How does the tax treatment of retirement account investments differ from other types of investments?

In India, investments made in retirement accounts such as the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Pension System (NPS), and others are given preferential tax treatment. Contributions made towards these accounts are deductible from taxable income, subject to certain limits. For instance, contributions made towards the NPS up to a maximum of Rs. 1.5 lakh can be claimed as a deduction from taxable income under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

Investments made in these accounts grow taxfree until withdrawal, at which point they are subject to taxation. The taxation of retirement account withdrawals depends on the type of account and the age of the account holder at the time of withdrawal. For instance, withdrawals from the EPF after five years of continuous service are taxfree, while withdrawals from the NPS are subject to tax.

Overall, investing in retirement accounts can help individuals reduce their taxable income and save for their retirement in a taxefficient manner.