Admissible Deductions from Income for Salaried Employees

Admissible Deductions under Chapter VI A and Section 16 of Income Tax Act 1961

Deductions from Salaries under Section 16 of Income Tax Act

Entertainment Allowance [Section 16(ii)]:

A deduction is  also  allowed under  section  16(ii)   in respect of any allowance in the nature of an entertainment    allowance   specifically    granted by an employer to the assessee, who is in receipt of a salary from the Government, a   sum  equal  to   one-fifth  of  his  salary(exclusive  of any   allowance, benefit   or     other perquisite) or five thousand rupees whichever is less. No deduction  on account of entertainment allowance is available to non-government  employees.

Tax on Employment [Section 16(iii)]:

The tax on employment (Professional Tax) within the meaning of article 276(2)   of the Constitution of India, leviable by or  under  any  law,  shall also be allowed as a  deduction  in computing the income under the head “Salaries”.

It may be clarified that “Standard Deduction” from gross salary income, which was being

allowed up to financial year 2004-05 is not allowable from financial year 2005-06 onwards.

Deductions under Chapter VI A of Income Tax Act 1961

In computing the taxable income of the employee, the following deductions under Chapter VI-A

of the Act are to be allowed from his gross total income:

Deduction in respect of Life insurance premia, deferred annuity, contributions to provident fund, subscription to certain equity shares or debentures, etc. (section 80C)

Section  80C,  entitles  an  employee  to  deductions  for  the  whole  of  amounts  paid  or deposited  in  the  current  financial  year  in  the  following  schemes,   subject  to  a  limit  of Rs.1,50,000/-:

(1)  Payment of insurance premium to effect or to  keep in force  an  insurance on the life of the individual, the spouse or any child of the individual.

(2)  Any  payment made to effect or to keep in force  a  contract for a deferred annuity, not being an annuity plan  as is  referred to in item (7) herein below on the life  of the individual,  the spouse or any child   of   the individual, provided that such contract  does not contain a provision  for the exercise by the insured of an option  to receive  a  cash  payment  in lieu of the  payment  of  the annuity;

(3)   Any sum deducted from the salary payable by, or, on   behalf   of   the Government to any individual, being  a  sum deducted  in accordance with the conditions of his  service for the purpose   of securing to him a deferred annuity or making provision for his spouse or children, in so far as the sum deducted does not exceed 1/5th of the salary;

(4) Any contribution made :

(a) by an individual to any Provident Fund to which the Provident Fund Act, 1925 applies;

(b) to  any  provident  fund  set  up  by  the  Central Government, and notified by it in this behalf  in the Official Gazette, where such contribution is to an  account standing in the name of an individual, or spouse or children;

(c) by an employee to a Recognized Provident Fund;

(d) by an employee to an approved superannuation fund;

It may be noted that “contribution” to any Fund shall not include any sums in repayment of loan or advance;

(5) Any subscription :-

(a) to  any such security of the Central Government or  any  such deposit scheme as the Central  Government may, by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette, specify in this behalf;

(b) to any such saving certificates as defined   under section   2(c) of the Government Saving  Certificate  Act,  1959  as  the  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official Gazette,  specify in  this  behalf.
(6) Any sum  paid as contribution in the case of  an individual, for himself, spouse or any child,

a.   for  participation  in the Unit  Linked  Insurance  Plan, 1971 of the Unit Trust of India;

b.   for  participation  in any  unit-linked  insurance  plan  of  the  LIC  Mutual Fund     referred  to  section  10  (23D)  and  as  notified     by     the  Central Government.

(7)  Any subscription made to effect or keep in force a contract for such annuity plan of  the Life  Insurance  Corporation     or  any  other  insurer  as  the  Central  Government  may,  by notification in the Official Gazette, specify;

(8) Any subscription made to any units of any Mutual Fund, of section 10(23D), or from  the

Administrator or the specified company referred to in Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking

& Repeal) Act, 2002 under  any  plan formulated  in  accordance with any scheme as  the  Central

Government,  may, by notification in the Official  Gazette, specify in this behalf;

The investments made after 1.4.2006 in plans formulated in accordance with Equity Linked Saving Scheme, 1992 or Equity Linked Saving Scheme, 1998 shall also qualify for deduction under section 80C.

