GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES

 

 

DEDUCTION OF TAX AT SOURCE —

INCOME–TAX DEDUCTION FROM SALARIES

UNDER SECTION 192 OF THE

INCOME–TAX ACT, 1961

DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2009-2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIRCULAR NO.1/2010

  F.No.275/192/2009IT(B)]

 

                 

 

 

NEW DELHI, dated  the 11th   January,2010

 

INDEX

 

 

Para No.          

                                                                                                            Page Nos.

1. General                                                                                                   03

2. Finance Act, 2009                                                                                         3-5

3. Section 192 of Income-tax Act 1961                                                          5-9            

4. Persons responsible for deducting tax and their duties                              9-14 

5. Estimation of income under the head “Salaries”                                           14  

5.1 Income chargeable under the head “Salaries”                              14-20

5.2 Incomes not included in the head “Salaries” (Exemptions)                        20-26 

5.3 Deductions u/s 16 of the Act (Standard Deduction)                                   26

5.4 Deductions under Chapter VI-A of the Act                                              26-37          

6. Calculation of Income-tax to be deducted                                                   37

7.Clarification on TDS on arrears of salary                                                          38 

8. Miscellaneous                                                                                                     39-44

 

 

Annexures

 

I. Examples                                                                                                 45-51

II. Board's Notification dated 4.10.2002 {Form No. 12BA (as amended)}        52-53

III. Board's Notification dated 12.1.2004 (Form No. 16AA)                              54-58

IV. Board's Notification dated 26.8.2003                                                           59-61

IVA. Deptt. of Eco. Affairs Notification dated 22.12.2003                                             62

VA. Board's Notification dated 24.11.2000                                                       63

VB. Board's Notification dated 29.1.2001                                                        64

VII. Form No. 10 B A                                                                                      65

 


 

    CIRCULAR NO.: 1/2010                                            

F.No. 275/192/2009-IT(B)

Government of India

                            Ministry of Finance

                           Department of Revenue

                       Central Board of Direct Taxes

                                   .....

 

                                    New Delhi, dated the 11th January,2010

 

 

SUBJECT:     INCOME-TAX DEDUCTION FROM SALARIES DURING THE          FINANCIAL YEAR 2009-2010 UNDER SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961.                          

……………

 

   Reference   is  invited  to   Circular   No.09/2008   dated  29.09.2008  whereby  the rates of deduction  of  income-tax  from  the payment of income under the head "Salaries" under  Section  192  of  the  Income-tax  Act,  1961,  during  the  financial  year  2008-2009, were intimated. The  present  Circular contains the rates of deduction of income-tax from  the  payment of income chargeable under the head "Salaries"  during  the  financial year 2009-2010 and explains  certain  related provisions of the Income-tax Act. The relevant Acts, Rules, Forms and Notifications are available at the website of the Income Tax Department-

 

www.incometaxindia.gov.in.

 

         2. FINANCE  ACT,2009

                   

As per  the Finance Act, 2009, income-tax is required to be deducted under Section 192 of the Income-tax Act 1961  from income chargeable under the head  "Salaries" for the  financial  year 2009-2010 (i.e.   Assessment  Year 2010-2011) at the following rates:

 

                            RATES OF INCOME-TAX

 

A.    Normal Rates of tax:

                           

             1. Where the total income does not           Nil

                exceed Rs.1,60,000/-.

 

             2. Where the total income exceeds        10 per cent, of the

               Rs.1,60,000 but does not exceed       amount by which the

               Rs.3,00,000/-.                        total income exceeds

                                                      Rs.1,60,000/-

 

             3. Where the total income exceeds        Rs.14,000/- plus 20

                Rs.3,00,000/- but does not exceed     per cent of the

               Rs.5,00,000/-.                        amount by which the

                                                      total income exceeds

                                                      Rs.3,00,000/-.

 

             4. Where the total income exceeds        Rs.54,000/- plus 30

   Rs.5,00,000/-.                        per cent of the                                amount by which the  

total income exceeds Rs.5,00,000/-.

                                   

B.    Rates of tax for a woman, resident in India and below sixty-five years of age at any time during the financial year:

                           

            1. Where the total income does not           Nil

              exceed Rs.1,90,000/-.

 

            2. Where the total income exceeds         10 per cent, of the

               Rs.1,90,000 but does not exceed        amount by which the

               Rs.3,00,000/-.                         total income exceeds

                                                      Rs.1,90,000/-

 

            3. Where the total income exceeds         Rs. 11,000/- plus 20

               Rs.3,00,000/- but does not exceed      per cent of the

               Rs.5,00,000/-.                         amount by which the

                                                      total income exceeds

                                                      Rs.3,00,000/-.

 

            4. Where the total income exceeds         Rs.51,000/- plus 30

               Rs.5,00,000/-.                         per cent of the

                                                      amount by which the

total income exceeds

                                                      Rs.5,00,000/-.

 

C. Rates of tax for an individual, resident in India and of the age of sixty-five years or more at any time during the financial year:

                            

            1. Where the total income does not           Nil

               exceed Rs.2,40,000/-.

 

            2. Where the total income exceeds         10 per cent, of the

               Rs.2,40,000 but does not exceed        amount by which the

               Rs.3,00,000/-.                         total income exceeds

                                                      Rs.2,40,000/-                                                      

            3. Where the total income exceeds         Rs.6,000/- plus 20

               Rs.3,00,000/- but does not exceed      per cent of the

               Rs.5,00,000/-.                         amount by which the                                                           total income exceeds                                                    Rs.3,00,000/-.

           

4. Where the total income exceeds         Rs.46,000/- plus 30

               Rs.5,00,000/-.                         per cent of the amount

By which the total income exceeds Rs.5,00,000/-.                     

            Surcharge on Income tax:

 

There will be no surcharge on income tax payments by individual taxpayers during FY 2009-10 (AY 2010-11).

 

Education Cess on Income tax:

 

The amount of income-tax shall be further increased by an additional surcharge (Education Cess on Income Tax) at the rate of two percent of the income-tax.

 

 

Additional surcharge on Income Tax (Secondary and Higher Education Cess on Income-tax):

 

From Financial Year 2007-08 onwards, an additional surcharge is chargeable  at the rate of one percent of income-tax (not including the Education Cess on income tax).

 

Education Cess, and Secondary and Higher Education Cess are payable by both resident and non-resident assessees.

 

 

3.SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT,1961: BROAD                    SCHEME OF TAX DEDUCTION AT SOURCE FROM "SALARIES".

