ICICI Prudential Long Term Wealth Enhancement Fund

Suitability:

When you invest for five years or above, you can expect gains that comfortably beat the inflation rate and are also higher than fixed income options. In addition, you get tax exemption on the invested amount under Section 80C of the Indian income tax laws. As per this section, total investments of upto Rs 1.5 lakh in a financial year in eligible securities such as this fund are exempt from tax.

But be prepared for ups and downs in your investment value along the way. Also note that you cannot withdraw your money from this fund before completing three years from the date of investment.

Like all equity funds, you must invest only through the SIP route. Click here to read a primer on SIP investing.

Warning: Do not invest in this, or any other ELSS, if you need to redeem your investment in less than five years.

Taxability of earnings:

Capital gains

• If the mutual fund units are sold after 1 year from the date of investment, gains upto Rs 1 lakh in a financial year are exempt from tax. Gains over Rs 1 lakh are taxed at the rate of 10%.
• If the mutual fund units are sold within 1 year from the date of investment, entire amount of gain is taxed at the rate of 15%.
• No tax is to be paid as long as you continue to hold the units.

Dividends

• Dividends paid by the mutual fund scheme are taxed at the rate of 10% (effectively 11.648%, including surcharge and cess). This is known as Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT). Though the investor does not pay this tax directly, it is deducted from the dividend income before passing on to the investor.