5 things to remember while investing in NPS, and how it is crucial for retirement planning.

The National Pension System (NPS) is a voluntary, long-term savings scheme designed to enable systematic retirement savings for Indian citizens including NRI and OCI. Investing in the NPS can be a crucial component of your retirement planning strategy as it offers a blend of diversification through asset allocation (equity, corporate bonds, government securities and alternates), inflation-beating potential, contribution flexibility and professional fund management. Its tax benefits (investments into Tier 1) make it an attractive choice for individuals looking to save tax and secure their financial future. Let’s review some of the key things to remember while investing in NPS.

Dual-Tier Structure:

NPS operates two structures. Tier-I account is the primary and mandatory account under NPS. It is designed specifically for retirement savings and saving taxes. The Tier-II account is a voluntary savings account that provides more flexibility in withdrawals compared to the Tier-I account. It is an optional account and can be opened only if the subscriber has an active Tier-I account.

Long-Term Commitment:

NPS is designed as a long-term retirement savings instrument. It is important to commit to the system for the long term to benefit from the compounding of returns. The longer your money stays invested, the more it can potentially grow.

Under Tier-I Account, subscribers on reaching the age of 60, can withdraw up to 60% of the accumulated corpus as a lump sum. This amount may also remain invested until the age of 75 and may be withdrawn systematically through the systematic lumpsum withdrawal (SLW) option. The remaining 40% must be used to purchase an annuity, providing a regular pension income.

It's important to note that NPS is primarily designed as a long-term retirement savings instrument, and withdrawals before the prescribed retirement age may have implications on the final corpus and annuity income.

Asset Allocation:

NPS allows you to choose between equity, corporate bonds, and government securities and alternates. The allocation between these asset classes should be based on factors like your risk tolerance, age, and financial goals. It's important to review and adjust your asset allocation periodically based on changing circumstances. There are also options of active choice and auto choice where one can decide on their own, depending on their risk appetite or leave the asset allocation to an algorithm depending on their age.

Tax Benefits:

NPS offers attractive tax benefits.

• Deduction of up to Rs 1.5 lakhs under Section 80 CCD (1) of the Income Tax Act (applicable to old regime only).
• A further deduction of up to Rs. 50,000 under Section 80 CCD (1B) of the Income Tax Act exclusively for NPS investments. (applicable to old regime only).
• Further, subscribers under Corporate NPS model can get additional tax benefits under section 80CCD (2) of the Income Tax Act on investment up to 14% of basic Salary. This benefit is capped at Rs 7.5 lakhs (including PF, Superannuation fund and NPS). (applicable to both old and new regimes).

Professional Fund Management:

The NPS is managed by professional fund managers appointed by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). Their expertise can be crucial in making investment decisions, especially for individuals who may not have the time or knowledge to actively manage their retirement portfolio.

Understanding these key features will help individuals make informed decisions when participating in the National Pension System, contributing to effective retirement planning.