              

            Method of Tax Calculation:

 

3.1  Every  person who is responsible for  paying  any          income  chargeable  under the head "Salaries" shall  deduct income-tax  on  the estimated income of the assessee  under the head  "Salaries" for the financial year 2009-2010.  The income-tax is required to be calculated on the basis of the rates  given above and shall be deducted on average at  the time of each payment.  No tax will, however, be required to be deducted at source  in  any  case unless the  estimated  salary income including  the value of perquisites, for the financial year exceeds Rs.1,60,000/- or Rs.1,90,000/- or Rs.2,40,000/-, as the case may be, depending upon the age and gender of the employee.(Some typical examples of computation of tax are given at Annexure-I).

 

            Payment of Tax on Non-monetary Perquisites by Employer:

 

3.2   An option has been given to  the   employer to pay the tax   on non-monetary perquisites given to an employee.  The employer  may, at his  option, make  payment of the tax on such perquisites  himself without making any TDS from the salary of the  employee.  The employer will have to pay such tax at the time when such tax  was  otherwise  deductible  i.e. at the time of payment of income chargeable under the head  salaries to the employee.

             

            Computation of Average Income Tax:

  

3.3  For the purpose  of  making  the  payment  of  tax mentioned in para 3.2 above, tax  is to be determined at the  average  of   income  tax  computed on the  basis of rate in force  for  the financial  year, on  the  income  chargeable under   the  head  "salaries", including the  value of  perquisites for  which tax  has been paid by the employer himself.   

 

ILLUSTRATION:

Suppose that the income chargeable under the head ‘salary’ of a male employee below sixty-five years of age for the year inclusive of all perquisites is Rs.4,50,000/-, out of which, Rs.50,000/- is on account of non-monetary perquisites and  the employer opts to pay the tax on such perquisites as per the provisions discussed in para 3.2 above.

 

STEPS:

Income Chargeable under the head “Salaries”

inclusive of all perquisites:                     Rs.  4,50,000

 

Tax on Total Salaries(including Cess):            Rs.    45,320

 

Average Rate of Tax [(45,320/4,50,000) X 100]:            10.07%

 

Tax payable on Rs.50,000/- (10.07% of 50,000):    Rs.     5,035        

Amount required to be deposited each month:       Rs.       420

(5,035/12)

 

The   tax  so   paid  by  the  employer shall be deemed to be  TDS made from the salary of the employee.

 

            Salary From More Than One Employer:

 

3.4  Sub- section (2) of section 192 deals with situations where  an  individual is working under more than one employer or has changed from one employer to another. It provides for deduction  of  tax at source by such employer (as the  tax payer may choose)   from the aggregate salary of  the employee  who is or has been in receipt of salary from more than one employer. The employee is now required to furnish to the present/chosen employer  details of the income under the head "Salaries" due or received from  the former/other employer and also tax deducted at source there from, in writing and duly verified by him and by  the   former/other employer. The present/ chosen employer will be required to deduct tax at source on the aggregate amount of salary (including salary received from the former or other employer).

 

Relief When Salary Paid in Arrear or Advance:

 

 3.5 Under sub-section (2A)of section 192 where the           assessee, being  a Government servant or an employee in a  company, co-operative society, local authority, university, institution,  association or body is entitled to the relief under  Sub-section (1) of Section 89, he may furnish to the person  responsible  for making the payment referred to  in           Para (3.1), such particulars in Form No.  10E duly verified by him,  and thereupon the person responsible as  aforesaid shall  compute the relief on the basis of such  particulars and take the same into  account  in   making  the deduction  under Para(3.1) above.           

 

     Explanation  :-  For this purpose "University means  a  University  established  or  incorporated  by  or  under  a

 

Central,   State  or  Provincial   Act,  and  includes   an institution  declared  under  section 3 of  the  University Grants  Commission  Act, 1956(3 of 1956), to be  University for the purposes of the Act.

 

However with effect from 1/04/2010 (AY 2010-11) that no such relief shall be granted in respect of any amount received or receivable by an assessee on his voluntary retirement or termination of his service, in accordance with any scheme or schemes of voluntary retirement or in the case of a public sector company referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (10C) of section 10 (read with Rule 2BA), a scheme of voluntary separation, if an exemption in respect of any amount received or receivable on such voluntary retirement or termination of his service or voluntary separation has been claimed by the assessee under clause (10C) of section 10 in respect of such, or any other, assessment year

 

           

[Form 12C has been omitted by the IT(24th Amendment) Rules, 2003 w.e.f. 1.10.2003.

 

3.6   (i) Sub-section (2B) of section 192 enables a taxpayer to furnish  particulars  of income under any head  other  than "Salaries" and of any tax deducted at source thereon. Form no. 12C, which was earlier prescribed for furnishing such particulars), has since been omitted from the Income Tax Rules. However, the particulars may now be furnished in a simple statement, which is properly verified by the taxpayer in the same manner as was required to be done in Form 12C.

 

(ii) Such income should  not  be a loss under any such head other  than  the  loss under  the  head "Income from House Property" for  the same financial  year.   The person responsible for  making payment (DDO) shall take such other income and tax, if any, deducted  at source from such income, and the loss, if any,  under  the  head "Income from House Property" into  account  for the  purpose of computing tax deductible under  section 192 of  the Income-tax Act. However, this sub-section  shall not in any case have the effect  of reducing the tax deductible (except where the loss under the head "Income  from  House  Property" has  been taken into account) from  income under the head "Salaries" below the amount that would be so deductible if the other income and the tax deducted thereon had not been taken into account'. In other words, the DDO can take into account any loss (negative income)only under the head “income from House  Property” and no other head for working out the  amount  of total  tax  to be deducted.  While taking into account the loss from House Property, the DDO shall ensure that the assessee  files  the declaration referred to above and  encloses therewith  a computation of such loss from House Property.

 

      (iii) Sub-section (2C) lays down that a person responsible for paying any income chargeable under the head “salaries” shall furnish to the person to whom such payment is made a statement giving correct and complete particulars of perquisites or profits in lieu of salary provided to him and the value thereof in form no. 12BA. (Annexure-II). Form no. 12BA alongwith form no. 16, as issued by the employer, are  required to be produced on demand before the Assessing Officer in terms of Section 139C of the Income Tax Act.

