Cost of delay calculator
Enter your SIP and how long you'd wait. See what the delay costs by your goal date.
- Same end date
- Catch-up SIP shown
- Free, no sign-up
Make it tax-efficient
Where you invest changes how much tax you pay on the growth. Our experts fit your goals into your tax plan.
Questions people often ask
Do SIPs save tax?
Only ELSS funds count for 80C, in the old regime, up to ₹1.5 lakh a year with other 80C items.
How are equity fund gains taxed?
Held over a year: 12.5% on gains above ₹1.25 lakh a year. Under a year: 20%.
Why waiting costs so much
The months you miss grow the longest.
- Start now: every month compounds to the goal date.
- Start later: the same SIP, fewer months.
- The gap is the cost of waiting.
Last reviewed 9 October 2026. The rules in this calculator come from these official sources.
- Investor education: how investments grow, and their risks Securities and Exchange Board of India
Common questions
What is the cost of delay?
The difference between what a SIP started now would be worth and what the same SIP started later would be worth, on the same end date.
How much does waiting a year cost?
A ₹10,000 monthly SIP over 20 years at 12% loses about ₹12.4 lakh if you start a year late.
Why is the cost so large?
The months you miss are the ones that would have grown the longest.
How much more would I need to invest?
The calculator shows the monthly SIP that, started later, reaches the same value.
Is it ever worth waiting?
Only to clear expensive debt or build an emergency fund first. Otherwise, starting small now usually beats starting big later.
