India-focussed offshore funds, ETFs see ₹14,200 cr outflow in Dec quarter

India-focussed offshore funds, ETFs witnessed a net outflow of over $2 billion in three months ended Dec 2019, making it the seventh consecutive quarter of withdrawal amid stuttering economic growth, says report

Five health insurance terms you must know before buying policy

• Duration of waiting period varies from insurer to insurer
• Some policies come with co-payment clause

Set realistic financial targets and build goal-oriented portfolios to reach them

On the first count, you need to remember to account for inflation. In 15 years, the cost of educating a child abroad is likely to be more than ₹1 crore, for instance

GST paid on life, health cover premiums are eligible for tax deduction benefits

• When you pay a premium for a life or health policy, you also have to pay GST, which effectively increases the overall premium
• You have to pay GST at the rate of 18% on health insurance policies

Two RBI moves that work for borrowers

• CRR waiver will benefit new borrowers as well as those on MCLR
• Introduction of long-term repo operations will reduce rates for those having MCLR-linked loans

Opinion | Before changing jobs, check insurance policies the employer provides

But having your personal health and term insurance covers is necessary

Taxing retirement income of employees a retrograde step, say experts

• To date, contribution of employer to retirement funds of employee was tax exempt all through till withdrawal
• The amendment in Income tax provisions seeking to levy tax on contributions to retirement funds, in excess of ₹7.50 lakh per annum, is a retrograde measure, according to experts

Mint Globetrotter Index: Take a trip to Male, Maldives

• The Mint Globetrotter index compares the cost of 25 essential travel spends for 50 cities across regions
• Here, Mint Money will list these 25 spends for a city and compare it with Delhi

How much tax do you pay on your equity investment

• Capital gains tax is based on the period of holding
• Taxes reduce the overall returns that you can get from a product

Who are legal heirs?

If the owner is a Hindu woman, assets get passed on to her husband and children in equal proportion. If none of them are present, the property will go to the heirs of her husband

Rent inflation was at 3-13% in 2019: Report

• Delhi-NCR was the only region where rentals fell year-on-year
• Very few people now consider buying property for investment

Soon, less paperwork for donors to get tax benefit

• You will find donation details pre-filled at the time of filing your income tax return
• If you opt for the new tax regime proposed by the government, you won’t be able to avail of tax break under 80G

UTI, Nippon India Mutual Fund side pocket Vodafone Idea exposure

• Side pocketing allows investors to exit the remaining portfolio without giving up the chance of recovery in bad debt
• Franklin Templeton AMC has written off 100% of its Vodafone Idea exposure

You can’t name your pets as the beneficiaries of a trust or Will

The more realistic option is to use the services of a reliable NGO that is engaged in the care of animals

Gold ETFs in India lure big inflows even as buyers shun jewelry

• Indians invested the most in gold ETFs in more than seven years in January
• By contrast, gold imports halved in January

Will first-time equity investors buy ELSS without tax benefit?

The new tax regime proposed in Budget 2020 has lowered tax rates but restricts taxpayers from claiming tax deductions under Section 80C and other specified sections of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Sunita Abraham asks experts what investors should do

How much return are your investments yielding?

• Too much equity may expose you to undue risk, while being too conservative and investing only in, say, FDs can mean that you are not able to build the corpus that you need
• One must also keep in mind the volatility risk of the asset class, liquidity, lock-in rules and taxation

NRIs need to file tax returns in India if their taxable income exceeds ₹2.5 lakh

The taxable income should be computed before giving effect to the various deductions such as under 80C

Single in the city? Look at shared spaces

• Co-living and co-working spaces are gaining popularity in India because of the flexibility they offer over traditional options like renting and buying
• Compare the location, prices and amenities on offer. Some of the service providers also offer trial services