 

Conditions for Claim of Deduction of Interest on Borrowed Capital for Computation of Income From House Property

 

3.7(i)  For  the  purpose of  computing income / loss  under  the   head `Income   from House  Property' in  respect   of a  self-occupied residential house, a normal deduction of Rs.30,000/- is allowable in respect of interest on borrowed capital. However, a   deduction   on account of interest   up to  a maximum limit of Rs.1,50,000/- is available if  such  loan   has  been  taken on or after 1.4.1999 for constructing or  acquiring  the residential  house and the construction or acquisition of the residential unit out of such loan has been    completed within three years from the end of the financial year in which capital was borrowed. Such higher deduction is not allowable in respect of interest on capital borrowed for the purposes of repairs or renovation of an existing residential house. To claim the higher deduction in respect of interest upto Rs.1,50,000/-,the employee should furnish a certificate from the person to whom any interest is payable on the capital borrowed, specifying the amount of interest payable by such employee for the purpose of construction or acquisition of the  residential house or for conversion of a part or whole of the capital borrowed, which remains to be repaid as a new loan.

 

3.7(ii)The essential conditions for availing higher  deduction  of interest of Rs.1,50,000/- in respect of a self-occupied residential house are that the  amount of capital  must have been borrowed on or after 01.4.1999 and the acquisition or construction  of residential house must have been completed  within three  years  from the end of the financial year  in  which  capital  was  borrowed.  There is no stipulation  regarding the date of commencement of construction. Consequently, the construction of  the residential house  could have  commenced   before 01.4.1999 but, as long as its construction/ acquisition is completed within  three  years, from the  end  of the financial year in which  capital  was borrowed  the  higher deduction would be available in respect of the capital borrowed after 1.4.1999.   It may also be noted that there  is  no  stipulation   regarding  the construction/ acquisition of the residential unit being entirely financed by capital borrowed on or after 01.4.1999.The loan taken prior  to 01.4.1999  will carry deduction of interest up to Rs.30,000/ only. However, in any case the total amount of deduction of interest on borrowed capital will not exceed Rs.1,50,000/- in a year.

 

            Adjustment for Excess or Shortfall of Deduction:

 

3.8  The provisions of sub-section (3) of Section  192 allow  the  deductor to make adjustments for any excess  or  shortfall  in the deduction of tax already made during  the financial  year,  in  subsequent deductions for that employee within  that financial year itself.

 

TDS on Payment of Balance Under Provident Fund and Superannuation Fund:

 

3.9  The  trustees of a Recognized Provident Fund,  or  any person  authorized  by the regulations of the  Fund  to  make payment  of  accumulated  balances due  to  employees, shall,  in  cases where sub-rule(1) of rule 9 of Part A  of the Fourth  Schedule  to the Act applies, at the time  when the accumulated  balance due to an employee is paid, make there from  the deduction specified in rule 10 of Part A  of the Fourth Schedule.

 

3.10 Where  any  contribution  made  by  an  employer,         including  interest  on such contributions, if any,  in  an approved  Superannuation Fund is paid to the employee,  tax on the  amount so paid shall be deducted by the trustees of the Fund  to the extent provided in rule 6 of Part B of the Fourth Schedule to the Act.

 

           

Salary Paid in Foreign Currency:

 

            3.11   For  the purposes of deduction of tax on salary    payable  in  foreign currency, the value in rupees of such  salary  shall  be  calculated  at the  prescribed  rate  of exchange.

 

      

4.PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEDUCTING TAX AND THEIR DUTIES:

          

 

4.1.  Under clause (i) of Section 204 of the Act the       "persons responsible for paying" for the purpose of Section 192 means  the  employer  himself or if the employer  is  a  Company, the Company itself including the Principal Officer thereof.

 

            4.2.  The tax determined as per para 6 should be deducted from the salary u/s 192 of the Act.

 

            Deduction of Tax at Lower Rate:

 

4.3.   Section  197 enables the tax-payer to  make  an            application in form No.13 to his Assessing Officer, and, if the Assessing Officer is satisfied that the total income of the tax-payer  justifies the deduction of income-tax at any lower  rate or no deduction of income tax, he may issue  an appropriate  certificate  to  that effect which  should  be taken  into  account by the Drawing and Disbursing  Officer while  deducting  tax at source.  In the absence of such  a certificate  furnished by the employee, the employer should  deduct  income  tax  on  the salary payable at  the  normal  rates: (Circular No.  147 dated 28.10.1974.)

           

            Deposit of Tax Deducted:

 

4.4.  According to the provisions of section 200, any person  deducting any sum in accordance with the provisions  of Section  192 or paying tax on non-monetary perquisites  on behalf of the employee under Section 192(1A), shall pay the sum so deducted or tax so calculated on the said non-monetary perquisites, as the case may be, to the credit of the Central Government in prescribed  manner  (vide Rule 30 of the Income-tax  Rules,1962).  In the case of deductions made by, or, on behalf of the  Government,  the payment has to be made on the day  of the  tax-deduction itself.  In other cases, the payment has to be made within one week from the last day of month in which deduction is made.

        

Interest, Penalty & Prosecution for Failure to Deposit Tax Deducted:

 

4.5  If a person fails to deduct the whole or any part            of the tax at source, or, after deducting, fails to pay the            whole  or any part of the tax to the credit of the  Central            Government  within the prescribed time, he shall be  liable            to action in accordance with the provisions of section 201.            Sub-section  (1A) of section 201 lays down that such person            shall  be liable to pay simple interest at one percent for every month or part of the month on the amount of such tax from the date  on  which such tax was deductible to the date  on which the tax is actually paid. Such interest, if chargeable, has to be paid before furnishing of quarterly statement of TDS for each

quarter. Section 271C lays down that if  any person  fails  to  deduct tax at source,  he  shall  be  liable to pay, by way of penalty, a sum equal to the amount  of tax  not  deducted by him.  Further, section  276B  lays   down that  if  a person fails to pay to the credit  of  the   Central  Government  within  the prescribed  time  the  tax  deducted at  source  by him, he shall be  punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall be between 3 months and 7 years, along with fine.

 

            Furnishing of Certificate for Tax Deducted:

 

4.6  According to the provisions of section 203, every            person  responsible for deducting tax at source is required  to furnish  a  certificate to the payee to the effect  that tax has  been  deducted and to specify therein  the  amount deducted  and certain other particulars.  This certificate, usually  called  the “TDS certificate”, has to  be  furnished within  a period of one month from the end of the  relevant   financial  year.  Even the banks deducting tax at the  time   of payment   of   pension  are   required  to  issue   such  certificates.   In the case of

employees receiving  salary income (including pension), the certificate has to be issued in Form  No.16. However, in the case of an employee who is resident in India and whose income from salaries does not exceed Rs.1,50,000/-, the certificate of deduction of tax shall be issued in Form No. 16AA ( Specimen form 16AA enclosed as ANNEXURE-III). It  is, however, clarified that there is no obligation to issue the TDS certificate  (Form  16 or Form 16AA)  in case tax at source  is  not  deductible/deducted  by virtue of claims of exemptions  and  deductions.  As   per  section  192,   the  responsibility   of   providing   correct   and   complete    particulars  of  perquisites or profits in lieu  of  salary   given  to  an employee is placed on the person  responsible for paying  such  income i.e., the person  responsible  for deducting  tax  at  source.  The form and  manner  of  such particulars are prescribed in Rule 26A, Form 12BA, Form  16 and Form 16AA of  the  Income-tax  Rules .

