Tax planning should start at the beginning of a financial year, as it enables individuals and businesses to settle their financial affairs and take advantage of the best tax-saving opportunities. However, you can still benefit from it at any time during the year.

The best way to do it is by working with a seasoned tax planner who understands your financial situation and offers personalised advice.

Fortunately, there are several ways to save tax in India. You can claim tax deductions, invest in tax-saving instruments, and get legitimate credits. A tax planner can help you use these methods to get the lowest tax bills.

Tax planning is crucial for optimizing your financial situation and reducing your tax burden. By strategically managing your finances, you can take advantage of various income tax rules and provisions to maximize your savings. Effective tax planning ensures that you make the most of available tax-saving options, leading to increased financial efficiency and long-term wealth accumulation.

Beyond Section 80C, there are several avenues for tax savings. You can consider:

• Claiming tax-deductible expenses such as insurance premiums, tuition fees for children, rent payments, home loan/stamp duty payments, interest on home loans, and medical expenses for dependent family members.

• Exploring investment options like the National Pension Scheme (NPS) to optimize your income structure and minimize taxable income.

Diversifying your tax-saving investments across various asset classes and leveraging a mix of deductions and exemptions is key to comprehensive tax planning.

Several common mistakes can hinder effective tax planning:

Relying Solely on Tax-saving Mutual Funds: While these are popular, limiting oneself to these funds may not optimize tax savings. Diversifying across different tax-saving instruments is advisable.

Procrastinating Investments: Delaying tax-saving investments until the last quarter can lead to hasty decisions. It's better to plan investments strategically throughout the year.

Lack of Diversification: Placing all tax-saving funds into a single asset class is risky. Diversification helps manage risks and potentially enhances returns.