Real Returns Calculator

Fixed Income

Use this real returns calculator to check how effective a  financial instruments is in protecting the purchasing power of a lumpsum from inflation.

The reserve bank of India has announced the issue of inflation linked bonds in which a lumpsum  invested for 10 years will receive an interest equal to 1.5% + ‘change’ in the consumer priced index (CPI).

This change in the CPI is explained quite well here: Inflation Indexed Securities: Buy if at Lower Tax Slabs

Unfortunately, income from these bonds will be taxed as per income slab on maturity. So if you think the buying power of your lump sum will be protected from inflation, think again.

You will need to calculate the  real return after taking taxes into account to check if the buying power has been protected from inflation.

What is a real return? A real return is the return from a financial instrument after accounting for inflation and taxes. Most discussions of real return ignore taxes and simply account for inflation.

A real return gives an idea of how much the purchasing power of a lump real-returnsum has changed upon maturity of a financial instrument.

The post-tax real return is calculated as shown in the picture

real-return

If the real return is 1%(-1%)  then the purchasing power of the lump sum has enhanced (diminished) by 1%  (-1%).

  • If the real return is zero, the purchasing power of the lump sum is unchanged. That is inflation and taxes have exactly nullified the return from the financial instrument.
  • Intuitively, it is clear that because of the nature of taxation (as per slab), the real post-tax return from these inflation indexed bonds will be quite low.
  • The above post-tax return is valid if tax is paid as per slab each financial year.
  • If tax is paid as per slab upon maturity, the formula is (thanks to Ronnie Joshua Reuben for pointing out an error)

post-tax-return =[(1+return)^duration x (1-tax)]^(1/duration) -1

Here is a real returns calculator with which you can access the effectiveness of these RBI inflation indexed bonds or any other financial instrument in protecting the purchasing power of a lumpsum from inflation. Both types of post-tax return computation are included.

Download the Real Returns Calculator – RBI Inflation Linked Bonds

 Notes:

  • The calculator can be used for any financial instrument. Set the base interest rate (1.5% for inflation indexed bonds) to zero for other financial instruments.
  • The calculator gives you only estimate. For inflation indexed bonds, the net pre-tax return will be known only on maturity and will be determined by the course of inflation.
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About the Author M Pattabiraman author of freefincal.comM. Pattabiraman is the co-author of two books: You can be rich too with goal based investing and Gamechanger. “Pattu” as he is popularly known, publishes unbiased, promotion-free research, analysis and holistic money management advice. Freefincal serves more than one million readers a year with numbers based analysis on topical issues and has more than a 100 free calculators on different aspects of insurance and investment analysis, including a robo advisory template for use by beginners. Contact information: freefincal {at} Gmail {dot} com He conducts free money management sessions for corporates (see details below). Previous engagements include World Bank, RBI, BHEL, Asian Paints.

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Updated: March 12, 2017 — 2:30 pm

18 Comments

Add a Comment
  1. Ashal jauhari

    Dear Pattu, an important post just in time. Not many people give a thought to real return after Inflation and taxation.

    thanks

    Ashal

    Reply
    1. pattu

      Many thanks Ashal. The problem is many financial professional do not use post-tax return for calculating real return.

      Reply
  2. Ashal jauhari

    Dear Pattu, an important post just in time. Not many people give a thought to real return after Inflation and taxation.

    thanks

    Ashal

    Reply
    1. pattu

      Many thanks Ashal. The problem is many financial professional do not use post-tax return for calculating real return.

      Reply
  3. AyushP306

    Real Returns Calculator is amazing ! Really liked it .. : )

    Reply
    1. pattu

      Many thanks Ayush.

      Reply
  4. AyushP306

    Real Returns Calculator is amazing ! Really liked it .. : )

    Reply
    1. pattu

      Many thanks Ayush.

      Reply
  5. Udaya Chandran

    Thanks for the calculator. I’d like to share this calculator on my blog http://www.finsoso.com. I’d like to have your permission for this. Please let me know your consent.

    Reply
    1. pattu

      Hi Uday, please go ahead. Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Udaya Chandran

    Thanks for the calculator. I’d like to share this calculator on my blog http://www.finsoso.com. I’d like to have your permission for this. Please let me know your consent.

    Reply
    1. pattu

      Hi Uday, please go ahead. Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Udaya Chandran

    Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Udaya Chandran

    Thanks!

    Reply
  9. Ronnie Joshua Reuben

    Sir can you help me understand the POST TAX RETURN on MATURITY FORMULA, i see that it is some what similar to the effective rate of interest formula but (+ tax term) I fail to understand. If you can hint me towards the source then i will surely look into that. Thanks!!

    Reply
    1. pattu

      Hi Ronnie, you are correct about the + tax term. It is wrong. I have corrected the equation and the excel file. Thank you so much. Here is the math for those interested.

      maturity =investment x (1+return)^duration
      maturity(post-tax) = (investment x (1+return)^duration) x (1-tax)
      maturity(post-tax)= investment x (1+post-tax-return)^duration
      So
      investment x (1+post-tax-return)^duration =(investment x (1+return)^duration) x (1-tax)
      (1+post-tax-return)^duration =(1+return)^duration x (1-tax)
      post-tax-return =[(1+return)^duration x (1-tax)]^(1/duration) -1

      Reply
  10. Ronnie Joshua Reuben

    Sir can you help me understand the POST TAX RETURN on MATURITY FORMULA, i see that it is some what similar to the effective rate of interest formula but (+ tax term) I fail to understand. If you can hint me towards the source then i will surely look into that. Thanks!!

    Reply
    1. pattu

      Hi Ronnie, you are correct about the + tax term. It is wrong. I have corrected the equation and the excel file. Thank you so much. Here is the math for those interested.

      maturity =investment x (1+return)^duration
      maturity(post-tax) = (investment x (1+return)^duration) x (1-tax)
      maturity(post-tax)= investment x (1+post-tax-return)^duration
      So
      investment x (1+post-tax-return)^duration =(investment x (1+return)^duration) x (1-tax)
      (1+post-tax-return)^duration =(1+return)^duration x (1-tax)
      post-tax-return =[(1+return)^duration x (1-tax)]^(1/duration) -1

      Reply

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