 

Information relating to  the nature  and  value of perquisites is to be provided  by  the employer in Form no. 12BA  in  case of salary above  Rs.1,50,000/-. In  other  cases, the information would have to be provided  by the employer  in Form 16 itself.  In either case, Form 16 with Form 12BA or Form 16 by itself will have to be furnished within  a  period  of one month from the end   of  relevant financial year.

              

An employer, who has paid the tax on perquisites on behalf of the employee as per the provisions discussed   in  paras 3.2 and 3.3, shall furnish to the employee concerned a certificate to the effect that tax has been paid to the Central Government and specify the amount so paid, the rate  at which  tax has been paid and certain other particulars in the amended Form 16. 

 

The obligation cast on the employer under Section 192(2C) for furnishing  a  statement  showing the value  of  perquisites  provided to the employee is a serious responsibility of the  employer,  which is expected to be discharged in  accordance  with law  and  rules of valuation framed  thereunder.   Any false  information, fabricated documentation or suppression of requisite information will entail consequences therefore provided under the

law. The certificates in form no.12BA and form no. 16 are to be issued on tax-deductor's  own  stationery within one month  from  the close  of  the  financial year i.e.  by April 30  of  every            year.  If he fails to issue these certificates to the            person concerned, as required by section 203, he will be            liable to pay, by way of penalty, under section 272A, a sum which  shall be Rs.100/- for every day during which the failure continues.

 

Option to issue TDS Certificates by way of digital signatures:

           

            4.7   Since the requirement of annexing the TDS certificates with the return of income has been dispensed with, the TDS certificates will be now issued only for the purpose of personal record of the deductees subject to the condition that they may be required to produce the same on demand before the Assessing Officer in terms of section 139C, inserted by the Finance Act, 2007.  The TDS claim made in the return of income is also required to be matched with the e-TDS returns furnished by the deductors.  Assessing Officers may, if considered necessary, also write to the deductors for verification of the correctness of the taxes deducted or other particulars mentioned in the certificate.  It has been decided for the proper administration of this Income-tax Act to allow the deductors, at their option, in respect of the tax to be deducted at source from income chargeable under the head Salaries to use their digital signatures to authenticate the certificates of deduction of tax at source in Form No. 16.  The deductors will have to ensure that TDS certificates in Form No. 16 bearing digital signatures have a control No. with log to be maintained by the employer (deductor).  The deductor will ensure that its TAN and the PAN of the employee are correctly mentioned in such Form No. 16 issued with digital signatures.  The deductors will also ensure that once the certificates are digitally signed, the contents of the certificates are not amenable to change by anyone.  The Income-tax authorities shall treat such certificate with digital signatures as a certificate issued in accordance with rule 31 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962.(Circular No.2/2007 dated 21.5.2007).

 

 

Mandatory Quoting of PAN and TAN:

 

4.8 According to the provisions of section 203A of the            Income-tax   Act,   it  is   obligatory  for  all   persons  responsible for deducting tax at source to obtain and quote the Tax-deduction  Account  No.   (TAN)  in  the  challans, TDS-certificates,  statements and other documents.  Detailed instructions  in  this regard  are  available in this  Department's  Circular No.497 (F.No.275/118/87-IT(B) dated 9.10.1987). If a person  fails  to  comply with the provisions of section  203A,  he will be  liable  to pay, by way of penalty,  under  section 272BB,  a  sum of ten thousand rupees.  Similarly,  as  per Section  139A(5B),  it is obligatory for persons  deducting tax at source to quote PAN of the persons from whose income tax has  been  deducted  in  the  statement  furnished  u/s 192(2C),  certificates  furnished u/s 203 and  all  returns prepared and delivered as per the provisions of section 200(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.  

 

4.9   All tax deductors/collectors are required to file the TDS returns in Form No.24Q (for tax deducted from salaries). As the requirement of filing TDS/TCS certificates has been done away with, the lack of PAN of deductees is creating difficulties in giving credit for the tax deducted.  It has, therefore, been decided that TDS returns for salaries, i.e. Form No. 24Q with less than 95% of PAN data will not be accepted during FY 2009-10. Tax deductors and tax collectors are, therefore, advised to quote correct PAN details of all deductees in the TDS returns, failing which the TDS returns will not be accepted and all penal consequences under the Income Tax Act will follow. Taxpayers liable to TDS are also advised to furnish their correct PAN with their deductors, failing which they will also face penal proceedings under the Income Tax Act.

 

            Quarterly Statement of TDS:

 

4.10. The person deducting the tax (employer in case of salary income), is required to file Quarterly Statements of TDS for the periods ending on 30th June, 30th September, 31st December and 31st March of each financial year, duly verified, to the Director General of Income Tax (Systems) or M/s National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL). These statements are required to be filed on or before the 15th  July, the 15th  October, the 15th  January in respect of the first three quarters of the financial year and on or before the 15th June  following the last quarter of the financial year. The requirement of filing an annual return of TDS has been done away with w.e.f. 1.4.2006. The quarterly statement for the last quarter filed in Form 24Q (as amended by Notification No. S.O.704(E) dated 12.5.2006) shall be treated as the annual return of TDS.

 

   It is now mandatory for all offices of the Government, companies, deductors who are required to get their accounts audited under section 44AB of the Income Tax Act or where the number of deductees’ records in a quarterly statement for any quarter of the immediately preceding financial year is equal to or more than fifty to file quarterly statements of TDS on computer media only in accordance with the “Electronic Filing of Returns of Tax Deducted at Source Scheme, 2003” as notified vide Notification No. S.O. 974 (E) dated 26.8.2003. (ANNEXURE-IV) . The quarterly statements are to be filed by such deductors in electronic format with the e-TDS Intermediary at any of the TIN Facilitation Centres, particulars of which are available at www.incometaxindia.gov.in and at http://tin.nsdl.com. If a person fails to furnish  the quarterly statements in  due  time, he shall be liable to pay by way of penalty  under section 272A(2)(k), a sum which shall be  Rs.100/-  for every  day  during  which the failure continues. However,  this sum shall not exceed the amount of  tax which was deductible at source.

