Individuals and HUFs (Hindu Undivided Family) can claim income tax deductions on certain investments and expenses undertaken during the financial year.
You can still make tax-saving investments for FY 2019-20 till 30th June 2020. Due to Covid-19 an additional 3-month extension was announced.
Tip
You can still make tax-saving investments for FY 2019-20 till 30th June 2020. Due to Covid-19 an additional 3-month extension was announced.
Section 80C: Income Tax Saving Investments & Payments
Section 80C allows deduction on certain investments and expenses mentioned under the Income Tax Act. The maximum limit for this deduction is INR. 1,50,000.
Investments Eligible for Tax Deductions u/s 80C
ELSS – Equity Linked Saving Scheme: It is an equity-based tax saving mutual funds. Investments made up to INR 1,50,000 under ELSS qualify for tax benefits. It has a lock-in period of 3 years.
PPF – Public Provident Fund: PPF is a government-backed provident fund with a fixed interest rate of approximately 8% p.a. You can invest a minimum of INR. 500 and maximum INR. 1,50,000 in a financial year. The PPF deposit, interest, and withdrawal amount are exempt from tax. The maturity period for a PPF is 15 years.
EPF – Employee Provident Fund: is a savings scheme for employees. Each month a portion of their salary is deducted towards EPF. This fund is made available to the employee when they retire or change jobs. Employee’s contributions to EPF was tax deductible u/s 80C. However, as per the recent announcement in Budget 2021, Interest earned on annual PF contribution exceeding 2.5 lacs from April 2021 will now be taxable. While the employer’s contribution is completely tax-free Any withdrawal after the specified period (5 years) is exempt from income tax.
Tax Savings Fixed Deposits: also known as term deposits are offered by different banks and financial institutions for tax saving investment u/s 80C.
Sukankya Samriddhi Savings Scheme: is aimed at the betterment of girl children in India. The deposits earn an interest of 8.6% p.a. with a maturity period of 21 years.
ULIP i.e. Unit Linked Insurance Plan: any amount invested by an individual in a pension fund set up by a mutual fund or UTI is allowed as a deduction u/s 80C up to INR. 1,50,000
SCSS i.e. Senior Citizen Savings Scheme: is open to any person above the age of 60 years, or 55 years who have opted for retirement. Savings under the SCSS scheme will earn interest at 8.6% p.a with a lock-in period of 5 years.
Pension Fund by UTI: investment amount up to INR 1,50,000 by an individual in a pension fund set up by a mutual fund or UTI is eligible for exemption
Payments eligible for Income Tax Deductions u/s 80C
Life Insurance Premium: amount paid as a life insurance premium for self, spouse or children is eligible for deduction. However, the amount paid should be less than 10% of the sum assured.
Home Loan Repayment: includes repayment of principal amount towards a home loan taken for construction or purchase of residential house property. The stamp duty expenses, registration expenses and transfer expenses paid are also eligible for deduction.
Children Tuition Fees: Tuition fees paid for a full-time course to any school, college, university or educational institute in India. The deduction is available for up to two children.
Section 80CCD – Tax Deductions for Contribution to Pension Fund
Any individual who contributes towards the National Pension Scheme (NPS) can claim deduction under this section. There are 3 different parts of the section 80CCD, that allows the deduction subject to different for a different condition.
Both Section 80C and 80CCD are covered under section 80CCE. The total deduction amount eligible for deduction u/s 80CCE is INR 1,50,000 in a financial year.
Section 80D – Tax Deductions for Medical Insurance Premium
Section 80D of the income tax allows individuals and HUFs (Hindu Undivided Family) to claim a deduction for the amount paid towards medical expenditure. The medical expenditure includes:
Medical insurance premium
Medical expenditure
Preventive health checkup
An individual taxpayer can claim the deduction for medical expenses paid for the following:
Self
Spouse
Children
Parents
In the case of Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), a deduction is allowed for medical insurance premium paid for a member of HUF.
