Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)
A Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) is an option to the investors to withdraw a fixed amount of money from their capital invested in the scheme on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. SWP scheme helps the investors who wish to have regular income requirements from the mutual fund scheme to meet their day-to-day expenses. A withdrawal in a SWP scheme is considered as a “Sale transaction” hence it is subject to Capital Gains tax.
An investor can withdraw a fixed amount; let’s say Rs. 10000 a month is withdrawn from the scheme while the rest of the amount stays invested until the next withdrawal period. This way, the money invested generates interest while enabling the investor to use some of the interest money for meeting expenses.
The best method to choose an SWP scheme is to invest the money for a few years and then begin with withdrawal. This way the money stays invested and generates interest and the investor can withdraw such generated interest.
Dividend Payout
Mutual funds also offer an option of Dividend Payout in their schemes. Such schemes offer dividends to the investors. The time at which a dividend may be provided is uncertain. Some schemes provide dividends every year, half-yearly or may skip a few years to provide dividends. It may not be necessary that the mutual fund provides a dividend as it is upon the companies to provide dividends to the investors. If the fund has generated a dividend on its investment, it may provide dividends to the investors as well.
Dividend earned by the investor is subject to Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT). Investors are not liable to pay tax on dividend earned but the Mutual Fund must pay DDT on such dividends. Dividend is provided after deducting DDT from it.
Let’s analyze the investment scenarios in SWP and Dividend Payout schemes.
1. Investing in a SWP scheme.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund - Growth Option
Investment Date – 25-Jun-18 Amount – Rs. 10,00,000 Withdrawal Amount – Rs. 10,000
SWP period – 25th of every month beginning from July 2018
- The above is an actual investment done and an SWP of Rs. 10,000 taken out from the investment with the remaining left to growth with the market.
- As we redeem smaller portions of the Investment our gains are calculated as a principal plus gains basis hence the actual gains that are taxed are much lower.
2. Opting for Dividend Payout scheme
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund - Dividend Option
- When the fund pays dividends to its investors, the value of NAV decreases to the amount of dividend paid.
- The Dividend Distribution Tax applicable to Investments is 10% plus surcharge which is equal to 11.648%
- This in turn reduces the value of investment further of the investor. Also there is uncertainty of earning dividend due to various market and non-market factors, a Dividend Payout scheme should not be chosen by an investor who wants immediate annuity payouts.
Vatsal Shah | Head - Wealth Management
He has been in the field of financial advisory for more than 8 years. His strength is building relationships and providing innovative solutions to investments. His work involves managing the wealth management department for Mutual Funds, IPOs, Bonds and Insurance.