Income tax deduction on housing loan interest – Applicability of condition of three years for completion

We have come across the following question from one of our readers recently regarding Interest paid on borrowed capital for house property (interest paid on housing loan) which is allowed as deduction under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act. The query carries a genuine concern as at no fault of the borrower, income tax concession applicable is denied. We thought of discussing this issue in this article so that Readers who could enlighten us further in this subject can give their views as comments to this article.

The specific question here is whether the specific conditions mentioned in Second Proviso to Section 24 of the Income Tax Act to the effect that the property acquisition or construction is to be completed within three years from the end of the financial year in which capital was borrowed, would restrict the interest allowed to be deducted to Rs.30,000/- in respect of property referred to in the question above on account of time lapsed between the date of borrowing and completion of house, which is found to be more than 3 years.

The Relevant portions of Section 24 of Income Tax Act, which stipulate the above restriction in deduction of interest and Section 23 of Income Tax Act which provides for determining the annual value (rent) are as follows:

Section 24 of Income Tax Act:

“24. Income chargeable under the head “Income from house property” shall be computed after making the following deductions, namely:—

(a)  a sum equal to thirty per cent of the annual value;

(b)  where the property has been acquired, constructed, repaired, renewed or reconstructed with borrowed capital, the amount of any interest payable on such capital:

Provided that in respect of property referred to in sub-section (2) of section 23, the amount of deduction shall not exceed thirty thousand rupees :

Provided further that where the property referred to in the first proviso is acquired or constructed with capital borrowed on or after the 1st day of April, 1999 and such acquisition or construction is completed ⁵⁷[within three years from the end of the financial year in which capital was borrowed], the amount of deduction under this clause shall not exceed one lakh fifty thousand rupees.

……..”

Sub Section 2 of Section 23 of Income Tax Act :

“(2) Where the property consists of a house or part of a house which—

(a)  is in the occupation of the owner for the purposes of his own residence; or

(b)  cannot actually be occupied by the owner by reason of the fact that owing to his employment, business or profession carried on at any other place, he has to reside at that other place in a building not belonging to him,

the annual value of such house or part of the house shall be taken to be nil.”

It could be seen that the proviso to Section 24 of the Income Tax Act which stipulates the condition of completion of property within 3 years is applicable only to the property referred to in the first proviso to Section 24. Interestingly, first proviso to Section 24 is applicable exclusively to property referred to in Sub Section (2) of Section 23 viz., self occupied property and property on which annual value (Rent) realised is Nil.

So, it appears that Interest deductible in respect of property referred to in the question above can not be restricted to Rs.30,000 on account of delay of more than three years for completion of house, since the property is to be let out.

Further in this context, Income Tax department has come up with a set of guidelines published in the hand book namely “Tax Payers Information Series-17-Assessment of Income from House Property”. (Download this hand book by clicking this link) The relevant portion from the same is as follows.

It is very clear from the above chart provided by Income tax department that restriction of deduction of interest on borrowed capital only up to Rs.30,000 or Rs.1,50,000 as the case may be is applicable only to Self Occupied Property or property for which annual value (Rent) declared is Nil.