The tax introduced on the Employees' Provident Fund would have left many savers shell-shocked, but this radical change in taxation policy holds a big lesson for those relying purely on tax saving as the investing criterion.
Experts insist that the time has come for investors to look beyond taxation while choosing investments.
Along with EPF, those making additional contributions under voluntary provident fund will also take a hit.
Two years ago, investors in debt funds, and particularly in fixed maturity plans, had received a jolt when long-term capital gains eligibility was stretched from one year to three years.
This tax change altered the very product proposition for these investors. With more such tax changes on the anvil, Hemant Rustagi, CEO, Wiseinvest Advisors, says investors should be prepared for any eventuality and be more active in their approach.
"Savings instruments which were earlier considered sacrosanct are being brought under the tax purview", says Rustagi, referring to the government's proposal to tax the EPF. "Your portfolio should be flexible enough to change colour in line with the change in regulatory regime," he adds.
Suresh Sadagopan, founder, Ladder 7 Financial Services, says it is wrong for investors to expect high returns at risk-free rates as such returns are not sustainable in the long run.
"Investors should diversify away from pure tax-friendly options like EPF and PPF to instruments with varying levels of risk. Based on your risk appetite, go with a mix of debt, equity and hybrid instruments."
Experts also suggest investors give due consideration to liquidity of the instrument. Products like EPF and PPF keep investor's money locked-in for a long time, and any adverse changes in tax rules leaves investors stuck with little recourse to shift the money elsewhere.
Rustagi suggests investors should move towards market-linked products likemutual funds where investors have a higher flexibility to take money in and out of play due to the liquidity. With interest rates on small saving schemes also slated to be revised on a quarterly basis, investors can no longer hope to lock-in to instruments at a certain rate of return.
Similarly, investors used to earning tax-free returns on long-term gains from equity instruments may not remain out of tax net forever.
Experts insist that the time has come for investors to look beyond taxation while choosing investments.
Along with EPF, those making additional contributions under voluntary provident fund will also take a hit.
Two years ago, investors in debt funds, and particularly in fixed maturity plans, had received a jolt when long-term capital gains eligibility was stretched from one year to three years.
This tax change altered the very product proposition for these investors. With more such tax changes on the anvil, Hemant Rustagi, CEO, Wiseinvest Advisors, says investors should be prepared for any eventuality and be more active in their approach.
"Savings instruments which were earlier considered sacrosanct are being brought under the tax purview", says Rustagi, referring to the government's proposal to tax the EPF. "Your portfolio should be flexible enough to change colour in line with the change in regulatory regime," he adds.
Suresh Sadagopan, founder, Ladder 7 Financial Services, says it is wrong for investors to expect high returns at risk-free rates as such returns are not sustainable in the long run.
"Investors should diversify away from pure tax-friendly options like EPF and PPF to instruments with varying levels of risk. Based on your risk appetite, go with a mix of debt, equity and hybrid instruments."
Experts also suggest investors give due consideration to liquidity of the instrument. Products like EPF and PPF keep investor's money locked-in for a long time, and any adverse changes in tax rules leaves investors stuck with little recourse to shift the money elsewhere.
Rustagi suggests investors should move towards market-linked products likemutual funds where investors have a higher flexibility to take money in and out of play due to the liquidity. With interest rates on small saving schemes also slated to be revised on a quarterly basis, investors can no longer hope to lock-in to instruments at a certain rate of return.
Similarly, investors used to earning tax-free returns on long-term gains from equity instruments may not remain out of tax net forever.
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