Five smart things to know about Exempt-Exempt-Taxable (EET) rule

1. Three elements are taxable when one makes a tax saving investment. The amount being invested, the income on investment and redemption of amount invested in the future.

2. Taxability of the three elements vary. PPF is EEE—the investment is eligible for tax deduction, the income is exempt from tax, and redemption proceeds are not added to income in that year.



3. NSCs and 5-yr bank deposits are ETT. Investment is eligible for deduction, but the interest is taxable, and redemptions have to be added back to taxable income.

4. Tax saving schemes of mutual funds are EET. Investment is deductible, dividend income is exempt, but redemption proceeds are taxable.

5. The interest and the redemption proceeds that are taxable, can however, be used to make 80C investments in the year in which they are received, to enjoy tax deduction benefits.



(Content courtesy: Centre for Investment Education and Learning (CIEL). Contributions by Girija Gadre, Arti Bhargava and Labdhi Mehta.)