|

5 reasons why SGBs are better than physical gold

ByNinad Mondkar

Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) are government securities denominated in grams of gold. They are substitutes for holding physical gold. The Reserve Bank issues the bond on behalf of the Government of India. They offer a unique investment avenue combining the attributes of gold with the convenience of bonds.

Why does it matter?

  1. An investor receives the market price of the gold at the time of maturity/redemption and periodical interest.
  2. The risks and costs of storage are eliminated.
  3. An SGB is free from making charges and purity, which are significant issues while holding gold in jewellery.
  4. The bonds are held in the books of the RBI or demat form, thus eliminating the risk of loss of scrip.
  5. It offers a superior alternative to holding gold in physical form.

Zoom In

  1. Only resident Indian entities (including individuals, HUF, trusts, universities, and charitable institutions) can invest in SGBs.
  2. KYC documents such as Aadhar Card, PAN Card, and Voter ID will be required.
  3. The bond’s tenure will be eight years with exit options from the 5th year onwards on the interest payment dates.
  4. The minimum investment will be 1 gram of gold, the maximum investment will be 4 kg for individuals & HUF, and 20 Kg for trusts and universities per financial year.
  5. The current interest rate for SGB is 2.50% per annum on your investment. It is paid twice a year (semi-annually) for eight years (i.e. till maturity).
  6. The interest on SGBs shall be taxable per the individual’s slab rates. The interest amount must be declared under “Income from Other Sources”.
  7. The capital gains tax arising on redemption of SGB to an individual has been exempted. The indexation benefits will be provided to long-term capital gains arising to any person on bond transfer.

What next?

  1. An investor with a low-risk appetite can consider investing 5-10% of his portfolio in SGBs.
  2. The new tranche will start on 12th February 2024 till 16th February 2024.
  3. Please speak to your growth manager to know if SGBs will be the right fit in your asset allocation mix.