Form 26QB -TDS on Immovable Property Deduction and Deposit

TDS on property has been introduced U/s 194IA by government , which is effective from 01 June 2013. 

This is liability of Purchaser of property with value of Rs. 50 lakh and above should deduct 1% TDS on gross value at the time of making payment. This has been done for tighten screws on corruption and black money which is being circulated in Real Estate Market .

Tax deduction on Property and Deposit with Government ;

As we know that for making the deduction for TDS deductir must have TAN number , but for TDS on property government has introduced a new sub-section(3) to section 194IA which states that a person deducting TDS on Property is NOT mandatory required to possess a TAN no..

The deductor has to deposit the TDS with the government within a period of 7 days from the end of the month after making the payment to the seller .

Process to Deposit the TDS ;

All details regarding the transaction and TDS on property are required to be furnished in Form 26QB , Here are few steps to accomplish the process ;

1-      Firstly one has to go to the site of Tin.nsdl in following link: https://onlineservices.tin.egov-nsdl.com/etaxnew/tdsnontds.jsp

2-      Select (0021) in case of non corporate payer and 0020 in case of corporate payer(Buyer).

3-      On filling in the various details called for in that form, click on ‘Proceed’ at the bottom of the page.

4-      You have to select the bank, then login using the normal online process for your bank(Netbanking),  Once the payment is made the bank will let you print challan 280 with a tick on (800), which is payment of TDS on sale of property. Take a printout of the challan and keep the same for your records and for the builder/seller if required. 

5-      You can choose the manual payment option too.it allows you to generate online receipt for Form 26QB with Acknowledgement no. The same can be valid for 10 days from the date of generation online.The same is to be carried at the authorized bank (list is given on the TIN.nsdl site) with cheque.Bank will do online payment for you & generate Challan.

Generation of Form 16B:

Once challan number has been generated,one has to wait for seven days for the details to be reflected on TRACES web site – https://www.tdscpc.gov.in/.

1-      As a first time user, you will have to register on this website as Tax Payer with your PAN card no. & Challan no as generated while payment.

2-      On validation of all the details your account would be created .

3-      After the account activation you can download the the Form 16 B .

Foe understanding each step more in details you can refer the e-tutorials available on https://www.tdscpc.gov.in/ , or you can leave your query below in comments.

Income tax form 26AS

Form 26AS basically a form which indicates that the tax has been deducted and deposited with the Government . In other words you can say it's a Tax Credit Form for PAN holders which indicates the Tax deducted on your income and deposited with Government .

The Form 26AS contains:

• Details of tax deducted on behalf of the taxpayer by deductors
• Details of tax collected on behalf of the taxpayer by collectors
• Advance tax/self assessment tax/regular assessment tax, etc. deposited by the taxpayers (PAN holders)
• Details of paid refund received during the financial year
• Details of the High value Transactions in respect of shares, mutual fund etc.

Benefits of Form 26AS ;

Every Tax Payer receive the Form 16 / Form 16A (Certificate of tax deducted and deposited by the Deductor) , Form 26AS help taxpayer to cross check the with Tax Credit Statement .

a) The tax deducted/collected by the deductor/collector has been deposited to the account of the government;
b) The deductor/collector has accurately filed the TDS/TCS statement giving details of the tax deducted/collected on your behalf;
c) Bank has properly furnished the details of the tax deposited by you.

In future you will be able to use this consolidated tax statement (Form 26AS) as a proof of tax deducted/collected on your behalf and the tax directly paid by you along with your income tax return after the need for submission of TDS/TCS certificates and tax payment challans along with income tax returns has been dispensed with by the Income Tax Department (ITD).
However as of now for claiming the credit for tax deducted/collected at source you may be required to enclose TDS/TCS certificates (Form 16/16A) issued to you by the deductor.

Process to Download/View Form 26AS ;

Form 26AS can be downloaded or View through 3 different portals ;

1- Income tax website

2- TRACES website

3- Any Bank website 

1- Registered user can view Form 26AS logging into their account through https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in .