 

The Quarterly Statements are be filed on computer media only in accordance with rule 31A of the Income-tax Rules, 1962. These Quarterly Statements compulsorily require quoting of the Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN) of the tax-deductor and the Permanent Account Number(PAN) of the employees whose tax has been deducted. Therefore, all Drawing and Disbursing Officers of the Central and State Governments/ Departments, who have not yet obtained TAN, must immediately apply for and obtain TAN. Similarly, all employees (including non-resident employees) from whose income, tax is to be deducted may be advised to obtain PAN, if not already obtained, and to quote the same correctly, as otherwise the credit for the tax deducted cannot be given. A penalty under section 272B of Rs.10,000/- has been prescribed for willfully intimating a false PAN.

 

4.11.   A return filed on the prescribed computer readable media shall be deemed to be  a return  for the purposes of section 200(3) and the Rules  made thereunder,  and  shall  be admissible  in  any  proceeding thereunder,  without  further  proof of production  of  the original, as evidence of any contents of the original.

 

 

            Challans for Deposit of TDS:

 

4.12.  While  making the payment of tax  deducted  at       source  to the credit of the Central Government, it may  be ensured  that the correct amount of income-tax is  recorded  in the  relevant challan.  It may also be ensured that  the right  type  of challan is used.  The relevant challan  for making  payment of tax deducted at source from salaries is            challan no. ITNS-281.  Wherever the amount  of  tax deducted  at  source is credited to the Central  Government through  book  adjustment, care should be taken  to  ensure that the correct amount of income-tax is reflected therein.

 

 

            TDS on Income from Pension:

 

4.13.   In  the case of pensioners who  receive  their           pension   from  a  nationalized bank,  the instructions contained  in this circular shall apply in the same  manner as they  apply  to salary-income.  The deductions from  the amount  of  pension under section 80C  on  account  of contribution to Life Insurance, Provident Fund, NSC etc., if the pensioners furnish the relevant details to the banks, may be allowed.  Necessary instructions in this regard were issued by the Reserve Bank of India to the State Bank of India and other  nationalized  Banks  vide  RBI's  Pension   Circular(Central  Series) No.7/C.D.R./1992 (Ref. CO: DGBA: GA (NBS) No.60/GA.64(11CVL)-/92) dated  the  27th  April, 1992, and, these  instructions should be followed by all the  branches of the  Banks,  which have been entrusted with the task  of payment of pensions.  Further all branches of the banks are  bound  u/s 203 to issue certificate of tax deducted in Form  16 to the pensioners also vide CBDT circular no.  761 dated            13.1.98.

 

New Pension Scheme

 

The New Pension Scheme(NPS) has become operational since 1st Jan, 2004 and is mandatory for all new recruits to the Central Government Services from 1st January, 2004. Since then it has been opened to employees of State Governments, Private Sector and Self Employed (both organized and unorganized).

 

The income received by the NPS trust is exempt. The NPS trust is exempted from the Dividend Distribution Tax and is also exempt from the Securities Transaction Tax on all purchases and sales of equities and derivatives. The NPS trust will also receive income without tax deduction at source. The above amendments are retrospectively effective from 1/4/09 (AY 2009-10) onwards

        

            Important Circulars:

 

4.14.   Where  Non-Residents  are deputed to  work  in           India  and  taxes are borne by the employer, if any  refund  becomes due to the employee after he has already left India  and

 

has no bank account in India by the time the assessment orders are passed, the refund can be issued to the employer as the  tax

has been borne by it: Circular No. 707 dated 11.7.1995.

 

4.15.   TDS certificates issued by Central  Government            departments  which are making payments by book  adjustment, should  be  accepted  by  the Assessing  Officers  if  they indicate  that  credit has been effected to the Income  Tax Department  by  book  adjustment  and   the  date  of  such adjustment is given therein. In such cases, the Assessing            Officers  may  not insist on details like challan  numbers, dates  of  payment into Government Account etc.,  but  they should  in  any  case   satisfy  themselves  regarding  the genuineness  of  the  certificates produced before  them  : Circular No.  747 dated 27.12.1996.

 

4.16  There  is  a specific procedure  laid  down  for            refund  of payments made by the deductor in excess of taxes            deducted   at   source,  vide   Circular  No.   285   dated            21.10.1980.

           

4.17  In respect of non-residents, the salary paid for            services  rendered  in  India shall be regarded  as  income earned  in  India. It has been specifically provided in the Act that  any  salary  payable  for rest period or leave period  which  is both preceded  or  succeeded by service in India and  forms part of  the  service contract of employment will  also  be regarded as income earned in India.

 

 

            5.  ESTIMATION OF INCOME UNDER THE HEAD "SALARIES"

              

            5.1 Income chargeable under the head "Salaries".

 

(1)  The  following  income  shall  be  chargeable  to  income-tax under the head "Salaries" :

 

                    (a) any  salary  due from an employer or  a  former

                        employer  to an assessee in the previous  year,

                        whether paid or not;

                                                                    

                    (b) any  salary  paid  or  allowed to  him  in  the

                        previous year by or on behalf of an employer or

                        a  former employer though not due or before  it

                        became due to him.

                                                                    

                    (c) any arrears of salary paid or allowed to him in

                        the  previous  year  by  or  on  behalf  of  an

                        employer  or a former employer, if not  charged

                        to income-tax for any earlier previous year.

                                                                     

                      (2) For  the removal of doubts, it is clarified that where any salary paid in advance is included in the  total income  of any person for any previous year it shall not be included  again in the total income of the person when  the salary  becomes  due.   Any salary,  bonus,  commission  or remuneration, by whatever name called, due to, or received by, a partner of a firm from the firm shall not be regarded as "Salary".

           

           

Definition of Salary:

                                                        

   (3)"Salary"  includes   wages,  fees,  commissions,            perquisites, profits in lieu of, or, in addition to salary,            advance  of salary, annuity or pension, gratuity,  payments   in respect  of  encashment of leave etc.  It also  includes   the annual  accretion  to  the   employee's  account  in  a  recognized provident fund to the extent it is chargeable to tax under  rule  6 of Part A of the Fourth Schedule of  the Income-tax  Act. Contributions  made by the  employer to the   account of the employee in a recognized provident fund   in    excess  of  12%  of the salary of the  employee,  along with  interest applicable, shall be included in the income of the  assessee  for  the previous year. Any contribution made by the Central Government or any other employer to the account of the employee under the New Pension Scheme as notified vide Notification No. F.N. 5/7/2003- ECB&PR dated 22.12.2003(enclosed as Annexure-IVA) referred to in section 80CCD (para 5.4(C) of this Circular) shall also be included in the salary income.  Other items included  in  salary,  profits  in  lieu of salary  and  perquisites  are  described  in Section 17 of the Income-tax Act. It may be noted that, since  salary  includes   pensions,  tax  at  source would have to  be  deducted  from  pension  also, if otherwise called for.  However, no tax  is   required to be deducted from the commuted portion of pension which is exempt, as explained in clause (3) of para 5.2 of this Circular.