(9)    Any  contribution made by an individual to  any  pension  fund  set  up by any Mutual Fund  referred to in  section 10(23D), or, by the Administrator or the specified company defined in Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking & Repeal) Act, 2002, as the Central  Government may,  by notification in  the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;

(10)  Any subscription made to any such deposit  scheme of, or,  any contribution made to any such pension fund set  up by, the National Housing Bank, as the Central Government may,  by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf;

(11) Any subscription made to any such deposit  scheme, as the Central Government  may,  by notification in the Official   Gazette, specify  for   the   purpose of being floated by  (a)   public sector companies engaged in providing long-term finance for construction or purchase of houses in India for residential purposes,  or, (b) any authority constituted in India  by,    or, under  any law,  enacted  either for  the  purpose  of    dealing   with   and  satisfying   the  need  for   housing accommodation  or for the purpose of planning,  development or improvement of cities, towns and villages, or for both.

(12)   Any   sums paid  by an assessee for the purpose   of  purchase   or construction of a residential house  property, the income  from which is chargeable to tax under the  head “Income from house property” (or which would, if it has not been   used  for  assessee’s   own  residence, have been chargeable  to tax under that head) where such payments are  made towards or by way of any instalment or part payment of the amount  due under any self-financing or other scheme of any Development Authority,  Housing   Board  etc.

The deduction  will also be allowable in respect of  re-payment of loans  borrowed  by an assessee from the Government,  or any bank or Life Insurance Corporation, or National Housing Bank,  or certain other categories of institutions  engaged in the   business  of  providing   long  term  finance for construction or purchase of houses in India.   Any repayment of loan borrowed from the employer will also be covered, if the employer happens to be a public company, or a public sector company,  or  a university established by law, or  a college affiliated  to  such university, or a local authority, or  a    cooperative  society, or an authority, or a board, or a corporation, or any other body established under a Central or State Act.

The stamp duty, registration fee and other expenses incurred for the purpose of transfer  shall   also be   covered.     Payment   towards   the   cost   of   house property,   however, will not include, admission fee or cost of share  or initial deposit or the cost of any addition or alteration  to,  or, renovation   or repair   of   the   house property   which   is   carried   out after the   issue   of   the completion certificate by competent authority, or after the   occupation   of   the house by the assessee or after  it  has been  let out.  Payments towards any expenditure in respect of which the deduction is allowable under the provisions of  section  24 of the Act will also not be included in payments towards the cost of purchase or construction of a house property.

Where the house property in respect  of which  deduction has been allowed under these provisions is transferred  by the tax-payer at any time before the expiry of five  years from the end of the financial year in  which possession  of  such  property  is obtained by  him  or  he receives back, by  way of refund or  otherwise,  any  sum specified in section 80C(2)(xviii), no deduction under these provisions shall be allowed in respect of such sums paid in such  previous  year in which the transfer is made and  the aggregate amount of deductions of income so allowed  in  the earlier years shall be added to the total income of the assessee of such previous year and shall be liable to tax accordingly.

(13) Tuition fees, whether at the time of admission or thereafter, paid to any university, college, school or other educational institution situated in India, for the purpose of full-time education of any two children of the employee.

Full-time education includes any educational course offered by any university, college, school or other educational institution to a student who is enrolled full-time for the said course.  It is also clarified that full-time education includes play-school activities, pre-nursery and nursery classes.

It is clarified that the amount allowable as tuition fees shall include any payment of fee to any university, college, school or other educational institution in India except the amount representing payment in the nature of development fees or donation or capitation fees or payment of similar nature.

(14)  Subscription  to  equity    shares  or  debentures forming  part of any eligible issue of capital made by a public company, which is approved by the Board or by any public finance institution.

(15)  Subscription  to  any units of  any  mutual  fund referred  to in clause (23D) of Section 10 and approved   by the Board, if the amount of subscription to such units is subscribed only in eligible issue of capital of any company.

(16)  Investment as a term deposit for a fixed period of not less than five years with a scheduled bank, which is in accordance with a scheme framed and notified by the Central Government, in the Official Gazette for these purposes.

(17)      Subscription      to      such      bonds      issued      by      the      National      Bank      for Agriculture and Rural Development, as the Central Government may, by such notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.

(18) Any investment in an account under the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme Rules, 2004.

(19) Any investment as five year time deposit in an account under the Post Office Time Deposit Rules, 1981.

Deduction in respect of contribution to certain pension funds (Section 80CCC)

Section 80CCC allows an employee deduction of an amount paid or deposited   out   of his income chargeable to tax to  effect  or keep  in  force  a contract for any annuity  plan of  Life Insurance Corporation of India or any other  insurer for  receiving  pension  from  the Fund referred   to   in   section 10(23AAB). However, the deduction shall exclude interest or bonus accrued or credited to the employee’s account, if any and shall not exceed Rs. 1 lakh.