2- Income Tax Dept. set up a new portal called TRACES (TDS Reconciliation Analysis and Correction Enabling System) to view or download Form 26AS ,Registered user can view Form 26AS logging into their account through https://www.tdscpc.gov.in/app/tapreg1.xhtml , 

For online tutorial on how to register for Form 26AS through TRACES website refer below link

http://contents.tdscpc.gov.in/en/taxpayer-registration-login-etutorial.html#

3- View Tax Credit (Form 26AS) from bank site through net banking facility The facility is available to a PAN holder having net banking account with any of authorized banks. Viewing the Tax Credit Statement (Form 26AS) is available only if the PAN number is mapped to that particular account. This facility is available for free.

 For any query leave your comments below .

Section 80GG Deduction-Get Tax Benefit on rent paid if not getting HRA ..

All salaried are very much familiar with HRA and how to get the benefit of the rent they pay. However, what about those who do not get HRA in their salary or for self employed? Will they still get rent benefit? The answer to both the questions is Section 80GG of Income Tax.

In computing total income , an assesse is allowed a deduction in respect of expenditure towards payment of rent for any furnished or unfurnished accommodation occupied by him for the purpose of his own residence provided the following conditions are satisfied ;

1-This section is only applicable to Individual or HUF (self employed / salaried employee ) who is not in receipt of House Rent Allowance at any time during the previous year .

2- Tax Payer himself or spouse/Minor Child/HUF of which he is a member should not own any accommodation at a place where he is doing a job or business.

3-If Tax Payer owns house at a place other than the place noted above, then the concession in respect of self occupied property is not claimed by him [Under Section 23 (2) (a) or 23 (4) (a)].

4- Tax Payer has to file a declaration in Form No. 10BA regarding the expenditure incurred by him towards the payment of rent.

Amount of deduction under Sec. 80GG -

If the above four conditions are satisfied, the amount deductible under Section 80GG is LEAST OF THE FOLLOWING.

• Rs.2, 000 per month;
• 25% of total income of taxpayer for the year (Total Income is calculated after excluding long-term capital gain, short-term capital gain under section 111A, and income referred to in section 115A or 115D, Amount deductible under Sec.80C to 80U (except Section 80GG)
• Rent Paid less 10% of total income (Rent Paid-10% of Total Income).

Example :-

Mr. Ram's total income (calculated as per above formula) is Rs.5,00,000. He pays an annual rent of Rs.2,00,000. Then least of the below will be applicable for deduction under Sec. 80GG.

• Rs.24, 000 per year.
• Rent Paid-10% of Total Income=Rs. 2,00,000-Rs.50,000=Rs.1,50,000.
• 25% of Total Income i.e Rs.1,25,000.

So least of the above will be Rs.24, 000, which one can claim under Section 80GG for that particular FY.

I hope I have covered all necessary points related to information , if you have any suggestion or doubt please let me know in comments below .

 

Procedure to Become TRP - TRPS

The Tax Return Preparer Scheme, was conceptualized by the Income Tax Department (ITD) and launched in 2006-07. Applications for the TRP trainings are advertised in the leading newspapers by the Tax Department, on a periodic basis Or applicant can visit http://trpscheme.com/default.aspx for the updates .

Role of TRPs :

1. An eligible person may, at his option, furnish his return of income under section 139 of the Act for any assessment year after getting it prepared through a Tax Return Preparer:
Provided that the return of income for an assessment year shall not be prepared and furnished through a Tax Return Preparer, if : 

a. An eligible person is carrying out business or profession during the previous year relevant to such assessment year and accounts of the business or profession for that previous year are required to be audited under section 44AB of the Act or under any other law for the time being in force;

OR

b. An eligible person is not resident in India during the previous year relevant to such assessment year:
Provided further that an eligible person shall not furnish a revised return of income under sub-section (5) of section 139 of the Act for any assessment year through a Tax Return Preparer unless he has furnished the original return of income for that assessment year through such or any other Tax Return Preparer:
Provided also that a return of income which is required to be furnished in response to a notice under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 142 or section 148 or section 153A of the Act shall not be prepared and furnished through a Tax Return Preparer.

2. The Tax Return Preparer shall prepare and furnish the return of income to the Assessing Officer having the jurisdiction over the concerned assessee or to any other officer or agency as may be directed by the Resource Centre with the approval of the Board and hand over the acknowledgement of having furnished the return to the concerned eligible person.