Section 80DD – Tax Deductions for Differently Abled Dependant
A resident Individual/ HUF can claim a deduction for any expenses incurred on the treatment of dependent family member. The list of diseases covered u/s 80DD is:
Autism
Cerebral palsy
Blindness
Low vision
Leprosy cured
Hearing impairment
Locomotor disability
Mental retardation
Mental illness
The deduction limit u/s 80DD is:
Category
Deduction Amount
Disabled Person (40% or more of the disability)
INR 75,000
Severely Disabled Person (80% or more of the disability)
INR 1,25,000
Section 80DDB – Tax Deductions for Treatment of Specified Diseases
Section 80DDB is for expenses incurred on the treatment of specified diseases. The list of diseases covered u/s 80DDB are:
Neurological Diseases with a disability of at least 40%
Malignant cancer
AIDS
Chronic Kidney failure
Haemophilia
Thalassemia
The deduction limit u/s 80DDB is:
Age
Deduction Amount
Individual or a member of HUF, aged below 60
INR 40,000
Individual or a member of HUF, aged 60 years or above
INR 1,00,000
Section 80U – Tax Deductions for Individuals with Disability
Deduction u/s 80U can only be claimed by Resident individuals with a disability. HUF cannot claim tax deduction u/s 80U if any of its members are suffering from a disability. An individual suffering from any of the following disabilities is eligible to claim deduction u/s 80U:
Autism,
Cerebral palsy,
Blindness,
Low vision,
Leprosy cured,
Hearing impairment,
Locomotor disability,
Mental retardation,
Mental illness.
The tax deduction limit u/s 80U is
Category
Deduction Amount
Disabled Person (40% or more of the disability)
INR 75,000
Severely Disabled Person (80% or more of the disability)
INR 1,25,000
Section 80E – Tax Deductions for Interest on Education Loan
Section 80E allows a deduction for interest paid on repayment of education loan taken for higher education. The deduction u/s 80E is not available for principal repayment of the education loan. There is no monetary limit u/s 80E. An individual can claim the total interest amount paid as a deduction. However, a deduction is available only for 8 consecutive years.
Only individuals are eligible to claim deduction u/s 80E if they fulfil the following conditions:
The loan must be taken from the financial or charitable institution.
The loan repayment must be done by the taxpayer
The purpose of the loan taken should be to pursuing higher education for self or for a relative. Relative includes spouse, children, and student for whom an individual is a legal guardian.
Section 80EE – Tax Deductions for First Time Home Buyer
Sections 80EE allows individuals to claim the deduction for interest paid on the home loan taken for the first residential house. The eligible deduction amount for AY 2019-20 (FY 2018-19) is INR 50,000. This limit of Rs. 50,000 is over and above the deduction of Rs. 2,00,000 allowed for home loan interest u/s 24.
To claim income tax deductions u/s 80EE following conditions must be fulfilled:
An individual is a first time home buyer.
Value of residential house should not exceed Rs. 50,00,000.
A loan has to be sanctioned between 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2017.
A loan must be sanctioned by Financial institutions or Housing Finance Company.
Sanctioned loan amount should not exceed Rs. 35,00,000.
A taxpayer should not own any other residential house on the date of a sanction of a loan.
Section 80G – Donation to Charitable Organisations
Section 80G allows Individuals, HUFs, and businesses to claim income tax deductions for donations made to certain relief funds and charitable institutions. However, only donations made to funds prescribed by the government of India qualify as a deduction.
The qualifying limit eligible for deduction differ based on the charitable organization. Types of income tax deductions on donations u/s 80G are:
100% Income Tax Deduction without any qualifying limit
50% Income Tax Deduction without any qualifying limit
100% Income Tax Deduction subject to 10% of adjusted gross total income
50% Income Tax Deduction subject to 10% of adjusted gross total income
Section 80GG allows a tax deduction for rent paid for furnished or unfurnished accommodation. The deduction is allowed to taxpayers who do not receive any HRA from their employer.
Following conditions must be fulfilled to claim deduction u/s 80GG for Rent paid
Only an individual can claim deduction u/s 80GG. The individual can be either salaried or self-employed.
In the case of a salaried person, they should not be receiving House Rent Allowance from an employer.
