unforgiving, ultra-risky wild west of <keyword id="19991165" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-equity-markets" source="keywords">Indian equity markets</keyword> called the <keyword id="145718" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Futures-and-Options" source="Orion">futures and options</keyword>. Here, everyone seems to just fly right through the bright red-flagged warnings of financial risks to earn even a fraction of these promised returns. Most burn themselves in the process, but carry on nevertheless, as if nothing ever happened. <h2>Chasing the cloudy profits</h2>The data conclusively proves that every 9 out of 10 individuals only lost their hard-earned money in this land. But hey, what do the numbers know? Some hide their losses out of shame, some out of fear. The proponents, meanwhile, proudly boast unusually high returns on their investments, some open social media channels while others encourage their friends and family to take the plunge. Naturally, news of this unstoppable and humongous en-masse migration to the F&amp;O (futures and options) town has reached sheriff <keyword id="19901201" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SEBI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="SEBI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="SEBI">SEBI</keyword>, galvanising them into action. After all, it was time to put a leash on this madness and save the common man. The inhabitants of this town doubled in the last 2 years, from 51 lakh in FY22 to 96 lakh in FY24—99.8% of whom were small and mid-income traders. But profits? Well, that's a different, rather completely absent story. <h2>Que Sera Sera, much?</h2>A recent report by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) that studied profits and losses made by traders in the equity derivatives segment between FY22-24 exposed the mad mania of futures and options trading in India, especially since the pandemic. Per the report, 91.1% of individual traders, or about 73 lakh traders had only lost money trading in futures and options in FY24. Between FY 22-24, over 1 crore traders, or about 92.8% of individual traders, had lost Rs 2 lakh each. But once bitten, twice shy? Well, not in this case. More than 75% of individuals, who had only made losses trading in F&amp;O in FY22 and FY23, continued to trade vigorously in FY24 as well, without any changes in the bottom line, which remained deep in red and negative. So, then all these traders must be uber-rich, with tons of cash and not much care to spare? Nope. 76% of traders in the F&amp;O space in FY24 had an annual income of less than Rs 5 lakh. 2 years ago, their share stood at 71%. And their choice of poison? Options! In FY24, 60% of traders made losses trading in futures, but a whopping 91.5% burnt their funds trading in options. Mind you, futures are riskier than options. With futures, which require significant capital investment, the buyer and seller both are contractually bound to adhere to the pre-determined strike price of the futures or options contract, irrespective of whether the prevailing prices are higher or lower (and thus, resulting in losses for either the buyer or seller). With options, since this adherence ain't necessary, individuals end up taking debt to take highly leveraged positions while trading here. <h2>Scale of the explosion</h2>Anyone who trades even infrequently will tell you that a demat account is the mitochondria or powerhouse of the trading cell. As of August 2024, India had over 17.1 crore <keyword id="20957284" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="demat-accounts" source="keywords">demat accounts</keyword>, which are a prerequisite for trading in the markets. India is the 9th biggest country in the world, in terms of total demat accounts. Did you know that our demat accounts are at par with the entire population of Bangladesh? Talk about scale! Just 4 years ago, in March 2020, this number was a mere 4 crore. Naturally, the total F&amp;O turnover on both <keyword id="20004725" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NSE" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="NSE" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="NSE">NSE</keyword> and BSE has hit the roof, and also broken it. As of October 4, 2024, the total futures and options turnover on NSE stood at a massive Rs 4,78,27,27,750.30 crore. Good luck counting the thousands! <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Year </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Total Turnover (Both Futures and Options) (In Rs Crore) </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2020-21 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">64,36,03,951.51 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2021-22 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1,69,52,33,134.47 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2022-23 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3,82,23,26,468.06 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2023-24 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7,99,27,67,152.43 </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table>Source : NSE Another metric that underlines the meteoric growth of trading in India is the collection of STT or <keyword id="20930760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Securities-Transaction-Tax" source="keywords">Securities Transaction Tax</keyword>. As of September 2024, India's STT mop-up had gone past Rs 26,000 crore. Traders have to pay STT whenever they buy or sell any security in the market. So, more trading brings in more STT, and hence, more revenue for the government, so they're not really complaining. After all, this is certainly what they'd call enviable growth. As of August 2023, our STT collection stood at about Rs 21,599 crores. And in FY20-21, India's STT collection had been Rs 16,000 crore. If only our salaries also managed to grow at this rate! <h2>So, what's happening?</h2>Two things. One, it's the big bulls who are raking in all the moolah. And it's the younger lot (those aged under 30) who are propping them up for this. In FY24, 43% of individual traders in the market were less than 30 years of age. In just one year, this number has swelled by 12 percentage points from just 31% of individual traders. But who says ageing is bad? Wrinkles and silver hair seemingly have a propensity of incurring lesser losses in the market. In FY24, only 79% of traders aged above 60 years made losses, as compared to 93% of those aged below 30. Small and mid-income traders, which make up 98% of the total trader base, witnessed average losses per person of Rs 65,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh in FY24 in futures and options, respectively. The winner here? Clearly, the big bulls, who declared an annual income of over Rs 1 crore, ended up with average profits of Rs 96,000 per person this year. <h2>What’s the sheriff up to?</h2>The government has finally swung into action, hiking the STT rate for F&amp;O during this year’s budget. Effective October 1, 2024, the STT on futures stands at 0.02%, up from 0.0125%. For options, it was upped to 0.1% versus 0.0625% previously. Small margins, but huge impact oncoming. Says Puneet Sharma- CEO and Fund Manager at Whitespace Alpha, “SEBI aims to enhance market stability while safeguarding investor interests, reflecting the regulator's intent to balance risk management with market participation”. But this might come with its own share of challenges, too. “Stricter norms around leverage, transparency, and capital adequacy could limit the ability of investors to determine their own risk appetite, thereby stifling innovation in trading strategies. Over-regulation in an environment that thrives on strategic flexibility and creativity could dampen the market’s dynamism, affecting India's competitiveness in the global derivatives landscape”, he observes. SEBI recently came out with a set of guidelines that aim to thwart <keyword id="19972907" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retail-investors" source="keywords">retail investors</keyword>' participation in futures and options and hinder them from taking undue risks. Here's a quick recap of what's to come for the residents of the F&amp;O town Margin Requirements: To battle the high volatility and chaos which is generally seen on expiry days(i.e the last mandated date, post which an option becomes invalid), SEBI will put in place an extreme loss margin (ELM) of 2% for all open short options on the day of expiry. Translation? Traders will need to pony up more cash upfront, leaving them with fewer funds to take on risky bets. It ain't a choice: No more of one expiry every single day! Going ahead, an exchange like BSE or NSE will just be able to offer weekly expiries, that too, only on one benchmark index, as opposed to an entire buffet it currently offers. At present, NSE offers weekly options contracts for its financial index, bank and midcap indices. But say goodbye to this, and hello to derivatives on only 1 index per exchange. Raising the bar: Effective November 30, 2024, the minimum contract value for index derivatives will be upped to Rs 15 lakh, from the present Rs 5-10 lakh. The hope is that by making it ultra-expensive to enter these trades, investors will be dissuaded from taking on risky trades. Pay upfront: Starting February 2025, those trading in options will have to pay the entire options premium upfront, even before their trades are executed. This is because options generally carry very high leverage, and paying a significant sum upfront can force traders to think twice. Invigilation Pro Max: Starting April 1 2025, to make sure that the number of positions for equity index derivatives does not slyly slip over the mandated limit, especially on expiry days when trade volumes are huge, the exchanges will have to take a minimum of 4 position snapshots randomly. The question is, will these injections of sobriety be enough to calm down the steroid-fed bull of the futures and options market in India? Well, only time and market turnover will tell! For more insights into the financial markets and business news, stay tuned to our site and social media handles. And don’t forget to subscribe to Business Insider India’s newsletters for your weekly dose of Simply Put! Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. We recommend readers consult certified, qualified and registered advisors for professional and personalised financial advice.

