LIC MF Arbitrage Fund - Regular Plan

Suitability:

Arbitrage funds invest in equity shares and derivatives, and earn their returns through the price differential between a stock and its futures. You can expect to earn better returns than what you would get from a bank account.

They are usually suitable to park your money for a period ranging between three months to a year. However, we believe that liquid funds, which have a similar risk-return payoff, are a better alternative for most investors for such a time frame. Arbitrage funds may have some appeal for those who are in the highest tax bracket, given the preferential tax treatment of these funds.

The risk of incurring a loss in these funds over the said time frame is low but they do not guarantee returns or safety of capital.

Remember, these funds usually deliver low returns which are only marginally higher than your bank account. They are not suitable if your aim is to build wealth in the long run.

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 are added to the income of the investors and taxed according to their respective tax slabs. Further, if an investor's dividend income exceeds Rs. 5,000 in a financial year, the fund house also deducts a TDS of 10% before distributing the dividend.