Mahendra CFS (Comprehensive Financial Services)
Author
A large share of tax-saving investments happen in the final weeks of the financial year, often driven by deadline pressure rather than careful planning. This rush frequently leads to choices that don't align well with an investor's actual goals or risk appetite.
A better approach is to review your Section 80C utilisation early in the financial year — ideally in the first quarter — so you know exactly how much headroom remains and can plan contributions gradually, such as through a SIP in an ELSS fund, rather than a single lump sum in March.
Spreading tax-saving investments across the year also reduces the risk of investing a large sum at a single, potentially unfavourable market point, in the case of market-linked options like ELSS.
Setting a calendar reminder for a mid-year tax review is a simple habit that can meaningfully reduce year-end stress.