 

  (4) Section 17 defines the terms "salary", "perquisite" and   "profits in  lieu  of  salary".

           

Perquisite includes:

 

a)  The value of rent free accommodation provided to the employee by his employer;

 

b)  The value of any concession in the matter of rent in respect of any accommodation provided to the employee by his employer;

 

c)  The value of any benefit or amenity granted or provided free of cost or at concessional rate in any of the following cases:

 

i)    By a company to an employee who is a director of such company;

 

ii)   By a company to an employee who has a substantial interest in the company;

 

iii) By an employer (including a company)to an employee, who is not covered by (i) or (ii) above and whose income under the head Salaries ( whether due from or paid or allowed by one or more employers), exclusive of the value of all benefits and amenities not provided by way of monetary payment, exceeds Rs.50,000/-.

 

What constitute concession in the matter of rent have been prescribed in explanation 1 to 4 below 17(2)(ii)of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

With effect from 1/04/2010 (AY 2010-11) it is further clarified that the value of any specified security or sweat equity shares allotted or transferred, directly or indirectly, by the employer, or former employer, free of cost or at concessional rate to the assessee, shall be constituted as perquisites in the hand of employees.

           Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-clause,—

     (a)   “specified security” means the securities as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 (42 of 1956) and, where employees’ stock option has been granted under any plan or scheme therefore, includes the securities offered under such plan or scheme;

     (b)   “sweat equity shares” means equity shares issued by a company to its employees or directors at a discount or for consideration other than cash for providing know-how or making available rights in the nature of intellectual property rights or value additions, by whatever name called;

     (c)   the value of any specified security or sweat equity shares shall be the fair market value of the specified security or sweat equity shares, as the case may be, on the date on which the option is exercised by the assessee as reduced by the amount actually paid by, or recovered from the assessee in respect of such security or shares;

     (d)   “fair market value means the value determined in accordance with the method as may be prescribed;

     (e)   “option means a right but not an obligation granted to an employee to apply for the specified security or sweat equity shares at a predetermined price;

           The amount of any contribution to an approved superannuation fund by the employer in respect of the assessee, to the extent it exceeds one lakh rupees; and

           The value of any other fringe benefit or amenity as may be prescribed.

 

 It is further provided that 'profits in lieu  of salary' shall include amounts received in lump  sum or otherwise, prior to employment or after cessation of  employment for the purposes of taxation.

 The rules for valuation of perquisite are as under :  -

 

 I.   Accommodation :- For purpose  of valuation  of  the perquisite of unfurnished  accommodation, all employees are divided into two categories: I)Central Govt. & State  Govt.   employees;  and ii)Others.

 

                 For  employees of the Central and State governments the            value  of  perquisite  shall be equal to  the  licence  fee            charged for such accommodation as reduced by the rent actually paid by the employee.

 

      For  all others, i.e., those salaried taxpayers not in            employment of  the  Central   government  and  the  State            government, the  valuation  of perquisite  in  respect  of            accommodation  would  be at prescribed rates, as discussed below:

 

a.    Where the accommodation provided to the employee is owned by the employer, the rate  is 15% of  'salary' in cities having population exceeding 25 lakh  as  per  the  2001 census. The rate is 10% of salary in cities having population exceeding 10 lakhs but not exceeding 25 lakhs as per 2001 Census.  For  other  places,  the perquisite value would be 7 1/2% of the salary.

b.    Where the accommodation so provided is taken on lease/ rent by the employer, the prescribed rate is 15% of the

salary or the actual amount of lease rental payable by the employer, whichever is lower, as reduced by any amount of rent paid by the employee.

 

For furnished accommodation, the value of perquisite as determined by the above method shall be increased by-

   

i)       10% of the cost of furniture, appliances and equipments, or

 

ii)     where the furniture, appliances and equipments have been taken on hire, by the amount of actual hire charges payable.

 

                     - as reduced by any charges paid by the employee himself.

                       

 

                 "Accommodation" includes a house, flat, farm  house, hotel  accommodation, motel, service apartment guest house, a caravan,  mobile  home, ship etc.  However, the value  of any accommodation  provided to  an employee  working  at  a  mining site or  an on-shore  oil  exploration  site  or  a  project   execution  site or a dam site or a power generation site  or  an off-shore site will  not be treated  as a perquisite. However, such accommodation should either be located in a “remote area” or where it is not located in a “remote area”, the accommodation should be of a temporary nature having plinth area of not more than 800 square feet and should not be located within 8 kilometers of the local limits of any municipality or cantonment board.  A project execution site for the  purposes of this  sub-rule means a site of project up to the stage of its commissioning.   A "remote area" means an area  located at least 40 kilometers away from a town having a population not exceeding  20,000 as per the latest published all-India census.

                

           

If  an  accommodation is provided by an employer in  a            hotel  the value of the benefit in such a case shall be 24%            of the  annual salary or the actual charges paid or payable            to such  hotel,  whichever is lower, for the period  during            which such accommodation is provided as reduced by any rent            actually  paid or payable by the employee.  However,  where            in cases  the employee is provided such accommodation for a            period  not exceeding in aggregate fifteen days on transfer            from one  place  to another, no perquisite value  for  such            accommodation provided in a hotel shall be charged. It may            be clarified  that  while services provided as an  integral            part of the accommodation, need not be valued separately as            perquisite,  any  other  services over and above  that  for            which the employer makes payment or reimburses the employee            shall be valued as a perquisite as per the residual clause.            In other  words, composite tariff for accommodation will be            valued  as per these Rules and any other charges for  other            facilities  provided by the hotel will be separately valued            under  the  residual clause.     Also, if on account of  an            employee's transfer from one place to another, the employee            is provided  with accommodation at the new place of posting            while  retaining the accommodation at the other place,  the            value of perquisite shall be determined with reference to            only one  such accommodation which has the lower value as            per the  table prescribed in Rule 3 of the Income Tax Rules,  for  a period  up to  90  days. However,  after  that  the  value of perquisite  shall be charged for both accommodations as prescribed.

 

II  Personal  attendants etc.:  The  value of free service of all personal  attendants   including  a  sweeper, gardener and a watchman is to be  taken at   actual  cost  to  the  employer.   Where  the  attendant  is   provided  at the residence of the employee, full cost will be  taxed   as  perquisite  in  the   hands  of   the   employee irrespective  of the degree of personal service rendered  to him.  Any amount paid by the employee for such facilities or services shall be reduced from the above amount.

