How to interpret your result
Total Amount Invested is your own contributions; Estimated Gains is projected market growth on top; Total Corpus is the sum you'd have at the end of the period — all before the mandatory 3-year lock-in and any tax on withdrawal.
The return rate you enter is an assumption, not a guarantee — ELSS is market-linked equity, and actual returns can run well above or below your input in any given year, even if the long-run average has historically sat around 12–16% CAGR. Treat the corpus figure as a planning estimate, not a promised outcome.
Remember each SIP instalment has its own 3-year lock-in from its own investment date — if you've invested via SIP over several years, your last instalment stays locked well after your first one unlocks, even though this calculator shows one combined maturity figure.
ELSS: the 80C investment that also grows your wealth
Among all Section 80C instruments, ELSS stands out for two reasons: the shortest lock-in (3 years vs. 5–15 years for others) and the highest historical return potential (equity-linked vs. fixed rates for PPF, NSC, FD).
80C instruments comparison (2025)
See the comparison above for how ELSS stacks up against other 80C instruments on return, lock-in, and tax treatment.
How much tax does ELSS actually save?
If you're in the 30% slab and invest ₹1.5 lakh in ELSS:
- Tax saved: ₹1,50,000 × 30% = ₹45,000 (+ cess = ~₹46,800)
- This makes your effective investment cost: ₹1,50,000 – ₹46,800 = ₹1,03,200
- And the returns are on the full ₹1,50,000
Available only under the old tax regime. If you've opted for new regime, this deduction doesn't apply.
Top-performing ELSS funds (5-year CAGR as of 2024)
| Fund | 5-yr CAGR | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Quant Tax Plan | ~22% | 0.57% |
| Mirae Asset Tax Saver | ~17% | 0.49% |
| Canara Robeco Equity Tax Saver | ~16% | 0.59% |
| SBI Long Term Equity | ~16% | 0.72% |
Past performance is not guaranteed. Diversify across 2–3 funds for tax saving.