However, if any amount is standing to the credit of the employee in the fund referred to above and deduction has been allowed as stated above and the employee or his nominee receives this amount together with the interest or bonus accrued or credited to this account due to the reason of

(i)     Surrender of annuity plan whether in whole or part

(ii)    Pension received from the annuity plan

then the amount so received during the Financial Year shall be the income of the employee or his nominee for that Financial Year and accordingly will be charged to tax.

Where any amount paid or deposited by the employee has been taken into account for the purposes of this section, a deduction  with reference to such amount shall not be  allowed under section 80C.

 Deduction  in  respect  of  contribution  to  pension  scheme  of  Central Government (Section 80CCD):

Section  80CCD (1)  allows  an     employee,  being  an  individual  employed  by  the  Central Government  or by  any other employer on or after 01.01.2004, or any other assessee being an individual,  a  deduction of an amount paid or deposited  out  of his income chargeable to tax under National Pension System –NPS or as may be notifed by the Central Government.

However, the deduction shall not exceed an amount equal to 10% of his salary (includes Dearness Allowance but excludes all other allowance and perquisites).  The deduction under section 80CCD(1) shall not exceed Rs. 1,00,000/-.

As per Section 80CCD(2), where any contribution in the said pension scheme is made by  the Central Government or any other employer then the employee shall be allowed a deduction from his  total income of the whole amount  contributed by the Central  Government  or any other employer subject to limit of 10% of his salary of the previous year.

It is emphasized that as per the section 80CCE the aggregate amount of deduction under sections 80C, 80 CCC and Section 80 CCD(1) shall not exceed Rs.1,50,000/-.

However, the deduction under Section 80 CCD (1) shall not exceed Rs.1,00000 but  contribution made by the Central  Government  or  any  other  employer  to  a  pension  scheme  u/s  80CCD(2)  shall  be excluded from the limit of Rs.1,00,000/- provided under this Section.

Deduction in respect of investment made under an equity savings scheme (Section 80 CCG):

Section 80CCG provides deduction w.e.f .assessment year 2013-14 in respect of investment made under  notified  equity saving  scheme.  Rajiv  Gandhi  Equity  Savings  Scheme  2012  has  been notified vide SO No 2777 E  dated 23.11.2012 as a scheme under this section. The scheme was modified in December 2013 vide notification SO No. 3693 dated 18.12.2013 as RGESS 2013. The deduction under this section in accordance with RGESS 2013, is available if following conditions are satisfied:

(a) The assessee is a resident individual

(b) His gross total income does not exceed Rs. 12 lakhs;

(c)  He has acquired listed shares in accordance with a notified scheme or listed units of an equity oriented fund as defined in section 10(38);

(d) The assessee is a new retail investor;

(e)  The investment is locked-in for a period of 3 years from the date of acquisition in accordance with the above scheme;

(f) The assessee satisfies any other condition as may be prescribed.

Amount of deduction –The amount of deduction is at 50% of amount invested in equity shares/units. However, the amount of deduction under this provision cannot exceed Rs. 25,000.

Withdrawal of deduction – If the assessee, after claiming the aforesaid deduction, fails to satisfy the above conditions, the deduction originally allowed shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee of the year in which default is committed.

This deduction is allowed for three consecutive assessment years beginning with the AY in which the listed equity shares or units were first acquired. If any deduction is claimed by a taxpayer under this section in any year, he shall not be entitled to any deduction under this section for any other year.

Deduction in respect of health insurance premia paid, etc. (Section 80D)

Section 80D provides for deduction available for health insurance premia paid, etc. which is calculated as under:

Persons for whom payment made	Nature of payment	Mode of payment	Allowable Deduction (in Rs)
Employee or his family	v  the whole of the amount paid to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the health of the employee or his family or v  any contribution made to the CGHS or such other scheme as may be notified by Central Government (Finance Act 2013) v  any payment on account of preventive health check-up  of  the  employee  or  family, [restricted to Rs 5000/-; cash payment allowed here]	any mode other than cash	Aggregate allowable is Rs 15,000/ {For Senior Citizens it is Rs 20000/-}.
Parent or Parents of employee	v  the whole of the amount paid to effect or keep in  force  an  insurance  on  the  health  of  the parent or parents of the employee or v  any payment made on account of preventive health check-up of the parent or parents of the employee [restricted to Rs 5000/-; cash payment allowed here]	any mode other than cash	Aggregate allowable is Rs 15,000/ {For Senior Citizens it is Rs 20000/-}

Deductions in respect of expenditure on persons or dependants with disability

Deductions in respect of maintenance including medical treatment of a dependent who is a person with disability (section 80DD):

Under section 80DD, where an employee, who is a resident in India, has, during the previous year-

(a) incurred any expenditure for the medical treatment (including nursing), training and rehabilitation of a dependant, being a person with disability; or

(b) paid or deposited any amount under a scheme framed in this behalf by the Life Insurance Corporation or any other insurer or the Administrator or the specified company subject to the conditions specified in this regard and  approved by the Boardin this behalf for the maintenance of a dependant, being a person with disability, the employee shall be allowed a deduction of a sum of fifty thousand rupees from his gross total income of that year.