Duties and Obligations of TRPs
The Tax Return Preparer shall:

1. prepare the return with due diligence;
2. affix his signature on the return prepared by him;
3. furnish the return with the Assessing Officer having the jurisdiction over the concerned assessee or to any other officer or agency as may be directed by the Resource Centre with the approval of the Board;
4. hand over a copy of the return to the person whose return is prepared and furnished by him;
5. retain a copy of the acknowledgment of having furnished the return;
6. in respect of returns prepared and furnished by him during a month, maintain record of the following, namely:
   1. the name of assessees whose returns of income have been prepared and furnished by him during that month;
   2. the permanent account number of such assessees;
   3. assessment year;
   4. date of furnishing the return;
   5. acknowledgment number;
   6. jurisdiction of the Assessing Officer;
   7. amount of income declared in the return;
   8. amount of tax payable;
   9. amount of tax paid;
   10. the amount disbursable to him under sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 9 of this Scheme for any eligible assessment year mentioned therein;
   11. the fee charged and received by him under sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 9 of this Scheme;
7. furnish a statement of particulars mentioned in item (vi) for every month on or before the seventh day of the immediately following month to the Resource Centre.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualification:
Candidates should possess a bachelor's degree from a recognized university in any of the following subjects:

1. Law (LLB)
2. Economics (B.A. / B.Sc.)
3. Statistics (B.A. / B.Sc.)
4. Mathematics (B.A. / B.Sc.)
5. Commerce (B.Com.)
6. Management/ Business Administration (BBA / BBM)

Age:
Candidates between the age of twenty-one (21) and thirty-five (35) years shall be eligible to apply.

Incentives and Remuneration to TRPs

The Tax Return Preparer shall charge a fee of two hundred and fifty rupees for any assessment year from the eligible person for preparing and furnishing his return of income.

TRPs will receive 3% of the tax paid on the returns prepared & filed for every new assessee in the 1st year (subject to a maximum of Rs. 1000/-), 2% in the second year and 1% in the third year and Rs. 250 for the returns prepared & filed for the old assessees.

The Resource Centre is responsible for day to day administration of the Scheme, they arrange training by NIIT .
Post training, web-based advanced learning to upgrade their skills by the Government .
There is Helpdesk to clarify TRPs' doubts pertaining to their work.

I hope I have covered all necessary points related to information , if you have any suggestion or doubt please let me know in comments below .


 

Tax Planning for FY 2014-2015

As the financial year draws to a close, we all start feeling the heat and realise that yes, now we have to invest in order to save tax. Whilst investing with tax saving and tax planning in mind is the key, these investments must be part of a larger financial plan – to achieve certain life goals and protect capital. Unfortunately, tax planning decisions are taken at the eleventh hour with low planning and thus hamper the process of wealth creation over the long term.

Ideally, you should commence your tax planning exercise well in advance, complementing it with your overall investment planning exercise. This will ensure that you select the tax saving instruments which will eventually help you to meet your goals.

In order to get your thoughts moving, we have broken down the tax planning exercise into 3 simple steps:

Step I – Compute the Gross Total Income

The process of tax planning begins with computation of your gross total income. Gross total income is nothing but the sum total of income from various sources which includes income from salary, income from house property, profits and gains from business & profession, capital gains (short term and long term) and income from other sources. You can do this by yourself, get it done at your office (many offices do offer this facility), ask your CA / tax consultant to do it, or use the convenience of the new tax portals that have emerged in more recent times. E.g. http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Pages/tools/income-tax-calculator.aspx

Step 2- Compute the Net Taxable Income

The next step is to compute the net taxable income. This means reducing from the gross total income, the various deductions allowed under the Income Tax Act, the most common being deduction under House Rent Allowance and Section 80C. Section 80C allows for deduction upto Rs 150,000 p.a. for specified payments and investments. Common examples are – investment to Public Provident Fund (PPF) , payment of life insurance premium, employee’s contribution to Employer’s Provident Fund (EPF), and repayment of principal amount of a home loan. Section 80D – Section 80D allows for deduction upto rs. 15000 for medical premium and medical check up you can claim for additional 15000 for parents (20,000 incase senior citizen) , Section 24B for interest on Home loan (Calculation varies in case nature of property occupied)

Step 3 – Calculate the tax payable

Once the net taxable income is computed, the final step is to calculate the tax payable based on the current applicable income tax slabs.

