Is it always good to switch from regular to direct plans? The answer is No. Before you move to calculate the switch cost, the first step is to stop existing SIPs in regular plans and start investing in new SIPs in direct plans.
The most important factor to consider is the expense ratio difference between regular and direct plans. If the long-term capital gains from an equity mutual fund are less than ₹1.25 Lakhs, it is easy to switch, as there would be no tax liability.
But what if the capital gains are higher and the expense ratio difference is low? Or what if capital gains are higher and the expense ratio is higher too?
Let us take a few scenarios and examples to help you better understand.
About the author: Ajay Pruthi is a fee-only SEBI-registered investment advisor. He can be contacted via his website plnr.in. Ajay is part of the freefincal list of fee-only advisors and fee-only India.
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Scenario 1: Low Expense Ratio Difference, High Gains
You have held a safe, steady fund (e.g., Nifty 50 Index Fund) for many years. You are sitting on a mountain of profit, but the difference in expense ratios isn’t that drastic.
This is the Trap. You will pay a huge tax bill today just to save pennies in fees.
Do not Switch. The math fails. Stop the SIP in Regular and start a new one in Direct. Keep shifting up to ₹1.25 Lakhs of long-term capital gains into direct plans annually.
Scenario 2: High Expense Ratio Difference, High Gains
The Golden Handcuffs. You are in a high-performing Multi-Cap or Flexi-Cap fund. You have huge profits, but you are also bleeding huge fees every year.
This requires a Break-even Calculation. You need to see if the future compounding of the savings outweighs the immediate tax loss.
Calculate the switch cost and estimate how long you plan to stay invested in equity.
The Hidden Scenario: The Exit Load Trap
Regardless of gains or TER, assume you bought the fund recently (less than 1 year ago).
Most equity funds charge a 1% Exit Load if you leave early.
Note: Use this switch cost calculator only if you want to switch within the same equity mutual fund scheme (from Regular to Direct). If your fund is underperforming and you want to switch to another mutual fund, the switch cost may not be a relevant factor.
Here is the downloadable link to the Excel sheet.
Please feel free to comment if you find any discrepancies.
*Disclaimer- Nothing in the article is my solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer. If you have any doubts as to the merits of the article, you should seek advice from an independent financial advisor. Registration granted by SEBI, BASL membership, and NISM certification do not guarantee the intermediary’s performance or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Investment in the securities market is subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.
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