Dividend or Growth Option: Purpose, Suitability, Taxability

Investing in mutual funds involves choosing between dividend or growth option. The choice ultimately depends upon your financial objectives. This article covers the following:

What Is a Dividend Option?

In case of a dividend option, profits made by the scheme are not reinvested in the scheme. Instead, gains will be distributed among the investors by way of dividends; on a quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis. However, the fund doesn’t guarantee as regards the amount and frequency of dividend payment.

Usually, the fund manager declares the dividend only when the scheme generates profits. Dividends are paid by redeeming equivalent units of the scheme. Suppose you invest Rs 10 in an equity fund. The NAV of the fund increases to Rs 15 and the fund manager declares a dividend of Rs 2. After the payment of dividend, the NAV of the fund falls to Rs 13.

What Is a Growth Option?

You may perceive the growth option like a cumulative option. The profits made by the scheme are not paid by way of dividend. Instead, these get accumulated and form part of the scheme via reinvestment.

So, whenever the scheme makes a profit, its NAV rises automatically. Conversely, when the scheme suffers a loss, the NAV falls. The only way to get back profits is to sell units of the scheme. Suppose you buy 100 units of an equity fund at a NAV of Rs 40. Under the growth option, the NAV of the scheme rises to Rs 50 in one year. You sell the units and receive a sum of Rs 5,000. Hence, your profits from the investment are Rs 1,000 (Rs 5,000-Rs 4,000).

What Is the Purpose of Having Different Options

While choosing a mutual fund, an investor requires to make a range of choices. Among them, the most puzzling decisions are the ones relating to choosing between growth option or dividend option. These options relate to how the fund needs to deal with the gains made by the fund over time. Each option has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

An investor needs to make a choice based on their personal financial goals and needs. However, once the investor gains clarity on these aspects, making a choice will seem breezy. The NAV of the dividend option of a mutual fund scheme might be different from that of a growth option. In fact, in most of the cases, NAV of growth option is found to be higher than the dividend option.

Investors might wonder if the schemes are different or same?

The scheme is the same and the difference in NAVs is due to the compounding effect. In both options, the scheme invests in identical securities but the manner of distribution of profit varies. The investment objective, holdings, performance and fund manager, remains the same. Only the manner of delivering returns changes.

Which Option Is Suitable for the Investor?

Whether to go for dividend option or growth option solely depends on your needs. Dividend option works best when markets are at all-time high. As the NAV of the fund rises consistently, the likelihood of fund declaring dividends is higher. Moreover, if you are dependent on your investments for a regular income, the dividend option might work for you.

However, you may lose on the compounding of returns aspect as dividends won’t be reinvested in the scheme. Wealth accumulation may slow down as compared to growth option. Growth option can be suitable for investors having a long-term investment horizon. It will help them in accumulating corpus for retirement. Moreover, in case you earn a regular income and aren’t in need of dividends, go for growth option.

How are Different Options Taxed?

Both of the options will have different tax treatment. In the Budget 2018, a dividend distribution tax (DDT) at the rate of 10% has been proposed on equity-oriented mutual funds. The dividend will not be taxed in the hands of investors. However, the DDT might reduce their return on equity funds. As regards growth option, long-term capital gains over Rs 1 lakh on equity funds will be taxed at the rate of 10%.

How to Switch From Dividend to Growth Option?

It is possible to switch from dividend option to growth option or vice-versa. It would entail sale of old units and purchase of new units. This might attract exit loads along with a tax on capital gains. Before you switch from one option to another, check for both of these aspects.

How to Invest in Mutual Funds?

Investing in Mutual Funds is made paperless and hassle-free at ClearTax. Using the following steps, you can start your investment journey:
Step 1: Sign in at cleartax.in
Step 2: Enter your details regarding the amount of investment and period of investment
Step 3: Get your e-KYC done in less than 5 minutes
Step 4: Invest in your favorite mutual fund from amongst the hand-picked mutual funds