The income tax rates for Individuals and HUFs for FY 2014-15 can be checked at the following  :-

India Income tax slabs 2014-2015 for General tax payers and Women

Income tax slab (in Rs.)	Tax
0 to 2,50,000	No tax
2,50,001 to 5,00,000	10%
5,00,001 to 10,00,000	20%
Above 10,00,000	30%

India Income tax slabs 2014-2015 for Senior citizens (Aged 60 years but less than 80 years)

Income tax slab (in Rs.)	Tax
0 to 3,00,000	No tax
3,00,001 to 5,00,000	10%
5,00,001 to 10,00,000	20%
Above 10,00,000	30%

India Income tax slabs 2014-2014 for very senior citizens (Aged 80 and above)

Income tax slab (in Rs.)	Tax
0 to 5,00,000	No tax
5,00,001 to 10,00,000	20%
Above 10,00,000	30%

Take prudent steps to minimise tax liability

Between step 1 and 2, i.e. before you start calculating your tax liability and decide where to invest your money to save tax, it is important for you to know the parameters on which you should select the tax saving instruments. The most important ones include your:

·         Financial goals

·         Age

·         Risk appetite

·         Investment horizon (only to an extent, as most of the instruments have a lock-in period of 3 years)

Based on the above parameters, work out your asset allocation (for the tax saving investments). If you are young, then allocate more money to higher risk instruments like Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) and a smaller portion to safer instruments like PPF/EPF. As you grow older and near retirement, keep increasing your allocation to EPF/PPF and reducing the same to ELSS.

It should be noted that tax planning enables you to also create wealth for retirement planning, as every year you contribute to the retirement corpus. Starting early will help you in two ways:

·         Reduce pressure on finances at a later stage and

·         Enable you to aim for an ideal retirement scenario and not a compromise

All you need to know about Section 80C

Section 80C of the Income Tax Act provides a maximum deduction i.e. upto Rs 150,000 p.a. for individuals and HUFs. The investments and contributions under Section 80C can be broadly classified into three categories – life insurance, assured return schemes and market-linked schemes. It is important to reiterate that the aggregate of all investments under Section 80C, subject to any sub limits, cannot exceed Rs 150,000 p.a.

Following are the major, more popular and common investments/contributions that qualify for Section 80C deductions:

·         Life Insurance Premium

·         Public Provident Fund (PPF)

·         Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF)

·         National Saving Certificate (NSC) , including accrued interest

·         5-Year fixed deposits with banks and Post Office

·         Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)

·         National Pension Scheme (NPS)

·         Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs)

·         Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS)

·         Tuition fees paid for children’s education (maximum 2 children)

·         Principal component of home loan repayment

(The above list of investments/contributions is not exhaustive.)

Life insurance: Forget the tax benefits

Tax saving and life insurance are synonymous in the Indian context. Think of life insurance and the first point that comes to mind is tax saving. This is because premium paid on any life insurance plan can be claimed as deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. In fact, tax saving and life insurance have become so closely associated with each other, that life insurance for many individuals is reduced to just a tax saving avenue. While the truth is, regardless of the tax benefits, life insurance is a potent tool that every individual must have in his financial portfolio – not as a tax planning instrument but as an insurance against an eventuality.

The blame for equating life insurance with tax benefits must be shared equally by both insurance companies and life insurance agents. Most insurance companies focus on the tax saving aspect of life insurance more than any other feature. Insurance agents heighten their efforts to sell insurance in the latter half of the financial year (September – March) because they understand that, that is the time individuals (particularly salaried employees) tie up their tax planning.

Not that we at do not have any complaints against tax benefits being offered on life insurance. But the tax benefits have served as a distraction and have detracted from the real benefit of taking life insurance i.e. providing financial security to the individual’s dependents. The prudent approach to taking life insurance involves putting the primary reason (securing the dependents) ahead of the secondary reason (tax benefit). Look at it this way, if you have not taken life insurance for an amount that accurately provides for your family in your absence, you are hurting your own family’s cause. That is why it’s more important to take life insurance according to your needs rather than to maximize tax benefits.

