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  • Benefit from Power of compounding

  • Investments based on your risk profile

  • Empower yourself financially

  • Portfolio Diversification

 

 

 

 

 

How to Invest?

About the product

What are Mutual Funds? 

Mutual Funds pool money from multiple investors and get you a portfolio of diversified investments. Instead of owning individual stocks or bonds, investors of mutual funds, have shares in the fund, gaining exposure to different kinds of investments, without any direct management. 

What are the Advantages of Investing in Mutual Funds?

  • Diversification: Spreads investment risk across various asset classes and sectors. 
  • Professional Management: Managed by experienced fund managers who make informed investment decisions. 
  • Liquidity: Most funds (especially open-ended) allow easy entry and exit. 
  • Tax Benefits: ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Schemes) offer tax deductions up to ₹1.5 lakh under Section 80C with a 3-year lock-in period. 
  • Affordability: Investors can start with amounts as low as ₹500 via SIPs. 

FAQs

How are returns earned in Mutual Funds?

Mutual Fund returns are calculated by computing appreciation in the value of your investments over a period as compared to the initial investment. The Net Asset Value of Mutual Fund indicates its price and is used in calculating returns for your Mutual Fund investments. Using a MF Calculator, you can easily calculate the returns on your mutual fund investment

Are Mutual Funds taxable?

By investing in Mutual Funds, an investor can earn returns in the form of capital gains and dividend** income, which are taxable in the hands of the investor.

  • A capital gain / loss arises when an investor sells any number of units of Mutual Funds
  • An investor receives a dividend in proportion to the number of units held at the time of announcement of dividend, which is distributed by companies to investors when they earn a surplus.

Tax on Capital Gains Received from Mutual Funds:

The tax on capital gains depends on the period of holding (short-term or long-term) and the type of capital asset.

  • In the case of Equity Mutual Funds, an investment tenure of less than 1 year (12 months) is a short-term investment. Any investment of over one year is a long-term investment
  • In case of Debt and Hybrid Mutual Funds, an investment tenure of up to 2 years (24 months) is a short-term investment and any investment of over 2 years (24 months) is considered as long-term.
Equity Mutual Funds / Equity Index Fund / Equity ETF / Equity FoF / 
BAF / Equity Savings / Arbitrage / Aggressive Hybrid*
Redemption up to Jul 22, 2024 (Pre-Budget) Redemption on or after Jul 23, 2024 (Post-Budget)
STCG LTCG STCG LTCG
Period of Holdings (Months) <12 >12 <12 >12
Type of Gain Short-Term Long-Term Short-Term Long-Term
Taxation Rate 15% 10% (on gains above ₹1 lakh) 20% 12.50% (on gains above ₹1.25 lakh)

  *STT is applicable on these funds as >= 65% is invested in domestic equity shares BAF is considered here as in most cases BAF schemes maintain gross exposure of % or more to equity and equity related instruments.  

Debt Oriented Fund Investment prior to Apr 1, 2023 & redemption up to Jul 22, 2024 (Pre-Budget) Investment prior to Apr 1, 2023 & redemption on or after Jul 23, 2024 (Post-Budget)
STCG LTCG STCG LTCG
Period of Holdings (Months) <36 >36 <24 >24
Type of Gain Short-Term Long-Term Short-Term Long-Term
Rate of Tax As per slab rate <20>% with indexation As per slab rate <12.50>% with no indexation

Debt Oriented Fund Investment after <Apr 1, 2023> & redemption up to <Jul 22, 2024> (Pre-Budget) Investment after <Apr 1, 2023> & redemption on or after <Jul 23, 2024> (Post-Budget)
STCG LTCG STCG LTCG
Period of Holdings (Months) NA NA NA NA
Type of Gain Short-Term NA Short-Term NA
Rate of Tax As per slab rate NA As per slab rate NA