However,  where such dependant is a person with  severe disability, an amount of one hundred thousand rupees shall be allowed as deduction subject to the specified conditions.

The deduction under (b) above shall be allowed only if the following conditions are fulfilled:-

(i) the scheme referred to in (b) above provides for payment of annuity or lump sum amount for the benefit of a dependant, being a person with disability, in the event of the death of the individual in whose name subscription to the scheme has been made;

(ii) the employee nominates either the dependant, being a person with disability, or any other  person  or  a  trust  to  receive  the  payment  on  his  behalf,  for  the  benefit  of  the dependant, being a person with disability.

However, if the dependant, being a person with disability, predeceases the employee, an amount equal to the amount paid or deposited under sub-para(b) above shall be deemed to be the income of the employee of the previous year in which such amount is received by the employee and shall accordingly be chargeable to tax as the income of that previous year.

Deductions in respect of a person with disability (section 80U):

Under  section 80U, in computing the total income of an individual, being a resident, who, at any time during the previous year, is certified by the medical authority to be a person with disability, there shall be allowed a deduction of a sum of fifty thousand rupees. However, where such individual is a person with severe disability, a higher deduction of one lakh rupees shall be allowable.

Deduction in respect of medical treatment, etc. (Section 80DDB):

Section 80DDB allows a deduction in case of employee,   who is resident in India, during the previous year, of any amount actually paid for the medical treatment of such disease or ailment as may be specified in the rules 11DD (1) for himself or a dependant.   The deduction allowed is equal to the amount actually paid or Rs. 40,000 whichever is less. Further the amount paid should also be reduced by the amount received if any under insurance from an insurerer or reimbursed by an employer. In case of a  senior citizen (an individual resident in India who is of the age of sixty years or more at any time during the relevant previous year) the amount of deduction allowed is Rs. 60,000/-.

Deduction in respect of interest on loan taken for higher education (Section 80E):

Section 80E allows deduction  in  respect of payment of interest on loan taken from any financial institution  or  any  approved  charitable  institution  for    higher  education  for  the  purpose  of pursuing his higher education or for the purpose of higher education of his spouse or his children or the student for whom he is the legal guardian.

Deduction in respect of interest on loan taken for residential house property (Section 80EE):

Vide Finance Act 2013, an individual is allowed a deduction upto a limit of Rs 1,00,000 being paid as interest on a loan taken from a Financial Institution, sanctioned during the period 01-04-
2013 to 31-03-2014 (loan not to exceed Rs 25 lakhs) for acquisition of a residential house whose value does not exceed Rs 40 lakhs. However the deduction is available if the assessee does not own any residential house property on the date of sanction of the loan.

If in case of above loan the interest claimed during AY 2014-15 is less than Rs. 1,00,000/- then the balance amount is allowed in AY 2015-16.

Deductions on respect of donations to certain funds, charitable institutions, etc. (Section 80G):

Section 80G provides for deductions on account of donation made to various funds , charitable organizations etc. In cases where employees make donations to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or the Lieutenant Governor’s Relief Fund through their respective employers, it is not possible for such funds to issue separate certificate to every such employee in respect of donations made to such funds as contributions made to these funds are in the form of a consolidated cheque. An employee who makes donations towards these funds is eligible to claim deduction under section 80G. It is, hereby, clarified that the claim in respect of such donations as indicated above will be admissible under section 80G on the basis of the certificate  issued  by  the  Drawing  and  Disbursing  Officer  (DDO)/Employer  in  this  behalf  – Circular No. 2/2005, dated 12-1-2005.

No deduction under this section is allowable in case of amount of donation if exceeds Rs

10000/- unless the amount is paid by any mode other than cash.

