Tax-Saver Mutual Fund · Section 80C · 3-Year Lock-in

ELSS Calculator

Project your ELSS SIP or lumpsum, see the 80C tax you save each year, and the LTCG tax when you redeem — live as you type.

Category
Finance & Registration
Takes about
1 min
Updated
Sep 2026
  • Free — no sign-up
  • Instant, on-screen results
  • Built by our CA · CS team
  • Rules cited on the page
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Calculator

Enter your figures — the result on the right updates as you type.

Full breakdown below ↓
📊 How you invest
Investment mode
Monthly SIP amount80C cap is ₹1,50,000 a year
Investment periodMinimum 3 years — the ELSS lock-in
yrs
Expected annual returnMarket-linked · not guaranteed
%
⚖️ Tax regime & slab
80C is available only in the old regime
Your slab (old regime)

ELSS breakdown

◆ Tax-Saving Review

Plan your ₹1.5 lakh of 80C with a CA

We check whether the old regime still wins for you, then split 80C across ELSS, PPF, EPF and insurance.

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Disclaimer: Mutual fund returns are market-linked and not guaranteed; the rate you enter is an assumption. LTCG is estimated as if the whole gain were redeemed in one financial year, at 12.5% plus 4% cess on gains above the ₹1.25 lakh yearly exemption. Tax saved includes 4% cess.

What makes ELSS the shortest 80C lock-in

An Equity Linked Savings Scheme is a diversified equity mutual fund that invests at least 80% in stocks. What sets it apart is the tax treatment: investments of up to ₹1,50,000 a year qualify for Section 80C in the old regime, and the lock-in is only 3 years — shorter than PPF (15 years), NSC and tax-saver FDs (5 years).

3 yrs
Lock-in — the shortest of any 80C option
₹1.5L
Maximum 80C deduction per year (old regime)
12.5%
LTCG tax on gains above ₹1.25L a year
80%+
Minimum equity allocation of the fund

SIP vs lumpsum in ELSS

Every SIP instalment has its own lock-in

With an ELSS SIP, each instalment is locked for 3 years from its own date. A SIP started in April 2026 is fully withdrawable only three years after the last instalment, not three years after the first.

Lumpsum

A one-time investment is locked for 3 years as a single block. It gets the whole 80C benefit in one year but carries more timing risk, since the entire amount enters the market on one day.

Tax on redemption

Because every unit is held for over 12 months, ELSS gains are always long-term capital gains. Under section 112A, gains up to ₹1.25 lakh a year across all equity are exempt, and the rest is taxed at 12.5%.

New regime

The new regime allows no 80C deduction, so ELSS there is just an equity fund with a 3-year lock-in. Check which regime suits you before you invest for tax.

Questions people ask

Short answers on ELSS Calculator. Tap a question to open it.

01How much tax can I save with ELSS?

Investments of up to ₹1,50,000 a year in ELSS qualify for deduction under Section 80C in the old regime. At the 30% slab that is a saving of up to ₹46,800 a year including cess. There is no 80C deduction in the new regime.

02What is the lock-in period of ELSS?

Three years — the shortest among Section 80C options. For a SIP, each instalment is locked for three years from its own date, so the last instalment becomes free three years after it was invested.

03How are ELSS returns taxed?

Because every unit is held for more than 12 months, gains are long-term capital gains under section 112A. Gains up to ₹1.25 lakh a year across all listed equity are exempt, and the balance is taxed at 12.5% plus cess.

04Are ELSS returns guaranteed?

No. ELSS is an equity mutual fund and its returns depend on the market. The return in this calculator is only an assumption — actual returns may be higher or lower, and can be negative over short periods.

05Is a SIP or a lumpsum better for ELSS?

A SIP spreads the investment across market levels and suits a monthly salary; a lumpsum gets the whole 80C benefit at once but puts all the money in on one day. Both give the same 80C deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh a year.

Disclaimer: This tool gives indicative results for general guidance only and is not professional advice. Please verify with a qualified CA before acting on the numbers.