FY 2018-19 Series-I Sovereign Gold Bonds Issue : Details, Features & Review

Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme is an indirect way of investing in Gold. Instead of buying physical gold, investors can buy gold in paper form through Sovereign Gold Bonds. These bonds track the price of gold, plus an extra interest amount is paid on the investment.

The Reserve Bank of India, in consultation with the Government of India, has decided to launch latest Sovereign Gold Bonds Issue Series-I (FY 2018-19). Applications for the bonds will be accepted from 16th April, 2018 to 20th April, 2018. The Bonds will be issued on 4th May, 2018.

This is the first tranche of the Financial Year 2018 – 2019. The Gold Bonds scheme was launched in November 2015.

FY 2018-19 Series-I Sovereign Gold Bonds Issue : Key Features

Applications for the latest ‘Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme’ will be accepted from April 16, 2018 through banks, Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post office branches and stock exchanges (BSE & NSE).

Below are the key features of Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme April – May 2018 ;

• Latest Issue Subscription dates : 16th Apr, 2018 to 20th Apr, 2018.
• Public Issue Price :
  • The government has fixed the Issue price as Rs 3,114. (The nominal value of the bond based on the simple average closing price [published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association Ltd (IBJA)] for gold of 999 purity of the last three business days of the week preceding the subscription period, i.e. April 11-13, 2018.)
  • A discount of Rs 50 per gram from the issue price is offered to those investors who invest through online mode. For such investors, the issue price of Gold Bond will be Rs 3,064 per gram of gold.
  • The Bond’s price of the last SGB issue was around Rs 2,850 (Dec, 2017).
• Who can buy Gold bonds? : The Bonds will be restricted for sale to resident Indian entities including individuals, HUFs, trusts, Universities and charitable institutions.
• Duration of Bonds : The tenor (tenure) of the Bond will be for a period of 8 years with an exit option from 5th year onwards. Gold bonds shall be repayable on the expiration of eight years from the date of the issue and premature redemption is permitted after 5th, 6th and 7th years from the date of issue of SGB, to be exercised on the interest payment dates.
• Minimum investment Size : Minimum permissible investment will be 1 unit (i.e. 1 gram of gold.)
• Maximum allowed investment : The maximum amount subscribed by an entity or an individual investor will not be more than 4 kg per financial year (April-March). A self-declaration to this effect will be obtained. In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 kg will be applied to the first applicant only.  The annual ceiling will include bonds subscribed under different tranches during initial issuance by Government and those purchase from the Secondary Market. In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 KG will be applied to the first applicant only.
• Interest rate on Gold Bonds : The investors will be compensated at a fixed rate of 2.5% per annum payable semi-annually on the initial value of investment. Interest will be credited directly in to the account mentioned in the application form or in the Account linked with the Demat a/c. Post Maturity, Interest is not payable.(It is mandatory for the investors to provide bank account details to facilitate payment of interest /maturity value.)
• Where to buy Gold Bonds ? : Gold Bonds can now be purchased from NSE and BSE, besides all Bank branches, select Post Offices and the Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL) and as may be notified, either directly or through agents.
• Payment mode : Payment for the Bonds will be through cash payment (upto a maximum of Rs. 20,000) or demand draft or cheque or electronic banking.
• The investors will be issued a Holding Certificate. The Bonds are eligible for conversion into demat form.
• KYC Documentation : Know-your-customer (KYC) norms will be the same as that for purchase of physical gold. KYC documents such as Voter ID, Aadhaar card/PAN or TAN /Passport will be required.
• Transfer of Bonds : The bond can be gifted/transferable to a relative/friend/anybody.
• Redemption Price : The redemption price will be in Indian Rupees based on previous week’s (Monday-Friday) simple average of closing price of gold of 999 purity published by IBJA (Indian Bullion Jewelers Association).
• Collateral : Gold Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
• Liquidity & Tradability : Bonds will be tradable on stock exchanges within a fortnight of the issuance on a date as notified by the RBI.
• Nomination Facility : Please note that nomination facility is available to a Sole Holder or all the joint holders (investors) of an SGB. A sole holder or all the joint holders may nominate maximum of two nominees to the rights of the bonds. The Nomination facility is not available in case the investment is on behalf of minor. The nomination can be altered by registering a fresh nomination.

Latest Sovereign Gold Bonds Application Form for Series I (April 2018)

Click on the below image to download Gold Bonds Application form 2018-19 Series -I.

To know the list of banks where you can buy SGBs, click here..

To know the list of Post office branches that are offering these bonds, click here..

Sovereign Golds Bonds & Tax Implications

• The interest payments on Gold Bonds shall be taxable as per the provision of Income Tax Act.
• Gold bonds will be exempted from capital gains (LTCG) tax at the time of redemption.  In case, you hold the bonds till the maturity date and if you make any long term capital gains when redeeming your gold bonds, there will not be any capital gain taxes on the profit you make.
• However, kindly note that Long term capital gains arising to any person on transfer of SGB will continue to be taxable and eligible for indexation benefits.
• TDS is not applicable on the bonds. However, it is the responsibility of the bond holder to comply with the tax laws. (Related Article : ‘Different Asset classes have different Tax implications – How Returns are taxed?‘)

Should you buy Gold Bonds?

The main benefit of Gold bonds is, you may get capital appreciation (if gold prices increase) plus ‘interest payment’ on bonds. If you buy physical gold or Gold ETFs (which also track gold prices), you may get capital appreciation only. Neither physical gold, gold mutual funds nor gold ETFs pay any interest rate.

If you buy Gold mutual funds or Gold ETFs, you have to bear ‘fund management charges’. In case of Gold bonds, no charges are applicable. Also, like gold funds and ETFs, you don’t have to worry about storage of physical gold or pay locker fees in case of Gold Bonds.

The biggest disadvantage of Gold bonds is lack of liquidity. The lock-in period is 5 years. But you can sell the bonds on stock exchanges. During last fiscal, stock exchanges BSE and NSE had launched online bidding platforms for SGBs. The exchanges will act as receiving offices for this tranche also. The online platforms are expected to raise demand for SGBs in the demat form.

If you HAVE to invest a portion of your savings in Gold for long-term, Gold bonds outscore the Gold funds / physical gold and can be a preferred mode of investing in Gold. But, do not expect abnormal returns from your investments in Gold. (Related Article: ‘Best Gold buying options‘)

If there are uncertainties across the globe, trade-wars between the Nations and if the geo-political risks are high (for example : conflict between North Korea and the USA, tensions in Middle-East etc.,) generally Gold prices tend to increase. Investors tend to take refuge in assets like Gold. But, do note that interest rate hikes by the USA is negative to Gold, but looks like that this has already been factored in international Gold prices.

Personally, I have never invested in Gold. The extent of volatility of Gold prices in the recent years is more than that of Equity oriented securities/funds. So, the risk-reward ratio may not be favorable for investing in Gold.

(Post first published on : 14-April-2018)