How to buy life insurance

First, you must determine the tenure over which you wish to take life insurance. For married individuals, this should be the estimated remaining lifespan of your spouse. Then you must determine your liabilities (like home loan, education loan) and expenses (like household expenses, medical expenses) that your dependents will have to service in your absence. Next, you will also have to factor in inflation to arrive at an estimate sum that is commonly referred to as your ‘Human Life Value’ (HLV). Finally, you must opt for a suitable insurance plan to provide for your HLV. There are primarily 3 types of plans that you can choose from.

1. Term Plans

Taking a term plan is the most cost-effective way of buying life insurance. Term plans only provide an insurance cover and do not offer a return. If the policy holder survives the policy tenure, he will not receive any maturity benefit.

On the other hand, if he meets with an eventuality (i.e. death) during the policy tenure, then his dependents get the sum assured. Term plans allow individuals to opt for a larger sum assured at a relatively lower premium. For individuals with high HLVs, often term plans are the only option because other plans like endowment plans and unit-linked insurance plans (IJLIPs) are either too expensive or not feasible at all.

2. Endowment Plans

The differentiating point between endowment plans and term plans is the maturity benefit. Term plans don’t pay the policy holder the sum assured if he survives the policy term, while endowment plans pay out the sum assured (along with profits, if any) under both scenarios – death and survival. Naturally, most individuals find the idea of receiving the sum assured (along with profits) on death and survival appealing. But this comes at a cost. Since endowment plans pay out the maturity benefit, regardless of whether the policy holder survives the policy term or not, the insurance company builds this into the cost of the insurance plan i.e. the premium. This makes endowment plans more expensive than term plans.

3. Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs)

ULIPs are a combination of insurance and investments. They can invest in stock/debt markets; investors have the option to choose the debt-equity allocation. Returns from ULIPs are market-linked and hence can be affected by the day to day fluctuations in these markets. The premiums which you pay for ULIPs are converted into units and the Net Asset Value (NAV) is declared regularly. Generally, ULIPs are for a term of 10-20 years with an initial lock-in period and minimum premium payment term of 5 years. The term of the policy and premium payment vary from scheme to scheme.

Like endowment plans, ULIPs can be very expensive. However, if selected well, ULIPs can add value to your portfolio over the long-term. Before buying any ULIP, you must understand the various charges associated with it as these can have a significant impact on the overall returns.

In case of an eventuality, the beneficiary is paid either the sum assured (which generally is 5 times the annual premium) or the fund value, whichever is higher.

Tax planning: The “assured return” way

1. Public Provident Fund (PPF)

Investments in PPF are for a 15-Yr period and they provide regular savings by encouraging that contributions are made every year. You can deposit a minimum of Rs 500 and a maximum of Rs 1,50,000 in a financial year, in lump sum or in twelve installments of any amount in multiple of rupees five. Any deposits in excess of Rs 1,50,000 in a financial year will be refunded without interest and this amount cannot be considered for income tax rebate. You can open a PPF A/c not only in your name but also in the name of your spouse and children. However, please note that aggregate deposits of upto Rs 1,50,000 p.a. are eligible for tax benefits under Section 80C.

Currently, PPF investments earn a return of 8.7% p.a. compounded annually. However, you should note that although the stated returns are assured, they are not fixed. The rate of interest is subject to change from time to time. Furthermore, withdrawals can be made only from the seventh financial year onwards. PPF being an assured return product is a safe investment avenue for you, if you are risk averse.

Deduction

Apart from a deduction of upto Rs 150,000 p.a. on deposits in PPF account under Section 80C, interest income from PPF account is exempt from tax under Section 10(a)(i) of the Income Tax Act.

2. National Savings Certificate (NSC)

NSC is a time-tested tax saving instrument with a maturity period of  Five and Ten Years. Presently, the interest is paid @ 8.50% p.a. on 5 year NSC and 8.80 % Per Annum on 10 year NSC.  Interest is Compounded Half Yearly. While the minimum investment amount is Rs 100, there is no maximum amount. Premature withdrawals are permitted only in specific circumstances such as death of the holder.

Deduction

Investments in NSC are eligible for a deduction of upto Rs 150,000 p.a. under Section 80C. Furthermore, the accrued interest which is deemed to be reinvested qualifies for deduction under Section 80C. However, the interest income is chargeable to tax in the year in which it accrues.