SIMPLY PUT: SEBI is on a mission to take on the wild, wild west of futures and options in India. Here’s why, what, and how

The provisional figures of Direct <keyword id="45031" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax" source="Orion">Tax</keyword> collections up to February 10, continue to register steady growth. Direct Tax collections up to February 10 showed that gross collections are at ₹15.67 lakh crore which is 24.09 per cent higher than the gross collections for the corresponding period of last year. According to the <keyword id="156153" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Finance" source="Orion">Ministry of Finance</keyword>, <keyword id="72785" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="direct-tax-collection" source="Orion">Direct Tax collection</keyword>, net of refunds, stands at ₹12.98 lakh crore which is 18.40 per cent higher than the net collections for the corresponding period of last year. This collection is 91.39 per cent of the total Budget Estimates of Direct Taxes for F.Y. 2022-23 and 78.65 per cent of the Revised Estimates of Direct Taxes for FY 2022-23. So far, as the growth rate for Corporate Income Tax (CIT) and Personal Income Tax (PIT) in terms of gross revenue collections is concerned, the growth rate for CIT is 19.33 per cent, while that for PIT (including STT) is 29.63 per cent. After adjustment of refunds, the net growth in CIT collections is 15.84 per cent and that in PIT collections is 21.93 per cent (PIT only)/ 21.23 per cent (PIT including STT). Refunds amounting to ₹2.69 lakh crore have been issued during April 1, 2022 to February 10, 2023, which are 61.58 per cent higher than refunds issued during the same period in the preceding year, said the Ministry. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/kotak-mahindra-bank-acquires-microfinance-institution-sonata-finance-for-537-crore/articleshow/97804274.cms">Kotak Mahindra Bank acquires microfinance institution Sonata Finance for ₹537 crore</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/demand-supply-mismatch-pushes-home-rents-across-india-by-13-5-in-2022-magicbricks/articleshow/97804664.cms">Demand-supply mismatch pushes home rents across India by 13.5% in 2022: Magicbricks</a>