Assessee or spouse or minor child or HUF of which they are a member should not own be owning any residential accommodation at the place where he/she is residing/performing office duties under-employment/carrying business or profession
The assessee should not own a house property at any place, for which income is calculated as income from self-occupied house property.
The eligible deduction limit u/s 80GG is lower of the following amounts:
Total rent paid less 10% of total income
25% of the annual salary
INR 5000 per month i.e INR 60,000 annually
Section 80TTA – Savings Interest
Section 80TTA of the Income Tax Act allows a deduction on savings account interest. Individuals (other than senior citizens) and HUFs can claim a deduction up to INR 10,000 for a financial year. The bank account statements are required to calculate and claim deduction u/s 80TTA.
Following interests are eligible for deduction u/s 80TTA:
Interest earned from Saving Account with Bank,
Any interest earned from Saving Account with Co-operative Society,
Interest earned from Saving Account with Post Office.
Section 80TTB – Interest Deduction on deposits for Senior Citizens
Section 80TTB under the Income Tax Act which allows resident senior citizens to claim a deduction on interest income up to INR 50,000 for a financial year. This section is applicable from FY 2018-19 (AY 2019-20) onwards.
Following interests are eligible for income tax deductions u/s 80TTB:
Interest earned on Bank Deposits i.e, saving account interest, fixed deposits, recurring deposits.
Any interest earned on deposits with Co-operative Society engaged in banking.
Interest earned from Post Office Deposits i.e, Saving Account Interest, NSC, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme Accounts, Time Deposits, 5-year recurring deposits, and monthly income schemes.
Yes, apart from Section 80C tax deductions, you could claim deductions up to INR 25,000 (INR 50,000 for Senior Citizens) buying Mediclaim u/s 80D. You can claim a deduction of INR 50,000 on home loan interest under Section 80EE. You can save upwards of INR 2,00,000 in taxes.
Can I claim Chapter VIA deductions under the New Tax Regime?
With the majority of income tax deductions slashed in the New Tax Regime, some Deductions are still claimable. – Rebate u/s 87A – Standard Deduction on Rent Received – Agricultural Income – Life Insurance Income to Beneficiary – Retrenchment Compensation – Voluntary Retirement Scheme – Leave Entrenchment on Retirement
What is the Section 80CCD(2) of Income Tax?
Section 80CCD(2) allows employees to claim up to 10% of basic plus DA for Tax Deductions. This contribution is considered an additional deduction as its not part of Rs 1.5 lakh allowed under Section 80C.
There are a wide range of deductions that you can claim. Apart from Section 80C tax deductions, you could claim deductions up to INR 25,000 (INR 50,000 for Senior Citizens) buying Mediclaim u/s 80D. You can claim a deduction of INR 50,000 on home loan interest under Section 80EE.
Hey @Dia_malhotra , there are many deductions that you can avail of. Your salary package may include different allowances like House Rent Allowance (HRA), conveyance, transport allowance, medical reimbursement, etc. Additionally, some of these allowances are exempt up to a certain limit under section 10 of the Income Tax Act.
For eg,
Medical allowance is exempt up to INR 15,000 on a reimbursement basis.
Children education allowance is exempt up to Rs. 200 per child per month up to a maximum of two children.
Conveyance allowance is exempt up to a maximum of Rs. 1600 per month.
Tax on employment and entertainment allowance will also be allowed as a deduction from the salary income. Employment tax is deducted from your salary by your employer and then it is deposited to the state government.
Hey @sushil_verma
There are a wide range of deductions that you can claim. Apart from Section 80C tax deductions, you could claim deductions up to INR 25,000 (INR 50,000 for Senior Citizens) buying Mediclaim u/s 80D. You can claim a deduction of INR 50,000 on home loan interest under Section 80EE.
Hey @Dia_malhotra , there are many deductions that you can avail of. Your salary package may include different allowances like House Rent Allowance (HRA), conveyance, transport allowance, medical reimbursement, etc. Additionally, some of these allowances are exempt up to a certain limit under section 10 of the Income Tax Act.
For eg,
Tax on employment and entertainment allowance will also be allowed as a deduction from the salary income. Employment tax is deducted from your salary by your employer and then it is deposited to the state government.