Deductions is respect of rents paid (Section 80GG):

Section  80GG  allows the employee  to  a deduction in respect of house rent paid by him for his own residence. Such deduction is  permissible subject to the following conditions :-

(a)  the  employee has not been in receipt of any  House Rent  Allowance  specifically granted to him  which qualifies  for exemption under section 10(13A) of  the Act;

(b) the  employee files the declaration in Form  No.10BA.  (Annexure X)

(c) The employee does not own:

(i)        any residential accommodation himself or by his spouse   or minor child or where such employee is   a member of a Hindu Undivided Family, by such family, at  the  place  where  he  ordinarily  resides or performs  duties  of his office or carries  on  his business or profession;  or

(ii)        at     any   other     place,     any     residential accommodation which is in the occupation of  the  employee,  the  value of which  is  to  be determined  under section 23(2)(a) or section 23(4)(a), as the case may be.

(d)  He will be entitled to a deduction in respect of house rent paid by him in excess of 10% of his total income. The deduction shall be equal to 25% of total income or Rs.  2,000/- per month, whichever is less. The total income for working out these percentages will be computed before making any deduction under section 80GG.

Drawing and Disbursing Authorities should  satisfy themselves  that  all the conditions mentioned above  are satisfied  before such deduction is allowed by them to  the employee. They should also satisfy themselves in this regard by insisting on production of evidence of actual payment of rent.

Deductions   in   respect   of   certain   donations   for   scientific   research   or   rural development (Section 80 GGA):

Section 80GGA allows deduction from total income of employee in respect of donations of any sum as given in the Table below:

Donations made to persons	Approval / Notification under Section	Authority granting approval/ Notification
a  research  association  which  has  as  its  object  the undertaking of scientific research or to a University, college  or  other  institution  to  be  used  for  scientific research	u/s 35(1)(ii)	Central Government
a  research  association  which  has  as  its  object  the undertaking  of  research  in  social  science  or  statistical research or to a University, college or other institution to be  used  for  research  in  social  science  or  statistical research	u/s 35(1)(iii)	Central Government
an association or institution, which has as its object the undertaking of any programme of rural development, to be   used   for   carrying   out   any   programme   of   rura development approved for the purposes of section 35CCAl	furnishes the certificate u/s 35CCA (2)	Prescribed Authority under Rule 6AAA

an association or institution which has as its object the training of persons for implementing programmes of rural development.	furnishes the certificate u/s 35CCA (2A)	Prescribed Authority under Rule 6AAA
a  public  sector company  or  a  local  authority or  to an association   or   institution   approved   by   the   National Committee,  for  carrying  out  any  eligible  project  or scheme.	furnishes the certificate u/s 35AC(2)(a)	National Committee for Promotion of Social & Economic Welfare
a rural development fund	notified u/s 35CCA (1)(c)	set up and notified by the Central Government
National Urban Poverty Eradication Fund	notified u/s 35CCA (1)(d)	set up and notified by the Central Government

No deduction under this section is allowable in case:

i)    The employee has gross total income which includes income which is chargeable under the head “Profits and gains of business or profession”.

ii)  The amount of donation exceeds Rs 10000 and is paid in cash.

The   Drawing and Disbursing Authorities should   satisfy themselves   that   all the conditions mentioned  above  are satisfied  before such deduction is allowed by them to  the employee. They should  also satisfy themselves  in  this regard  by  insisting on production of evidence  of  actual payment of donation and a receipt from the person to whom donation has been made and ensure that the approval/notification has been issued by the right authority. DDO must ensure a self- declaration from the employee that he has no income from “Profits and gains of business or profession”.

Deduction in respect of interest on deposits in savings account (Section 80TTA):

Section 80TTA has been introduced from the Financial Year 2012-13 and it allows to an employee from his gross total income if it includes any income by way of interest on deposits (not being time deposits) in a savings account, a deduction amounting to:

(i) in a case where the amount of such income does not exceed in the aggregate ten thousand rupees, the whole of such amount; and

(ii) in any other case, ten thousand rupees.

The deduction is available if such savings account is maintained in a

(a) banking company to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, applies (including any bank or banking institution referred to in section 51 of that Act);

(b) co-operative society engaged in carrying on the business of banking (including a co- operative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank); or

(c) Post Office as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898,

For this section, “time deposits” means the deposits repayable on expiry of fixed periods.

Rebate of Rs. 2000 for Individuals having total income up to Rs. 5 lakh (Section 87 A)

Finance Act 2013 provided relief in the form of rebate to individual taxpayers, resident in India, who are in lower income bracket, i. e. having total income   not exceeding Rs 5,00,000/-. The amount of rebate is Rs 2000/- or the amount of tax payable, whichever is lower.  This rebate is available for A.Y. 2014-15 and subsequent assessment years.

Click here to download Circular No: 17 / 2014 dated 10.12.2014 issued by Income Tax Department

Check the links below for more Details on Income Tax Circular No. 17/2014 dated 10.12.2014

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