Difference Between Growth and Dividend Option

Abhinay Dhole
Abhinay Dhole
abhinayd@orowealth.com
growth funds

As a mutual fund investor, it becomes a challenging task to understand the difference between growth option, dividend payout option, and dividend reinvestment option of mutual fund schemes and choosing the best option as per individual requirements.

We have summarized how each option is different from the others and how their individual tax implications are:

Growth Option

Growth option means that an investor won’t receive any profits in the form of dividends that may be paid out by the mutual fund scheme. If any profit is generated by the scheme, this amount gets invested back into the scheme which results in an increase in its NAV. In this plan, units of investors remain the same but the NAV increases as profits keep getting added and compounded over time thus giving higher capital gains at the time of redemption. This option is best suited for investors who don’t need regular income in the form of dividends.

Tax Implications of Growth Option

Equity: Only Capital Gains Tax

Short Term (holding period of less than or equal to 1 year): 15% on the capital gains

Long Term (holding period of more than 1 year): 10% tax on the capital gains above 1 lakh

Debt: Only Capital Gains Tax

Short Term (holding period of less than or equal to 3 years): Rate is based as per income tax slab, on the capital gains

Long Term (holding period of more than 3 years): 20% on the capital gains with indexation benefit

Dividend Payout Option

Dividend Payout option means that the profit generated by the scheme will be distributed to investors in the form of dividends. A dividend can be paid out on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual basis but there is no guarantee of frequency and amount of dividend. It is solely at the discretion of the fund manager and whether the scheme has any profits to distribute. If the scheme is making a loss, dividend need not be declared. Whenever the dividend gets declared, the amount of dividend gets deducted from the NAV of the scheme thereby bringing the NAV down.

The scheme deducts dividend distribution tax (DDT) in debt schemes before paying out the dividend to investors. DDT is only applicable in case of debt funds and is paid by the mutual fund scheme from the distributable income at a rate of 28.33% (including surcharge and cess).

The dividend received by the investors is tax-free in the hands of the investor in case of both equity and debt schemes.

Tax Implications of Dividend Payout Option

Equity:

Dividend Distribution Tax: 10%

Short Term (holding period of less than or equal to 1 year): 15% on the capital gains

Long Term (holding period of more than 1 year): 10% tax on the capital gains above 1 lakh

Debt:

Dividend Distribution Tax: 28.33% of dividend declared

Short Term Capital Gains Tax (holding period of less than or equal to 3 years): Rate is based as per income tax slab, on the capital gains

Long Term Capital Gains Tax (holding period of more than 3 years): 20% on the capital gains with indexation benefit

Dividend Reinvestment Option

Dividend Reinvestment option means that the profits generated by the scheme is not distributed to the investor in the form of cash dividends but is distributed in the form of additional units in the scheme. The dividend amount is used to purchase more units in the same scheme. This increases the units of the investor in the scheme and profit can be realized in the form of capital gains at the time of redemption.

Tax Implications of Dividend Reinvestment Option

Equity:

Dividend Distribution Tax: 10%

Short Term (holding period of less than or equal to 1 year): 15% on the capital gains

Long Term (holding period of more than 1 year): 10 tax on the capital gains above 1 lakh

DebtDividend Distribution Tax: 28.33% of dividend declared

Short Term Capital Gains Tax (holding period of less than or equal to 3 years): Rate is based as per income tax slab, on the capital gains

Long Term Capital Gains Tax (holding period of more than 3 years): 20% on the capital gains with indexation benefit

Conclusion

For a Debt MF investor who wants to invest for the short term (holding period of less than 3 years) and who are in the 30% income tax slab, Dividend Options are better than the Growth Option in terms of tax implications.

For an Equity MF investor, if the holding period can be greater than 1 year, Growth Option is much better than Dividend Options.

Abhinay Dhole
Abhinay Dhole
abhinayd@orowealth.com

Abhinay is an IT Engineer turned content writer. He has a keen interest in the mutual funds industry and closely follows the market movements. He has been working in the personal finance domain for over 2 years.

3 Comments
  • Avatar
    Shinde Madhukar Bsburao
    Posted at 07:10h, 10 March Reply

    Dear Sir. I want to invest some money in mutual fund please suggest best fund for me to invest & how to invest Regards. Shinde Madhukar Baburao. Mobile No 8380052472

    • gaurav
      gaurav
      Posted at 12:25h, 12 March Reply

      Hello Sir, Thank you for showing your interest. We will connect with you shortly. In case of any query, please reach us at connect@orowealth.com or call us at +917587305393. We will be more than happy to help you.

  • Avatar
    Virendra Pratap Singh
    Posted at 04:53h, 04 August Reply

    In dividend reinvestment option the investor shall get more number of units hence this option should be more productive on redemption if the NAV is same.

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