 

     III Gas, electricity & water: For free  supply of  gas,        electricity  and  water  for household consumption, the         rules    provide that the amount paid by the  employer  to  the  agency supplying the amenity shall be the value of        perquisite. Where  the supply is made from the employer's own resources, the  manufacturing  cost per unit incurred by  the  employer would  be taken for the valuation of perquisite.  Any amount paid by the employee  for  such facilities or services shall be  reduced from the above amount.

 

 

       IV  Free  or concessional education:  Perquisite on account of        free  or concessional education shall be valued in a  manner       assuming  that such expenses are borne by the employee,  and would  cover  cases  where  an   employer  is  running,        maintaining   or  directly  or   indirectly  financing   the        educational  institution.   Any amount paid by the  employee            for  such facilities or services shall be reduced from  the           above  amount.  However, where such educational  institution           itself is maintained and owned by the employer or where such           free educational facilities are provided in any institution           by  reason of his being in employment of that employer, the value of the perquisite to the employee shall be determined with reference to the cost of such education in a similar institution in or near the locality if the cost of such education  or such benefit per child    exceeds Rs.1000/- p.m.

 

           V  Interest  free  or concessional loans - It  is  common           practice, particularly in financial institutions, to  provide interest free or concessional loans to employees or any member of his household.  The value of  perquisite arising from such loans would be the excess of interest  payable at  prescribed  interest rate over interest, if any, actually  paid  by  the employee or any member of his household.  The prescribed interest rate  would  now  be  the rate charged per annum by the State Bank of India as on the 1st day of the relevant financial year in respect of loans of same type and for the same purpose advanced by it to the general public. Perquisite  value  would  be   calculated  on the basis of the maximum outstanding  monthly balance method. For valuing perquisites under this rule, any other method of calculation and  adjustment otherwise adopted by the employer shall  not be relevant.

 

However, small loans up to  Rs.  20,000/- in the aggregate are exempt.  Loans  for  medical  treatment  specified  in Rule 3A are  also  exempt,  provided the amount of loan for medical reimbursement is not reimbursed  under  any medical insurance scheme.  Where  any medical  insurance reimbursement is received, the perquisite value  at the prescribed  rate shall be charged from the  date  of reimbursement  on  the  amount reimbursed,  but  not  repaid against  the  outstanding loan taken specifically  for  this purpose.           

 

           VI    Use  of  assets:  It is common practice for an  asset    owned by  the  employer  to be used by the  employee or any member of his household.   This perquisite  is  to  be  charged at the rate of  10%  of  the   original  cost  of the asset as reduced by any charges  recovered from the employee   for such  use.   However, the use of Computers and Laptops would not give rise to any perquisite. 

 

           VII   Transfer  of assets:  Often an employee or member  of  his household  benefits  from the transfer of movable  asset (not being  shares  or securities) at no cost or at  a  cost  less than   its  market  value   from  the  employer.    The  difference   between  the  original   cost  of  the  movable   asset(not  being shares or securities) and the sum, if  any,  paid by  the  employee,  shall  be taken  as  the  value  of  perquisite. In case of a movable asset, which has  already  been put to use, the original cost shall be reduced by a sum  of 10% of such original cost for every completed year of use of the asset.   Owing to a higher degree of obsolescence, in  case of computers and electronic gadgets, however, the value   of perquisite  shall  be worked out by reducing 50%  of  the   actual cost   by  the  reducing   balance  method  for  each  completed  year  of  use.  Electronic gadgets in  this  case means data  storage  and  handling  devices  like  computer, digital  diaries and printers.  They do not include household appliance  (i.e.   white  goods)   like  washing   machines, microwave  ovens, mixers, hot plates, ovens etc.  Similarly, in case of  cars,   the value of perquisite shall be worked out by reducing 20%  of its actual cost by the reducing  balance  method for each completed year of use.

 

           VIII  Medical Reimbursement by the employer exceeding RS. 15,000/- p.a. u/s. 17(2)(v) is to be taken as perquisites.

 

It is further clarified that the rule position regarding valuation of perquisites are given at Section 17(2) of Income Tax Act’61 and at Rule 3 of Income Tax Rules’62. The deductors may look into the above provisions carefully before they determine the perquisite value for deduction purposes.

 

It is pertinent to mention that  benefits  specifically exempt   u/s  10(13A),  10(5),    10(14), 17 etc.  would continue to be exempt.  These include benefits  like  travel on tour and transfer,  leave  travel, daily allowance to meet tour expenses as prescribed, medical facilities  subject to conditions.   

 

            5.2 Incomes not included in the Head "Salaries"(Exemptions)

                                                                    

              Any income falling within any of the following clauses shall not be included in computing the income from salaries for the purpose of Section 192 of the Act :-

                                                                    

    (1) The  value  of   any  travel  concession   or  assistance  received  by  or due to an  employee  from  his          employer  or former employer for himself and his family, in         connection with his proceeding (a) on leave to any place in        India or   (b)  on  retirement   from  service,  or,  after     termination  of  service  to any place in India  is  exempt           under clause  (5)  of Section 10 subject, however,  to  the  conditions prescribed in rule 2B of the Income-tax  Rules,            1962.

 

                For the purpose of this clause, "family" in relation to

            an individual means :

                                                                    

                 (i) The spouse and children of the individual;  and

                                                                     

                (ii) the   parents,  brothers  and   sisters   of   the

                     individual  or  any  of  them,  wholly  or  mainly

                     dependent on the individual.

                                                                     

                 It may also be noted that the amount exempt under this           clause  shall  in  no case exceed the  amount  of  expenses actually incurred for the purpose of such travel.

 

(2) Death-cum-retirement  gratuity  or   any  other gratuity  which  is  exempt to the  extent  specified  from inclusion  in computing the total income under clause  (10) of Section 10. Any death-cum-retirement gratuity received under the revised Pension Rules of the Central Government or, as the case may be, the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, or under any similar scheme applicable to the members of the civil services of the Union or holders of posts connected with defence or of civil posts under the Union (such members or holders being persons not governed by the said Rules) or to the members of the all-India services or to the members of the civil services of a State or holders of civil posts under a State or to the employees of a local authority or any payment of retiring gratuity received under the Pension Code or Regulations applicable to the members of the defence service.

Gratuity received in cases other than above on retirement, termination etc is exempt up to the limit as prescribed by the Board.