Gold ETFs /Silver ETFs / FoF / Multi-Asset Allocation, International FoFs, Hybrid Mutual Fund with <= 35% Investment in equity Instruments Investment prior to Apr 1, 2023 & redemption after Jul 23, 2024 Investment after Apr 1, 2023 & redemption after Jul 23, 2024 (till Mar 31, 2025) Investment after Apr 1, 2023 & redemption on or after Apr 01, 2025
STCG LTCG STCG LTCG STCG LTCG
Period of Holdings <12 >12 NA NA <12 >12
Type of Gain Short-term Long-term Short-term NA Short-term Long-term
Rate of Tax As per slab rate 12.50% As per slab rate NA As per slab rate 12.50%

  Debt Oriented Fund (>= 65% in SEBI Regulated Debt and Money Market Instruments)

Key abbreviations:

(STCG – Short Term Capital Gains, LTCG – Long Term Capital Gains, ETF – Exchange Traded Fund, FoF – Fund of Funds, BAF – Balanced Advantage Fund, STT – Securities Transaction Tax) 

**Tax on Dividend Income received from Mutual Funds:

  • From Apr 1, 2020, Mutual Fund dividends are taxable in the hands of investors. The dividend income is taxable under the head ‘income from other sources’ at the applicable income tax slab rate for the financial year

     

  • Income Distribution-cum-Capital Withdrawal (IDCW) is a term used by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to replace dividend option in Mutual Fund.

     

Disclaimer: The Union Budget 2024 has introduced significant changes to the taxation of Mutual Funds, aiming to simplify the tax structure and provide clarity for investors. These changes impact various types of Mutual Funds differently, altering how they are taxed over both the short and long term. Investors can learn how Mutual Funds are taxed if they are concerned that their returns from Mutual Funds will be reduced after paying taxes.

What is SIP in Mutual Funds?

SIP stands for Systematic Investment Plan. It is a method of investing in Mutual Funds (MFs) and involves regularly investing a fixed amount at predetermined intervals, generally monthly. SIPs are popular for letting investors invest in a disciplined manner and they also offer the chance to generate long-term wealth.

Is Mutual Fund Investment Profitable? 

Mutual funds can be profitable investments, but success also depends on selecting the appropriate fund and maintaining a long-term perspective. However, profitability is influenced by factors like fund management and market conditions. It's important to understand that mutual funds are susceptible to market fluctuations, meaning their value may decline if underlying assets falter. Using a mutual fund calculator can help in monitoring the progress of the fund.

How can I check my Mutual Fund status?

You can check your status through ICICI Bank digital platforms as below:

  • iMobile app: log in to the app, move to the ‘Invest’ section and select ‘Mutual Funds’. Click on ‘My SIPs’ to view your portfolio details.
  • Net Banking: Login, locate the ‘Investments and Insurance’ section and click the ‘Buy Mutual Funds’ section to check the status. You can also request a Consolidated Account Statement (CAS).

What are the Types of Mutual Fund Investments?


Based on Asset Class:

Type Description
Equity Funds Invest mainly in shares of companies for long-term capital growth.
Debt Funds Invest in bonds and fixed-income instruments, ideal for stable returns.
Money Market Funds Invest in short-term, low-risk instruments like Treasury Bills.
Hybrid Funds Combine equities and debt for balanced growth and stability.

Based on Investment Goals:

Type Description
Growth Funds Target capital appreciation through equity investments.
Income Funds Aim to provide regular income via interest or dividends.
Liquid Funds Focus on capital preservation and quick access to funds.
Tax Saving Funds ELSS schemes with tax benefits under Section 80C.

Based on Structure:

Type Description
Open-ended Funds Allow investors to buy/sell units any time.
Closed-ended Funds Fixed maturity period; units trade on stock exchanges.
Interval Funds Open for purchase/sale at specific intervals only.

Based on Risk: Specialised Mutual Funds:

Risk Category Description
Very Low-Risk Funds Invest in instruments like T-bills for capital preservation.
Low-Risk Funds Slightly higher returns with stable instruments.
Medium Risk Funds Mix of equity and debt for balanced returns.
High-Risk Funds Invest in equities for high returns with higher volatility.