What is an ELSS Calculator and How Does it Help You?

An ELSS calculator is a simulation which helps you estimate the value of your ELSS investment over a period of time depending on the inputs you provide. The calculator requires you to enter the mode of investment (SIP or lump sum), the amount of investment, frequency of investment if the mode is SIP, expected annual rate of return, and duration of the investment.

Once you have entered these details, our ELSS calculator will display the amount your investment would have accumulated at the end of the investment tenure. By using our ELSS calculator, you will be able to align your investment and requirements together. In case you want to achieve your goals sooner, then our ELSS calculator can help you estimate the additional amount to be invested.

ELSS Calculator: SIP

Systematic investing in mutual funds is an excellent way of avoiding any pitfalls of investing in equities. It also serves well with high returns. Small investments throughout regular intervals yield a reasonable return over the more extended period. SIP, with its disciplined format, has become a more popular mutual fund investment method than a one-time lump sum investment. It ensures a large investment corpus with tiny investments made periodically where professional managers manage the funds. If you are interested in investing in SIP, then it is crucial to understand and estimate the worth of your investment at the end of the tenure of your SIP. This number can be obtained through an ELSS SIP calculator that gives you the returns offered by your SIP, be it equity, debt, or hybrid funds. The ELSS SIP Calculator would require the investor to populate details such as the amount of the investment, the tenure of the SIP, the expected rate of returns, and so on. The calculator, based on these details, will generate an estimated rate of return for your investment.

For instance:

If you plan on investing Rs 5000 a month for 12 months with an expected rate of return of 15%, the ELSS SIP Calculator will be able to calculate the maturity value of your SIP. Your cumulative investment will be worth Rs 60,000 (INR 5000*12 months). The maturity value of this SIP will be Rs 65,106. The ELSS SIP calculator is very much dependent on the input that is provided by the user. Therefore, it should be taken as an estimate and not as an absolute value. Factors such as inflation also come into play in the determination of the maturity value of the SIP, and there is no provision to factor tax benefits. This tool nonetheless is a vital input in getting an estimate for your investment.

ELSS Calculator: Lump Sum

Like an ELSS Calculator, a Lump Sum Calculator helps investors figure what a said amount of investment in an ELSS, given a certain period and a specific rate of interest, would result at maturity. The calculator will take into account the data mentioned above and calculates the expected value of your investment. A significant aspect to note is the lock-in period of your investment, which usually mandates a minimum of three years. The results you derive from the ELSS Lump Sum Calculator will not factor in the aspects of tax in the calculation.

For instance:

If you wish to invest a lump sum of Rs 50,000 for 60 months at an annualised interest rate of 15%, then the calculator will generate a value of Rs 1,00,568.

>Again, it is essential to note that the calculator generates results based on the input provided alone and does not factor in the market conditions.

Taxation of ELSS Funds

The capital gains offered by ELSS funds are taxable. Since ELSS funds come with a lock-in period of three years, you can realise only long-term capital gains. These gains of up to Rs 1,00,000 a year are made tax-exempt. Any gains above this limit are taxable at 10%, and there is no benefit of indexation provided.

Dividends offered by all mutual fund schemes are taxed in the classical manner. That is, dividends are added to your overall income and taxed at your income tax slab rate. Until Budget 2020, dividends were tax-free in the hands of investors as companies paid dividend distribution tax (DDT).

ELSS Calculator: Best ELSS - Tax Saving Funds Based on 5 Year Returns

An ELSS calculator will provide you with the estimation of how much your fund will be worth or how much you need to invest each month in reaching a specific target. The past performance calculator will shed light on how the fund has fared historically, but neither of the calculators can be taken to be absolute in their value as the market conditions are not factored in the calculation. It is merely for the investor to gather insights to make investment decisions.