Juzer Gabajiwala- Director, Ventura Securities
Tax-free bonds provide ~4.5% p.a. present yield on a mean; the coupon charges are nevertheless larger as these have been issued greater than 5-10 years again. Thus, the yield is decrease than the present PPF (Public Provident Fund) price of seven.1% p.a. which can be tax exempt. Nonetheless, Tax-free bonds are comparatively liquid than PPF which has a lock-in interval of 15 years initially after which in block of 5 years every.
As regards Tax-free bonds are involved, you can’t reinvest as soon as the bonds mature. Moreover, you can’t make investments greater than Rs. 1.5 Lacs in PPF in a given monetary 12 months. You’ll be able to declare the deduction for the funding made in PPF upto Rs. 1.50 lacs beneath part 80C which you can’t for Tax-free bonds. Tax-free bonds have an annual payout of curiosity which isn’t there in PPF.
Thus, you see that each Tax-free bonds and PPF are complementary and completely totally different merchandise. Whereas investing for retirement, you’ll want to select between them relying on the advantages and which is finest suited to your wants. PPF is used extra as an accumulation instrument and bonds (Tax-free or in any other case) are checked out for funding for a daily revenue.
Dr. Kirti Sharma, Assistant Professor of Accounts & Finance at Nice Lakes Institute of Administration, Gurgaon
Many traders use Tax free bonds and tax saving bonds interchangeably however they’re very totally different w.r.t tenure, taxability and total returns. In Tax free bonds, solely the curiosity revenue obtained is exempt within the fingers of the investor. The preliminary funding in these bonds and the ultimate redemption quantity isn’t exempt from tax however they’re very protected as they’re authorities backed and have a protracted gestation interval. These might be held each in bodily type or demat type. Thus HNIs and establishments discover these profitable as there is no such thing as a higher restrict on funding.
Then again, PPF is an EEE instrument which implies that investments in PPF are exempt, so is the curiosity and likewise the quantity obtained on withdrawal. PPF can solely be held in bodily account and transactions have to be finished like one is working a checking account. It has a lock-in of 15 years which might be prolonged to a different 5 years after completion of fifteen years on request with out incurring curiosity loss.
Nonetheless, if in dire want for funds, partial withdrawal is allowed in PPF at first of seventh 12 months. Additionally mortgage might be taken towards PPF (from third 12 months until sixth 12 months) upto 25% of stability within the account within the previous 12 months at a hard and fast rate of interest which is 1% larger than the prevailing authorities rate of interest. Thus PPF provides liquidity and tax advantages to the investor proper from starting until the top. The one limitation with PPF is that the utmost funding restrict is capped at Rs. 1.5 lacs each year so an investor can not consider making a bulk funding larger than this quantity.
The PPF rate of interest touched its peak @ 12% in 2000 thereafter within the final twenty years it has been hovering round 8%. Tax free bonds bond coupon charges are various from 5.5% to 7.5% however as a result of tax profit their post-tax yield is 100 foundation factors extra in comparison with the yield of a tax saving bond.
Whereas each the funding choices have their execs and cons, for a retail investor PPF stays to be a preferred selection for retirement than tax bonds. That is vastly due to the tax advantages.
Mohit Ralhan, Chief Govt Officer TIW Capital
If you’re saving for retirement, which implies that this funding quantity is not going to be touched in any other case, then PPF is a superb start line. PPF funding as much as INR 1.5 lac is tax-exempt beneath part 80C. The 7.1% curiosity on provide can be enticing contemplating it’s tax-free. There isn’t a credit score danger as nicely because the borrower is the federal government.
Nonetheless, if one has to deploy massive funds then tax-free bonds could be a more sensible choice. These devices are floated by public sector undertakings like NHAI, IRFC, NHB, and many others. and are normally rated AAA, so credit score danger is minimal. Though the typical yield largely stays between 5.5% to six.5%, a few of these tax-free bonds might provide larger charges as nicely. Additionally, the bonds are listed on exchanges, so one can get out in case of liquidity necessities. A mixture of PPF and tax-free bonds might be thought-about for retirement planning.
Ashish Misra, chief working officer – retail banking at Fincare SFB
Public Provident Fund (PPF) and tax-free bonds are two frequent funding decisions for retirement planning. Tax-free bonds have a hard and fast time period of 10, 15, or 20 years and generate tax-free curiosity revenue. PPF, however, is a long-horizon funding with a 15-year period that gives tax-free curiosity in addition to tax financial savings advantages.
Though each options provide tax-free returns, these have totally different liquidity, danger, and returns. Tax-free bonds might be traded on inventory markets, giving the liquidity choice, whereas PPF has a 15-year lock-in interval, making it a long-term funding car. Additionally, whereas PPF supplies assured returns and is supported by the Authorities of India, tax-free bonds are thought to be low-risk investments.
The choice between Tax-free bonds and PPF in the end comes right down to investing targets, danger tolerance, and return expectations. Earlier than investing choice, it is essential to have in mind variables together with tax benefits, liquidity, and security. Making an knowledgeable selection that helps your retirement targets may also be facilitated by consulting with a monetary advisor.
Rahul Jain, President & Head, Nuvama Wealth
With their lengthy maturities of 15-20 years, tax-free bonds and PPF are perfect for long-term targets equivalent to retirement. Within the present market, tax-free bonds can yield as much as 6%, whereas PPF pays an annual rate of interest of seven.1%. Each these devices are interesting. Each are risk-free as a result of they’re backed by the federal government or establishments backed by the federal government.
PPF is the higher choice as a result of it pays larger curiosity and provides tax advantages. The pre-tax return on tax-free bonds might be as excessive as 9%. Many NCDs and bonds are at present providing rates of interest starting from 9.50% to 10%. Earlier than deciding between tax-free bonds and NCDs or different comparable choices, traders should think about credit score danger and post-tax returns.
Suraj Malik, Founder and Managing Accomplice, Legacy Development
Tax free bond supplies a gradual return yearly within the type of curiosity vis-a-vis PPF whereby curiosity will get collected within the corpus itself. Therefore, PPF might be most popular from retirement planning perspective as your entire funds (together with curiosity) is on the market after an outlined interval which might be a good sum whereas within the tax free bond, solely the principal quantity could be accessible on the time of maturity since curiosity is already paid (could be spent) over a time period.