ELSS Calculator
Calculate ELSS mutual fund returns with Section 80C tax benefit. 3-year lock-in vs PPF 15 years. Compare ELSS SIP vs lumpsum for Rs 1.5L annual tax saving investment.
ELSS Calculator — Tax-Saving Mutual Fund
Results update instantly
Monthly SIP amount — Rs 12,500/month = Rs 1.5L/year (full 80C limit)
Top ELSS funds 5-yr CAGR: 14-18% | Conservative estimate: 12%
Estimates based on constant rate assumption. Actual returns may vary.
| Year | Invested | Returns | Total Value |
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ELSS beats PPF for tax saving if you can handle 3+ year market volatility. Rs 1.5L/year in ELSS at 14% CAGR for 10 years = Rs 27.3L. Same in PPF at 7.1% = Rs 21.6L. ELSS creates Rs 5.7L more over 10 years while giving the same Rs 46,800 annual tax saving at 30% bracket.
What is an ELSS Calculator?
An ELSS calculator estimates the returns from an Equity Linked Savings Scheme investment — India's only mutual fund category that qualifies for Section 80C tax deduction. ELSS combines equity market returns with tax saving, making it the most powerful instrument for investors who can stay invested for 3+ years.
ELSS returns formula
SIP ELSS: same FV formula as standard SIP
Tax saving: Rs 1.5L/year x Tax rate (e.g., 30% = Rs 46,800 saved annually)
ELSS vs other 80C options — honest comparison
ELSS vs PPF: ELSS has higher potential returns (12-18% vs PPF's 7.1%) but is market-linked. Lock-in is only 3 years vs PPF's 15. Gains above Rs 1.25L are taxed at 12.5%; PPF gains are completely tax-free. For young investors with 10+ year horizon, ELSS typically outperforms significantly.
ELSS vs Tax Saver FD: ELSS is equity-linked; FD is guaranteed. Tax-saver FD lock-in is 5 years (longer than ELSS). FD returns are fully taxable; ELSS only partial LTCG. No comparison — ELSS is superior for long-term investors.
ELSS vs NPS: Both are market-linked. NPS has additional Rs 50K exclusive deduction. ELSS is fully liquid after 3 years; NPS is locked until 60. Use both.
Best ELSS funds to consider in 2026
Evaluate ELSS funds based on 5-year and 10-year CAGR (not 1-year), fund manager tenure, portfolio quality, and expense ratio. Look for funds with consistent top-quartile performance, experienced fund managers, and expense ratios below 1%. Index-based ELSS options (Nifty 50 ELSS ETFs) are emerging as low-cost alternatives.
ThriftRupee tips for ELSS investors
Tip 1: SIP throughout the year, not lumpsum in March. Most investors invest the full Rs 1.5L as a lumpsum in February-March to save tax. Monthly ELSS SIP of Rs 12,500 gives better cost averaging and avoids the risk of investing at a market peak.
Tip 2: Continue beyond 3-year lock-in. The lock-in is 3 years minimum — not maximum. ELSS funds typically give their best returns over 7-10 years. Redeeming at exactly 3 years to reinvest in a new fund resets your LTCG holding period unnecessarily.
Tip 3: Use LTCG exemption strategically. Rs 1.25L of LTCG gains per year is tax-free. If your ELSS has large gains, redeem up to Rs 1.25L worth of gains annually and reinvest — a tax-harvesting strategy that resets your cost basis and keeps you within the annual LTCG exemption.