You do not need to file taxes just because you are investing through an SIP. A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is only a method of investing, not a taxable event by itself. Taxes come into the picture only when you sell (redeem) your mutual fund units.

When Tax Filing Is Required

You must report and pay taxes only if you redeem units in a financial year.
When you redeem:

• Equity mutual fund units are taxed as Short Term Capital Gain Tax (STCG) or Long Term Capital Gain Tax (LTCG) based on the holding period of each SIP instalment.
• Debt mutual fund units are taxed at your income tax slab rate (for units bought on or after 01^st April 2023 irrespective of the holding period). Units bought before 01^st April 2023 and held for more than 24 months are taxed at 12.5%.
• Your Capital Gains Statement (CAS or capital gain report provided by your mutual fund distributor) is used during tax filing.

Important Points for SIP Investors

• Every SIP instalment is treated as a separate investment with its own holding period.
• Even if you continue your SIP, taxation applies only to redeemed units.
• Dividend received from mutual funds must be added to your taxable income and reflected in your tax return.
• If you had no redemptions during the year, you typically do not have any capital gains to report.

In Summary

You need to file taxes only when you redeem your SIP investments or receive dividend income. Simply investing through SIP does not create any tax liability.

Since tax rules are dynamic and subject to change, we recommend consulting your tax advisor for the latest and detailed guidance.