Union Budget 2023-24: Advantage MFs after tax blow on MLDs, insurance

Investors may divert flows towards debt funds, say experts

The Rs 40-trillion mutual fund (MF) industry is expected to benefit from stripping tax advantages off high-ticket insurance products and market-linked debentures (MLDs) in the latest Budget.

"With the attractiveness of MLDs and big-ticket insurance investments diminished, HNIs may allocate more towards debt mutual funds," said N S Venkatesh, CEO of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).

“Mutual funds would benefit from the change in the taxation of insurance products and MLDs. Limits on capital gains on real estate investment also augurs well for debt funds,” said A Balasubramanian, managing director and chief executive officer, Aditya Birla Sun