Medium term goal
Tax-saving investments.
ELSS with a three-year lock-in, chosen on merit rather than on the March deadline — and only if the old tax regime is the one that actually saves you money.
Who this is for
If you file under the old tax regime.
Section 80C allows a deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh a year, which at the 30% slab saves up to ₹46,800 including cess. The deduction is available only under the old regime; the new regime, now the default, offers lower slab rates instead.
Which regime suits you depends on your home loan, rent, insurance and other deductions. We check that first — there is no point locking money away for a deduction you cannot claim.
“Start in April, not in March. A monthly ELSS SIP spreads the entry and removes the deadline.”
The 80C options side by side
Lock-in, return and tax, compared.
Every option below counts toward the same ₹1.5 lakh limit. They differ in how long the money is tied up and how the gains are taxed on the way out.
₹1.5 lakh of ELSS, by the month you begin
Start in April, not in March
- From April₹12,500/mo
- From October₹25,000/mo
- From January₹50,000/mo
4×more each month if you leave it to January — and less time invested
| Option | Lock-in | Return | Tax on the gains | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELSS mutual fund | 3 years, per instalment | Market-linked | LTCG above ₹1.25L at 12.5% | Growth with the shortest lock-in |
| PPF | 15 years; partial withdrawals from year 7 | ~7.1% p.a.* | Exempt | A safe long-term core |
| NSC | 5 years | ~7.7% p.a.* | Interest at slab rate | A fixed, government-backed return |
| Tax-saver bank FD | 5 years | Set by the bank | Interest at slab rate | Capital certainty |
| Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme | 5 years | ~8.2% p.a.* | Interest at slab rate | Regular income after 60 |
* Small-savings rates are notified by the government every quarter; the figures shown are indicative and may have changed. ELSS returns are market-linked and not assured. Deductions under Section 80C apply only under the old tax regime. Not a recommendation of any specific scheme.
How we work
Four steps, then a review every year.
- 1
Pick the regime first
We compare your tax under both regimes with your actual deductions before any money moves.
- 2
See what already counts
Your EPF contribution, life insurance premiums, children’s tuition fees and home-loan principal all use the same ₹1.5 lakh. Often little room is left.
- 3
Fill the gap monthly
A monthly ELSS SIP from April, sized to the room that remains, instead of a lump sum in the last week of March.
- 4
Treat it as an equity investment
Each instalment unlocks after three years, but nothing forces a redemption. Left invested, ELSS can serve a long-term goal.
Questions we get
Before you start.
Is every ELSS SIP instalment locked for three years?
What about NPS?
I have moved to the new regime. Should I stop my ELSS SIP?
Do you file income tax returns as well?
Other goals
Planning for more than one thing?
Retirement
Your longest goal. Most people start ten years late.
Plan this goal Long termChild’s education
A fixed date you cannot move.
Plan this goal Long termChild’s marriage
A long horizon with a flexible date.
Plan this goal Medium termDream home
Usually three to seven years away.
Plan this goal Short termEmergency fund
Six months of expenses, ready the same day.
Plan this goal Short termYearly expenses
Fees, premiums and festivals that come every year.
Plan this goal Short termDream vacation
A short horizon, so keep it safe.
Plan this goal Medium termSelf development
Courses or a career change, planned on purpose.
Plan this goalPlan your tax saving with us.
A free 30-minute call. We look at what you already have and work out what the goal really needs.
We never hold your money. Payments go straight to the fund house.
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully. Projections are illustrations at an assumed rate, not guaranteed returns.