Direct Tax Collections (FY 2022-23) records growth at ₹15.67 lakh cr

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Selling appreciated assets like stock and real estate can trigger high capital gains taxes.</li><li>Moguls can save big by gifting assets to their parents, inheriting them back, and then selling them.</li></ul>Wealthy entrepreneurs face hefty capital gains taxes if they want to cash out after building a successful business from the ground up.But if they are willing to wait, they can save big by gifting their stock to their parents and getting it back when they die. Capital gains tax applies to the appreciation between the sale price and the asset's cost basis, typically its purchase price. "Upstream transfers" take advantage of a tax loophole for inherited assets that boosts the cost basis to its fair market value at the time of inheritance.For instance, a top earner looking to sell shares that had appreciated by $1 million since they bought them would have to pay about $238,000 in taxes, according to Pam Lucina, chief fiduciary officer at Northern Trust.But if they give the stock to their parents and sell it after inheriting it, they only have to pay that 23.8% tax rate on how much the stock had appreciated since their parents died, even if the stock had surged in value after they gave it away.You get the most bang for your buck by choosing assets with a low cost basis relative to their current value. Publicly-held stock, real estate, and private business interests are popular choices, Lucina said.Upstream planning is a powerful but risky tool, she told Business Insider. Individuals can lose their assets for good if their parents decide to share the wealth with a new spouse or other children. She estimates that only a quarter of clients actually go through with upstream planning after discussing it."Once you talk through the risks and the family dynamics aspect of it, it doesn't work for every family," she said.Thanks to tax cuts made during the Trump administration, individuals can gift or bequeath $13.61 million before triggering a 40% federal estate tax. The high exemption threshold has made upstream planning more popular. Lucina expects giving to pick up before the tax cuts expire at the end of 2025, barring action by Congress.Robert Strauss, partner at estate planning firm Weinstock Manion, typically uses upstream planning with ultra-rich clients who have already used their exemption but have less-wealthy parents who haven't. They can stash assets in a trust that benefits their parents until their passing and then the children. After the grandparents die, the children inherit the assets with a step-up basis. The federal estate tax doesn't kick in as long as the grandparents' estate does not exceed $27.22 million, the exemption for a married couple.<h2 id="fbe1dfa3-c1f3-49ff-b862-66a8fe0d22db">Buyer beware</h2><ol><li>The parents' creditors may have a right ot the assets.</li></ol>According to Lucina, the parents are usually given power of appointment over the assets to make sure they are included in their taxable estate. This legal right allows the parents to give or transfer the assets while they are alive. It also allows their creditors to pursue the assets, she warned.<ol start="2"><li>Make sure the whole family is on board.</li></ol>Lucina said best-laid plans are more likely to fall apart when more people are involved, from siblings to spouses. For instance, the parents might change their minds about leaving a bigger inheritance to one child, even if that child gifted substantial assets to them.One of Lucina's clients had to promise to pay the parents' medical bills in order to get their siblings to agree to the arrangement.Family dynamics are the thorniest part of upstream planning. Strauss said it is important to be transparent with everyone involved before the upstream transfer."You've got to navigate the family dynamics to make sure that an upstream actually isn't going to piss other people off or create an unrealistic expectation in an inheritance that's not intended," Strauss said.<ol start="3"><li>The age of the parents is very important.</li></ol>While there is no hard and fast rule, Strauss typically uses upstream transfers when the wealth creator's parents are at least in their seventies or expected to live five more years or less.It's a delicate balance. If the parents die within one year of the transfer, the assets do not receive a step up in basis.However, the assets are tied up during the parents' lifetime. During that time, the tax law and the value of the assets are bound to fluctuate. It is possible to unintentionally trigger estate taxes if the assets exceed the exemption amount by the time the parents die."Ideally, what you're doing is you're targeting the exemption amount and not less and not more, but the value of the asset will change and the exemption amount will change," Strauss said. "It makes it harder to deal with."

You Searched For "tax changes fy23" and got 11 results

Attention! Here's what's changing with your PPF, F&O trading, and buybacks, starting today!

Ira Alok Puranik

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Budget 2024: How will long-term capital tax change your real-estate investments post-budget?

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Anand Rathi anticipates Q1 FY25 GDP growth at 7%, a little lower than RBI's estimate of 7.1%

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A Deposit Dilemma — What's the fuss about a crisis in Indian bank deposits? Are mutual fund investments to blame?

Ira Alok Puranik

Interim Budget 2024: FY25 capex hiked 11%; no change in tax slab, says FM Sitharaman

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SIMPLY PUT: SEBI is on a mission to take on the wild, wild west of futures and options in India. Here’s why, what, and how

Ira Alok Puranik

Direct Tax Collections (FY 2022-23) records growth at ₹15.67 lakh cr

IANS

How rich Americans can save on taxes by giving stock and real estate to their parents

Hayley Cuccinello

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