AMFI Pushes Budget 2026 for Debt Tax Relief, Retirement Boost

MUTUAL-FUNDS
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AuthorAnanya Iyer|Published at:
AMFI Pushes Budget 2026 for Debt Tax Relief, Retirement Boost
Overview

The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) has submitted a comprehensive wishlist for Union Budget 2026-27. Key proposals include reinstating long-term capital gains indexation for debt funds, introducing a Debt-Linked Savings Scheme, and enhancing equity taxation parity. AMFI also champions expanded retirement products and operational simplifications to encourage stable, long-term household participation in capital markets.

AMFI's ambitious agenda for Union Budget 2026-27 focuses on revitalizing debt investing, enhancing equity taxation, and broadening retirement savings avenues. The industry body is strongly advocating for the restoration of long-term capital gains (LTCG) indexation benefits on debt mutual funds, a move intended to re-incentivize conservative investors. These benefits were largely removed in Budget 2024, leading to a significant drop in inflows into debt schemes.

Restoring Debt Investing and New Savings Schemes

AMFI suggests reinstating LTCG with indexation for debt funds held over 36 months. This proposal aims to align debt fund taxation with other long-term assets, thereby channeling household savings back into the corporate bond market. Complementing this, a proposed Debt-Linked Savings Scheme (DLSS) with a five-year lock-in, offering separate tax deductions, could create a vital retail-friendly fixed-income avenue and deepen India's corporate bond market.

Equity Taxation and Long-Term Holdings

On the equity front, AMFI seeks tax parity for Fund of Funds (FoFs) investing in equity-oriented mutual funds. Currently, these are taxed as non-equity funds despite holding domestic equities, creating an anomaly. The association also called for revisiting equity LTCG taxation, proposing higher exemption thresholds to discourage early redemptions and foster genuine long-term capital formation. Separate tax deductions for ELSS investments under the new tax regime are also on the agenda.

Expanding Retirement Horizons

A significant portion of AMFI's recommendations centers on retirement-focused mutual fund products. The body proposes allowing all mutual funds to launch pension schemes with tax treatments akin to the National Pension System (NPS). Furthermore, a Mutual Fund-Voluntary Retirement Account (MF-VRA), modeled on the U.S. 401(k), is suggested to boost pension penetration and manage future social security burdens.

Operational Simplifications and Infrastructure Financing

AMFI also pushed for operational ease, proposing tax neutrality for intra-scheme switches and increased TDS thresholds on mutual fund income distributions from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000. Rationalizing Securities Transaction Tax (STT) and allowing select mutual fund units under Section 54EC for reinvestment of property sale capital gains are also part of the broader push to strengthen the industry's role in infrastructure financing and align tax policy with long-term savings behavior.

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