3. Bank Deposits and Post Office Time Deposits

5-Yr bank fixed deposits are eligible for a deduction under Section 80G. The minimum amount that you can invest is Rs 100 with an upper limit of Rs 150,000 in a financial year. Currently these deposits earn an interest in the range of 8.00% -9.50% p.a.

Post Office Time Deposits (POTDs) are fixed deposits from the small savings segment. The minimum amount to be invested is Rs 200 while there is no upper limit (only Rs 150,000 will be eligible for deduction). Although you can opt for deposit of 1-Yr, 2-Yrs, 3-Yrs and 5-Yrs, only deposits with maturity of 5-Yrs are eligible for tax benefits under Section 80C. A 5-Yr POTD earns a return of 8.5% p.a.; the interest is calculated quarterly and paid annually. Premature withdrawals are permitted after 6 months from the date of deposit with a penalty in the form of loss of interest.

Deduction

The amount deposited in the 5-Yr bank deposits and POTD are eligible for deduction under Section 80C; however interest income on bank deposits and POTDs are chargeable to tax.

4. Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)

The SCSS is an effort made by the Government of India for the empowerment and financial security of senior citizens. So, if you are over 60 years old, you are eligible to invest in this scheme; while if you have attained 55 years of age and have retired under a voluntary retirement scheme, you are also eligible to enjoy the benefits of this scheme subject to certain conditions being fulfilled.

The minimum investment in this scheme is Rs 1,000 while the maximum amount has been restricted to Rs 15,00,000. Again, the deduction is limited to Rs 150,000. Investments in SCSS have tenure of 5 years and earn a return of 9.20% p.a. The interest payouts are made on a quarterly basis every year. After one year from the date of opening the account, premature withdrawals are permitted. If you withdraw between 1 and 2 years, 1.5% of the initial amount invested will be deducted. In case if you withdraw after 2 years, 1.0% of the initial amount is deducted.

Deduction

Investments upto Rs 150,000 in SCSS are entitled for a deduction under Section 80C. The interest income is charged to tax, which is deducted at source. If you have no tax liability on the estimated income for the financial year, you can avoid the Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) by providing a declaration in Form 15-H or Form 15-G as applicable.

Tax planning with “market-linked” instruments

1. National Pension Scheme (NPS)

NPS, introduced on May 1, 2009, is the new addition to the family of investments that qualify for deduction under Section 80C. It is basically an investment avenue to plan for your retirement. Contributions to this scheme are voluntary and available to individuals in the age bracket of 18-60 years.

There are two types of accounts:

Tier-I account: In case of the Tier-I account, the minimum investment amount is Rs 500 per contribution and Rs 6,000 per year, and you are required to make minimum 4 contributions per year. Under this account, premature withdrawals upto a maximum of 20% of the total investment is permitted before attainment of 60 years, however the balance 80% of the pension wealth has to be utilized to buy a life annuity.

Tier-II account: While opening this account you will have to make a minimum contribution of Rs 1,000. The minimum number of contributions is 4, subject to a minimum contribution of Rs 250. However, if you open an account in the last quarter of the financial year, you will have to contribute only once in that financial year. You will be required to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 2,000 at the end of the financial year. In case you don’t maintain the minimum balance in this account and do not comply with the number of contributions in a year, a penalty of Rs 100 will be levied. In order to have this account, you first need to have a Tier-I account. This account is a voluntary account and withdrawals will be permitted under this account, without any limits.

While investing money, you have two investment choices in NPS i.e. Active or Auto choice. Under the Active asset class, your money will be invested in various asset classes viz. E (Equity), C (Credit risk bearing fixed income instruments other than Government Securities) and G (Central Government and State Government bonds); where you will have an option to decide your asset allocation into these asset classes. In case of Auto Choice, your money will be invested in the aforesaid asset classes in accordance with predetermined asset allocation.

The return on your investment is not guaranteed; rather it is market-linked. At the age of 60 years, you can exit the scheme; but you are required to invest a minimum 40% of the fund value to purchase a life annuity. The remaining 60% of the money can be withdrawn in lump sum or in a phased manner upto the age of 70 years.

