ELSS Calculator
This ELSS calculator projects the future value of your ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme) investment, whether you invest via monthly SIP or a one-time lumpsum. ELSS is a tax-saving mutual fund category that qualifies for Section 80C deductions while carrying the shortest lock-in of any 80C option — just 3 years. Enter your numbers to see your projected corpus, gains, and estimated tax at maturity.
ELSS funds accept both a recurring monthly SIP and a one-time lumpsum investment.
Per month if you chose SIP, or the one-time amount if you chose lumpsum.
ELSS is equity-linked, so returns are market-driven and illustrative, not guaranteed.
The mandatory minimum lock-in is 3 years, though most investors stay longer for equity growth.
Projected corpus
Log in to save₹29,04,238
How to use this elss calculator
- 1Investment mode: choose Monthly SIP for a recurring investment, or One-time lumpsum for a single upfront investment.
- 2Investment amount: per month if you chose SIP, or the one-time amount if you chose lumpsum — up to ₹1,50,000 covers the full Section 80C deduction limit either way.
- 3Expected annual return: ELSS is a predominantly equity fund, so returns are market-linked — 12% p.a. is a common long-term planning assumption, not a guarantee.
- 4Investment horizon: the mandatory minimum lock-in is 3 years, but you can set a longer horizon since most investors stay invested well beyond the lock-in for equity growth.
Understanding your results
Projected corpus is your estimated investment value at the end of the horizon, based on the expected return you entered — since ELSS is equity-linked, actual returns will vary and this figure is illustrative, not guaranteed. Total invested is your own contributions, and total gains is the difference. The estimated LTCG tax is a simplified figure assuming you withdraw the entire corpus in one go at maturity — in reality, many investors withdraw gradually across years, which changes the actual timing and amount of LTCG tax owed.
The formula
SIP: standard SIP future-value formula. Lumpsum: Corpus = Amount × (1 + rate)^years. LTCG tax = max(0, Gains − ₹1,25,000) × 12.5%For SIP mode, each monthly investment compounds monthly from the month it's invested until the end of the horizon, using the same future-value-of-an-annuity math behind any SIP. For lumpsum mode, the one-time investment simply compounds annually at the expected rate. Since ELSS gains are always long-term (the 3-year lock-in exceeds the 1-year LTCG threshold), any gains above ₹1,25,000 in a year are taxed at the 12.5% LTCG rate that currently applies to equity investments.
A worked example
A ₹12,500 monthly SIP into ELSS at a 12% expected annual return for 10 years builds a projected corpus of about ₹29,04,239, against ₹15,00,000 actually invested (₹12,500 × 12 × 10) — a total gain of roughly ₹14,04,239. If the entire corpus were withdrawn at maturity in one go, taxable gains after the ₹1,25,000 LTCG exemption would be about ₹12,79,239, giving an estimated LTCG tax of roughly ₹1,59,905.
Things to know
ELSS is one of several Section 80C investment options — alongside PPF, EPF, and life insurance — and it has the shortest lock-in of them all at 3 years, compared to PPF's 15-year tenure. That shorter lock-in comes with meaningfully higher volatility, since ELSS is a predominantly equity fund rather than a fixed, government-backed instrument. The right choice depends on whether you value liquidity and growth potential or capital safety and predictable returns.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the 3-year lock-in significant?+
Three years is the shortest mandatory lock-in among all Section 80C tax-saving instruments — PPF locks in for 15 years, and many tax-saving fixed deposits for 5 years. This makes ELSS the most liquid 80C option, though your money is still fully locked in and cannot be withdrawn early even in an emergency.
How does ELSS compare to PPF or other 80C options?+
ELSS and PPF share the same ₹1,50,000 Section 80C deduction limit, but they sit at opposite ends of the risk-liquidity spectrum. PPF offers a government-backed, fixed return with a long 15-year lock-in and no market risk. ELSS offers a much shorter 3-year lock-in and higher long-term growth potential, but since it's equity-based, your returns and even your principal can fluctuate with the market.
How are ELSS gains taxed?+
Because the 3-year lock-in always exceeds the 1-year threshold for long-term capital gains on equity, ELSS gains are taxed as LTCG. Gains up to ₹1,25,000 in a financial year are exempt, and anything above that is taxed at 12.5%. This calculator's LTCG estimate assumes a single full withdrawal at maturity — withdrawing in stages across different years can change the actual tax you end up paying.
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