Value Research Online

Can a short-term capital loss cut your long-term gains tax?

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:32:07 +0530

A short-term capital loss can reduce your taxable long-term capital gain. Learn the set-off rules, tax impact and when losses can be carried forward.

Index funds or ETFs? The tax rules differ

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:46:33 +0530

Index funds and ETFs are not always taxed the same. Understand the tax rules for equity, debt, gold, and silver passive funds before you invest..

Active large-cap fund vs index fund: Who should you pick?

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:18:16 +0530

Should you invest in an active large-cap fund or a large-cap index fund? See how active funds have performed over five, 10 and 15 years before you decide.

Does the Rs 1.25 lakh LTCG exemption apply to SGBs?

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:41:18 +0530

The Rs 1.25 lakh long-term capital gain exemption does not apply to Sovereign Gold Bonds. Here's how SGBs are taxed on exchange sales and at maturity.

You can use the Rs 1.25 lakh LTCG exemption every year

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:05:29 +0530

Wondering when the Rs 1.25 lakh long-term capital gains tax exemption becomes available again? It resets every 1 April at the start of a new financial year.

Inherited mutual funds? Here's how they're taxed

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:14:58 +0530

Inherited mutual funds are not taxed on transmission. Learn when capital gains tax applies, how it is calculated and the rules for equity and debt funds.

Should I move my money from an equity fund to a liquid fund?

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:47:51 +0530

Unsure whether to book profits on your equity investments and switch to a liquid fund? Here's a guide to help you decide.

Is the PPF interest rate fixed for 15 years?

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:35:06 +0530

PPF interest rates change quarterly and are not fixed for the 15-year tenure. Learn how interest is calculated monthly based on the lowest balance in your account between the 5th and last day of the month.

Is this flexi-cap giant losing its shine?

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:44:28 +0530

Has the Kotak Flexicap Fund lost its edge? See what explains its recent underperformance, how its Value Research rating is determined and whether a switch makes sense.

Should I disclose my PF payout when filing my ITR?

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 17:36:57 +0530

If you’ve just received your PF payout, do you have to disclose it while filing an ITR? We answer this question and explain where you should declare it.

Drowning in EMIs? Repay them in this order

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 17:12:58 +0530

The debt avalanche method clears the costliest loan first. Here is the right order for paying off credit card debt, a car loan and a home loan as efficiently as possible.

Confused between ETFs and FoFs? Read this

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:56:58 +0530

Confused between ETFs and FoFs? Compare how they differ in investing, costs, liquidity, taxation and convenience to choose the right passive investment.

REITs or InvITs: Same wrapper, different engines

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0530

One earns rent, the other tolls. Why InvIT yields look higher, why part of that payout is your own capital coming back, and how to judge which is safer for you.

Direct plans cost less. Switching to them might not be free

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:38:54 +0530

Switching to a direct plan triggers capital gains tax on existing gains. Exit loads no longer apply. Here is how to switch across four routes and what to do with your SIP.

How long should my term insurance be?

Wed, 01 May 2024 14:49:19 +0530

Having term insurance can help you protect your family from the ups and downs of life. We delve deep to find out what is its ideal duration.

Gifting stocks to family? The tax may stay with you

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:35:19 +0530

Gifts to spouse and children are tax-free at transfer, but future dividends and gains can still be clubbed with your income. Here is how the process works and what to watch.

Why returns alone can fool mutual fund investors

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:16:01 +0530

Alpha measures a fund manager's skill after adjusting for risk taken. Value and large-and-mid-cap funds lead with over 90 per cent of funds generating positive alpha.

How to invest over Rs 50,000 a month in mutual funds

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0530

More than Rs 50,000 a month does not mean more funds. Here is why three to four equity funds are enough and how to think about flexi-cap, multi-cap and small-cap splits.

Did your IDCW payout actually add to your wealth?

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:00:02 +0530

When a fund pays IDCW, the NAV falls by exactly the same amount. The payout does not make you wealthier. Here is what IDCW actually is and when it makes sense to use it.

Is buying on dips actually better than a monthly SIP?

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:54:29 +0530

Perfect market timing beats a monthly SIP by just 0.2 percentage points a year over 30 years. Here is why the effort of watching dips buys you almost nothing extra.