Deduction

Investments in NPS are eligible for deduction upto a maximum of Rs 150,000 p.a. (part of the total 80C deduction). However, withdrawals will be subject to tax as the scheme has the Exempt-Exempt-Tax (EET) status.

2. Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS)

ELSS are 100% diversified equity funds with tax benefits. A distinguishing feature of ELSS is that unlike regular equity funds, investments in tax saving funds are subject to a compulsory lock-in period of three years. The minimum application amount is Rs 500, with no upper limit. You can either make lump sum investments or investments through the Systematic Investment Plan (SIP).

Deduction

Investments in ELSS are eligible for a deduction upto Rs 150,000 p.a. under Section 80C. Long term capital gains, if any, are exempt from tax.

 Deduction Available under Other Sections i.e. Section 80D, 80DD, 80E, 80G, 80GG, 80U

When it comes to tax savings, Section 80C lies at the top of the recall list. Every income-tax payer is familiar with the provisions of Section 80C and the investment avenues available under it. However, what many do not know is that there are other deductions under Section 80 which can be used to one’s advantage to further reduce your tax liability. These deductions are related to medical insurance premium, education loan, expenses on medical treatment, donations to various organizations and funds, house rent paid, among others. We give below, a brief synopsis of some of the major ones.

1. Section 80D :-The premium paid on medical insurance policy (commonly referred to as a mediclaim policy) to cover your spouse and you, dependent children and parents against any unexpected medical expenses, qualifies for a deduction under Section 80D. The maximum amount allowed annually as a deduction is Rs 15,000. If you are a senior citizen, the maximum deduction allowed is Rs 20,000. Further, if you pay medical insurance premium for your parents, you can claim an additional deduction of upto Rs 15,000 under this section. For example, if you pay a premium of Rs 15,000 for yourself and Rs 15,000 for your parents, you will be eligible for a total deduction of Rs 30,000. If your Parents are Senior Citizen than deduction amount can be of up to Rs. 35,0000/-

It should be noted that in order to claim the deduction, you are required to pay the premium by cheque.

Deduction U/s 80D for Mediclaim Premium to Individual, HUF, Senior Citizens 

2. Section 80DD :- If you have incurred any expenditure on the medical treatment of a handicapped ‘dependent’ with disability, the same qualifies for deduction under Section 80DD of  the Income Tax Act. The deduction is a fixed sum of Rs 50,000 p.a. if the handicapped dependent is suffering from 40% of any disability. If the disability is severe (i.e. 80% of any disability), then a higher deduction of Rs 100,000 can be claimed.

The term ‘dependent’ here means your spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters. However, it is important to note that the dependent person with disability should not claim any deduction under Section 80U (please refer to point 6).

In order to claim the deduction you will have to submit a medical certificate issued by a medical authority along with the return of income.

Section 80DD Deduction- Medical expense of disabled dependent 

3. Section 80E :- This section definitely comes as a boon to all of you who intend taking a loan to pursue higher education such as full time graduation and post graduation. The loan can be taken either by you for your education or for your relative’s education. The term ‘relative’ here includes spouse, any child or of the student of whom individual is legal Guardian.

The entire amount of interest which you pay on the loan during the financial year is eligible for deduction under this section. You should avail of a loan from an approved charitable institution or a notified financial institution.

The deduction is available for a maximum of 8 years or till the interest is fully paid off, whichever is earlier.

Section 80E – Deduction for Interest on education Loan 

4. Section 80G:- If you have given donations to certain specified funds, charitable institutions, approved educational institutions, etc, the donation amount qualifies for deduction under this section. The deductions allowed can be 50% or 100% of the donation, subject to the stated limits as provided under this section. For example, donations to electoral trusts are allowed 100% deduction. In order to claim deduction under this section, you must attach a proof of payment along with your return of income.

Deduction U/s. 80G of Income Tax Act, 1961 for donation

5. Section 80GG :-If you have paid rent for any furnished or unfurnished accommodation occupied for the purpose of your own residence, you can claim deduction under this section. This benefit is available to both, self employed and salaried individuals who are not in receipt of any House Rent Allowance (HRA). In order to be eligible for this deduction, you, your spouse or minor child should not own any residential accommodation in India or abroad.

