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Debt mutual funds are those that invest a primary part of their portfolio in debt instruments and fixed-income securities. There is low risk and the returns are stable.
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Debt funds invest in debt instruments such as Corporate or Government bonds.
Debt funds receive interest from these underlying debt instruments such as bonds.
This interest gets added in the fund which result in NAV of these MF funds go higher.
NAV price also increases or decreases based on the market interest rate.
Regular Income
Less volatile
Steady return with lower risk
High Liquidity
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Returns earned from debt mutual funds are taxed in your hands at your applicable tax slab rate.
A debt fund is a type of mutual fund that invests in fixed-income instruments like government and corporate bonds. They offer stable income, risk diversification, and liquidity. Returns come from interest and capital appreciation, with taxation based on the holding period, making them versatile for various investment goals.
The decision to invest in a debt fund depends on your financial goals and risk tolerance. If you prioritize stability, regular income, and lower risk, a debt fund can be a good choice. However, if you seek higher returns and are willing to tolerate more risk, you might consider other investment options such as equities funds. It's essential to align your investment decisions with your specific financial objectives and risk preferences.
Fixed Deposits (FDs) are typically considered safer with fixed interest and deposit insurance, whereas debt funds entail some risk due to credit risk and interest rate fluctuations.
Debt funds can be well-suited for conservative investors seeking higher interest than traditional Fixed Deposits. They are also suitable for those with a 1-3 year investment horizon and investors looking to diversify their portfolios, balancing equity risks with the stability of debt instruments. Ultimately, the decision depends on individual goals and risk tolerance.
No! Debt funds will be taxed as per your income tax slab.
Based on the types of debt instruments invested in and their maturity period, Debt Funds can be categorized as follows:
Overnight Funds: These funds focus on securities with overnight maturity, ensuring high liquidity and minimal credit and interest rate risks.
Liquid Funds: Invest in securities with a tenure of up to 91 days, prioritising liquidity and offering lower returns with reduced risk through money market instruments.
Ultra-Short Duration Funds: Venture into instruments with maturities spanning three to six months, exploring longer-term securities compared to liquid funds.
Low Duration Funds: Target short-term debt securities with a maturity of six to twelve months, appealing to investors seeking one-year borrowing options.
Money Market Fund: Invest in money market instruments with a maturity of up to one year, catering to investors with short-term financial goals and emphasizing capital preservation and liquidity.
Short Duration Funds: Invest in securities with maturities ranging from one to three years, providing stable returns with moderate risk, suitable for short-term investment goals.
Medium Duration Funds: Invest in short-term debt securities with a maturity of three to four years, offering an alternative to fixed deposits with the potential for higher returns.
Medium to Long Duration Funds: Invest in long-term debt securities with maturities between four to seven years, appealing to investors seeking longer-term commitments but with higher associated risks.
Long Duration Funds: Invest in debt securities with a maturity exceeding seven years, presenting higher default risks but offering the potential for higher capital gains for long-term investors.
Dynamic Bonds Funds: Invest in debt securities across various maturity profiles based on interest rate changes, providing flexibility for fund managers to navigate short and long-term instruments, effectively mitigating interest rate risk.
Investing in debt funds has several benefits.
Less Volatility: Debt funds offer stable returns and less volatility by being less responsive to market fluctuations.
Tailored Options: With various types available, debt funds can meet specific investor needs across maturity periods, issuers, and credit risks.
Diversification Advantage: Debt funds contribute to effective diversification, minimizing the impact of poor performance of a single asset on the overall portfolio.
Emergency Fund – Liquid Debt Fund is an excellent choice to park ones emergency funds
Debt Funds, being a type of mutual fund, operate similarly to other mutual funds. However, the distinction lies in the assets in which debt funds invest. While Equity Funds predominantly invest in equity and related instruments, debt funds allocate the majority of their assets to debt and money market instruments. Beyond the disparity in asset classes, the risk associated with debt funds is lower than that of equity funds, resulting in less uncertainty in returns.
It is advisable to diversify your portfolio with debt funds to protect it from stock market volatility. Including debt funds in your portfolio is recommended regardless of your age, risk profile, and the prevailing interest rate movements in the economy.
If you choose the dividend option in debt funds, you will earn dividends at regular intervals. These dividends would, however, be taxable in your hands at your income tax slab rates.
Indexation benefit was available on the returns earned from debt mutual funds till 31st March 2023. If you redeemed the fund after 36 months of investment, your gains were called long-term capital gains. Such gains were taxed at 20% with indexation benefits to factor in inflation. However, the indexation benefit has been removed for funds redeemed after 1st April 2023. Now, even if you redeem your investment after 36 months, the returns earned would be taxed at your slab rate.
Yes, you can invest in debt funds through SIPs.
Debt funds carry relatively lower risks such as credit risk, interest rate risk, inflation risk, and reinvestment risk. However, they are suitable for investors with a lower risk appetite.
No, debt mutual funds do not have a lock-in period.
Debt funds are popularly known as a good choice for short-term goals. However, due to the benefits of indexation, less risk, and stability of income, investors with a lower risk appetite can also invest in debt funds to meet their goals such as retirement corpus formation.
Fluctuations in interest may cause negative returns for debt funds, especially the ones with longer maturity periods.