Page 751 - Personal Finance

Helpless employees

They cannot refuse EPF payment under social security legislation, yet stand to lose the 80C benefit if their company hasn't registered with EPFO

EPFO earned more, paid less in 4 tax years: CAG

Realtors woo customers through buy-back schemes

Experts say through buy-back schemes, developers, cash-crunched or otherwise, are able to raise funds at much cheaper costs

Stay if the scheme is doing well

With more schemes likely to be merged, investors will get opportunity to exit bad schemes with no load

High yields, tax benefits make FMPs attractive

But don't try to time the investment; look at 2 or 3-year products for better returns

Get the most out of every rupee you donate

Knowing where and how your donations are being spent is as important as the tax breaks

Energy sector will continue to suffer

Till policy is straightened out to allow market forces to take over, the sector will continue to be in a mess

Loyalty bonus, tax benefit key to public sector ETF

While the PSU index has underperformed the Sensex, keep an eye on added benefits that might offset losses

Getting ready for filing income tax returns?

Apart from the many old rules, you need to be aware of a number of new ones to be able to claim your deductions well

Letters to be sent to 23 lakh assessees for not filing returns

I-T department spreading its net over people who conducted high-value transactions in 2010-11 and 2011-12

Life insurers to have varied rewards mechanism to boost agent persistency

Persistency refers to the ability to keep renewing customers' insurance policy till it reaches maturity

Packaged tours are attractive but expensive

A do-it-yourself module is stressful but you can do much more by following a few basic rules

RBI will continue to hold rates

It might just raise rates if it thinks inflation will spike going into the summer and the general elections

Save on taxes by investing in an under-construction property

Even if the builder delays the project, the tax benefit will hold good

Insurers allowed to invest in banks' new instruments

Experts said that this will help banks to augment additional capital

United Bank of India hikes base rate by 25 basis points

Pending the audit's completion, the loan sanctioning power was limited to Rs 10 cr

Helping retail investors take informed decisions

MFs should declare monthly number of folios in each scheme, as well as the net realisable value of assets

Important to respond to I-T notice promptly

Even if you have shifted house, ensure that it is updated in your PAN card details

Religare Invesco MF says group investments at 1% of AAUM

Group exposure is Rs 143 cr, Religare is first fund house to make such a disclosure after Reliance MF

Debit cards: The dark horse?

Better security, greater awareness lead to higher usage