The RGESS has been creating quite a stir. Here are the basics on this tax-saving option... An article by Fundsupermart.com

1. FAQ: Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme
The RGESS has been creating quite a stir. Here are the basics on this tax-saving option...
Author : iFast Content
The Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS) is creating quite a buzz. Under this scheme,
first-time equity investors can invest in approved stocks and mutual funds and claim an income
tax deduction on 50% of the amount invested under Section 80CCG of the Income Tax Act.
Here is what you need to know to grasp the facts.
 Who qualifies?
There are 3 requirements that an individual has to pass to be eligible for this scheme:
 Resident individual
 Gross total income less than Rs 10 lakh
 How does one define a first time investor?
- That would be an individual who opened a demat account as a ‘first holder’ after
November 23, 2012.
 What if he opened a demat account prior to this date but never bought any shares or
traded in the Futures and Options (F&O) segment?
- Then he too qualifies to be eligible under this scheme.
 And if his name appeared second in a joint demat account before this date?
- He still qualifies to open one under this scheme as a 'first holder'.
 If an investor opened a demat account to invest in a Gold ETF does that disqualify him?
- No. Since the demat account has no equity security, the individual will be considered a
new retail investor.
 How much needs to be invested?
There is no restriction on the amount to be invested – minimum or maximum. However, only Rs
50,000 is considered for tax purposes. Of this, only 50%, or Rs 25,000, is allowed as deduction.
Even if you invest less than the upper limit of Rs 50,000, only 50% of what you invest is allowed
as a deduction.
Do note that additional expenses incurred on the acquisition of eligible securities like brokerage,
stamp duty, securities transaction tax (STT), service tax etc will not be considered.

2.  What can be bought?
 Stocks from the universe that comprise the BSE-100 or CNX-100
 Shares of listed Navratna, Maharatna and Miniratna public sector enterprises - Click
here to see which stocks fall into this category
 Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of PSUs with turnover more than Rs 4,000 crore and
where the government shareholding pattern is at least 51%
 Units of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) or mutual fund schemes investing in RGESS
eligible shares provided these units are listed and traded on the stock exchange and
settled through the depository mechanism
Since a direct investment in equity needs considerable expertise, a first-time investor is not
advised to take the plunge. They can opt for the mutual fund route.
Various mutual fund houses have also started filing offer documents for eligible schemes with
the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). A few new fund offerings (NFOs) are also
expected to hit the market soon.
As per regulations, the initial offering period of any mutual fund should not be more than 15
days. But schemes eligible under RGESS have it extended right up to 30 days.
 Will investment in a regular open-ended diversified equity fund qualify?
Only mutual fund schemes whose units are listed and traded on the stock exchange and settled
through the depository mechanism qualify for Section 80CCG benefits. Since open-ended
mutual fund schemes are currently not allowed to be listed on the stock exchange, investments
in any fund will not qualify.
 Is there a lock-in period?
There is an overall lock-in period of 3 years which is further divided.
The first year is the fixed lock-in period. During this time frame, the investor will not be
permitted to sell, pledge or hypothecate any of the shares.
The next two years are the flexible lock-in years. The investor can sell but will have to buy other
eligible securities with the proceeds in the same financial year. Meaning that the buying and
selling will have to be done in the same financial year. This is to ensure adherence to a
cumulative holding period of 270 days during each of the 2 years of flexible lock-in.
 Is this over and above the Section 80C limit?
Yes. This benefit is over and above the Rs 1 lakh limit under Section 80C.

3. Should you?
Before an investor decides to go ahead, bear one very important fact in mind. The tax savings
are only for the first year, not subsequent years. So to avail of the maximum amount of
deduction (Rs 25,000), the investor would need Rs 50,000 to invest. If you are running short of
money, then maybe it would make sense to hold on till the next next financial year. Since this is
a once-in-a-lifetime benefit, make the best use of it.
Also, the maximum savings would be Rs 5,000 (20% tax bracket) and Rs 2,500 (10% tax
bracket). So if you invest a small amount, the tax saving would be negligible.
To read about the benefits of tax-saving funds under Section 80C, click here
To buy and sell mutual funds online, click here
Content Team,
Fundsupermart.com | iFAST Financial India Pvt Ltd.
DISCLAIMER
iFAST and/or its content and research team’s licensed representatives may own or have positions in the mutual funds of any of the
Asset Management Company mentioned or referred to in the article, and may from time to time add or dispose of, or be materially
interested in any such. This article is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the subscription, purchase or sale of any
mutual fund. No investment decision should be taken without first viewing a mutual fund's scheme information document including
statement of additional information. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific
investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Investors should seek for professional investment, tax, and legal
advice before making an investment or any other decision. Past performance and any forecast is not necessarily indicative of the
future or likely performance of the mutual fund. The value of mutual funds and the income from them may fall as well as rise.
Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Please read our disclaimer on the website .Please read our
disclaimer in the website. Risk Factors: Mutual funds, like securities investments, are subject to market risks and there is no
guarantee against loss in the Scheme or that the Scheme’s objectives will be achieved. As with any investment in securities, the
NAV of the Units issued under the Scheme can go up or down depending on various factors and forces affecting capital markets.
Past performance of the Sponsor/the AMC/the Mutual Fund does not indicate the future performance of the Scheme. The name of
the Scheme does not in any manner indicate the quality of the Scheme, its future prospects or returns. Please read the Statement of
Additional Information and Scheme Information Document carefully before investing.