The deduction available under this section is the least of:

·         25% of the total income or,

·         Rs 2,000 per month or,

·         Excess of rent paid over 10% of total income

Section 80GG Deductions – For rent paid

6. Section 80U :- Individuals suffering from specified disability qualify for deduction under Section 80U of the Income Tax Act. A fixed deduction of Rs 50,000 is allowed if the person is suffering from 40% of any disability. If an individual suffers from a severe disability (i.e. 80% of any disability), then a higher deduction of Rs 1,00,000 is allowed.

The individual does not have to submit any proof of medical expenses. However, he has to submit a medical certificate issued by a medical authority along with the return of income. An individual with disabilities such as blindness, hearing impairment, low vision, mental retardation, etc, qualifies for deduction under this section. If you have claimed a deduction under this section, deduction under Section 80DD cannot be claimed.

Deduction U/s. 80U for disabled persons

Tax benefits and home loans

The Income Tax Act gets a little benevolent when it comes to housing loans. It encourages you to buy your house with a housing loan because of the tax saving benefits that come along with it. Both, repayment of principal and payment of interest are eligible for deduction from your total taxable income.

When it comes to repayment of principal, you can claim a deduction upto Rs 150,000 under section 80C for both, self occupied and rented property. The interest component of the loan covered under section 24(b) is eligible for a deduction upto Rs 200,000 p.a. for a self occupied property. For rented property the actual interest payable is eligible for deduction.

Tax planning: the right way

The next step is to know which of those investments, contributions and payments you should choose from. Your choice of tax saving instrument should not only aim at reducing the overall tax liability, but also compliment your investment planning process.

For example, as a part of your retirement plan, you may be investing in equity funds and bank fixed deposits. In such a case, your tax saving portfolio could include Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS), Public Provident Fund (PPF) and Bank Fixed Deposit. This will ensure that your equity portfolio has a mix of ELSS and regular equity funds. The same goes for your debt portfolio.

The underlying principle for choosing from the various tax saving options is asset allocation, which in turn is a function of your age, risk appetite and investment horizon (only to an extent).

To help you understand this concept, we have prepared the model asset allocation table showing the break-up of Rs 150,000 investment under Section 80C. Model Asset Allocation Table

Age	Life insurance premium (Rs)	EPF/PPF/ Bank FD (Rs)	ELSS (Rs)	Total (Rs)
<30	30,000	37,500	82,500	150,000
30 – 40	30,000	52,500	67,500	150,000
41 – 50	30,000	67,500	52,500	150,000
51 – 55	30,000	90,000	30,000	150,000

The above table takes into account the age of an individual and accordingly suggests the break-up of Rs 100,000. If you are young and less than 30 years of age, we recommend a higher allocation to ELSS as these are high risk investments and need time to grow. As you are young, it makes sense to have a higher allocation to ELSS. As you grow older, increase your allocation to secured and assured schemes like bank fixed deposit, PPF, NSC, etc.

A closer look at the table reveals that 20% of the available amount is allocated to payment of life insurance premium. We believe that every individual should take a term insurance. Why only term insurance? Simply because term insurance provides a higher risk cover for a relatively lower premium. However, 20% allocation i.e. Rs 30,000 as a premium amount holds good only for those individuals who take term insurance early in their life. A premium of Rs 30,000 for a term plan can fetch you a sum assured in the range of Rs 60-70 lakhs. This sum assured by itself may not equal your human life value but it certainly is much higher compared to the endowment plans. If you delay, the premium amount will only increase, leading to a higher allocation towards the same. However, this should not act as a deterrent for taking adequate insurance cover for yourself.

Moving on further, if you are a salaried individual, a part of your basic salary is deducted by way of contribution to Employer’s Provident Fund (EPF). In such a case, there is a compulsory allocation to debt. Therefore, addition to debt by way of investment in NSC or PPF should be done taking into account your life stage and overall asset allocation.

At any stage in life, ensure that you allocate some money to ELSS. Equity as an asset class has the potential to create wealth over the long term. If you are saving for long term goals like retirement, investments in ELSS can come handy.

We believe that the above discussion on model asset allocation will help you in shortlisting the options that finally make it to your portfolio. It is important to note that the model asset allocation should not be construed as an ideal asset allocation. It is aimed at giving you an insight into the process of choosing from a plethora of options available.