 

                 (3)  Any  payment in commutation of  pension  received            under  the Civil Pension(Commutation) Rules of the  Central            Government  or under any similar scheme applicable to  the            members  of the civil services of the Union, or holders  of            civil  posts/posts connected with defence, under the Union,or civil  posts under a State, or to the members of the All India Services/Defence Services, or, to the employees of a            local  authority or a corporation established by a Central,State  or Provincial Act, is exempt under sub-clause (i) of            clause  (10A)  of  Section  10.   As  regards  payments  in            commutation  of  pension received under any scheme  of  any other employer, exemption  will  be  governed by the  provisions of sub-clause (ii) of clause (10A) of section 10.  Also, any payment in commutation of pension received from a Regimental Fund or Non-Public Fund established by the Armed Forces of the Union referred to in Section 10(23AAB) is exempt under sub-clause (iii) of clause (10A) of Section 10.

 

                 (4) Any payment received by an employee of the Central            Government or a State Government, as cash-equivalent of the            leave  salary  in respect of the period of earned leave  at            his credit at the time of his retirement, whether on superannuation   or otherwise,  is  exempt  under  sub-clause(i)  of  clause 10AA) of Section 10.  In the case of other employees, this exemption will be determined with reference to the leave to            their  credit at the time of retirement on  superannuation,            or otherwise,  subject  to a maximum of ten months'  leave.            This exemption  will  be  further limited  to  the  maximum            amount  specified  by the Government of India  Notification            No.S.O.588(E) dated 31.05.2002 at Rs. 3,00,000/- in relation to such employees who retire, whether on superannuation or otherwise, after 1.4.1998.

 

                 (5)  Under   Section     10(10B),   the   retrenchment          compensation  received by a workman is exempt from income-tax          subject   to   certain  limits.    The  maximum   amount   of          retrenchment compensation exempt is the sum calculated on the          basis provided  in section 25F(b) of the Industrial  Disputes          Act, 1947  or  any  amount not less than Rs.50,000/-  as  the          Central  Government  may  by   notification  specify  in  the          official  gazette, whichever is less.  These limits shall not          apply in  the  case where the compensation is paid under  any          scheme  which  is  approved  in this behalf  by  the  Central          Government,  having regard to the need for extending  special          protection  to  the workmen in the undertaking to  which  the          scheme applies and other relevant circumstances. The maximum          limit of such payment is Rs. 5,00,000 where retrenchment is          on or after 1.1.1997.

                                                                     

    (6)  Under Section 10(10C), any payment received or receivable (even if received in installments) by an      employee  of  the  following  bodies at  the  time  of  his            voluntary  retirement  or  termination of his  service,  in            accordance  with  any  scheme  or  schemes  of   voluntary            retirement  or  in  the case of public sector company  ,  a            scheme of voluntary separation, is exempted from income-tax            to the  extent  that such amount does not exceed five  lakh            rupees:

 

a) A public sector company;

 

b) Any other company;

                        

c) An Authority established under a Central,

 

 

                         State or Provincial Act;  

                

                      d) A Local Authority;

 

                      e) A Cooperative Society;

                    

                      f) A university established or incorporated or

                         under a Central, State or Provincial Act,

                         or, an Institution declared to be a

                         University under section 3 of the University

                         Grants Commission Act, 1956; 

             

                      g) Any Indian Institute of Technology within  

                         the meaning of Clause (g) of Section 3 of  

                         the Institute of Technology Act, 1961;

    

                      h) Such   Institute  of   Management  as  the

                         Central  Government may by notification in

                         the  Official  Gazette,  specify  in  this

                         behalf.

                                                                    

                The exemption  of  amount  received  under  VRS  has been extended  to  employees  of  the  Central Government and  State  Government and employees of notified institutions having importance throughout India or any State or States. It may also be noted that where this exemption has been allowed to any employee for any assessment year, it shall not be allowed  to  him  for  any  other  assessment  year.

 

(7)  Any sum received under a Life Insurance Policy,           including  the  sum allocated by way of bonus on such policy           other  than:

 

i)       any  sum  received under  sub-section  (3)  of           section 80DD or sub-section (3) of section 80DDA

or,

ii)     any sum received under Keyman insurance policy

or,

iii) any sum received under an insurance policy issued on or after 1.4.2003 in respect of which the premium payable for any of the years during the term of the policy exceeds 20 percent of the actual capital sum assured. However, any sum received under such policy on the death of a person would still be exempt.

                                                                     

                 (8)  any  payment from a Provident Fund to  which  the            Provident  Funds Act, 1925 ( 19 of 1925), applies or from            any other  provident fund set up by the Central  Government            and notified by it in this behalf in the Official Gazette.

 

(9) Under Section 10(13A) of the Income-tax Act, 1961,any special  allowance specifically granted to an  assessee            by his  employer to meet expenditure incurred on payment of            rent (by  whatever  name called) in respect of  residential            accommodation  occupied  by  the assessee  is  exempt  from            Income-tax  to  the  extent as may  be  prescribed,  having            regard  to the area or place in which such accommodation is situated  and other relevant considerations.  According  to            rule 2A  of  the  Income-tax Rules, 1962,  the  quantum  of            exemption   allowable  on  account  of  grant  of   special            allowance to meet expenditure on payment of rent shall be:

                                                                 

               

(a)   The actual amount of such allowance received by an

                     employer in respect of the relevant period;  or

        

                (b)  The actual expenditure incurred in payment of rent

                     in  excess  of  1/10  of the salary  due  for  the

                     relevant period;  or

 

                (c)  Where  such  accommodation is situated in  Bombay,

                     Calcutta,  Delhi or Madras, 50% of the salary  due

                     to the employee for the relevant period;  or

 

                (d)  Where  such accommodation is situated in any other

                    

place,  40% of the salary due to the employee  for

                        the relevant period,

 

     whichever is the least.

 

                For this purpose, "Salary" includes dearness allowance,

           if the terms of employment so provide, but excludes all other

           allowances and perquisites.

                                                                    

                It  has to be noted that only the expenditure  actually

            incurred  on  payment  of rent in  respect  of  residential

            accommodation  occupied  by  the assessee  subject  to  the

            limits  laid down in Rule 2A, qualifies for exemption  from

            income-tax.   Thus,  house  rent allowance  granted  to  an

            employee  who  is residing in a house/flat owned by him  is

            not exempt  from  income-tax.  The  disbursing  authorities           

should  satisfy  themselves in this regard by insisting  on

            production  of  evidence of actual payment of  rent  before

            excluding  the House Rent Allowance or any portion  thereof

            from the total income of the employee.

 

                Though  incurring actual expenditure on payment of rent

            is a  pre-requisite  for claiming deduction  under  section

            10(13A),  it has been decided as an administrative  measure

            that  salaried employees drawing house rent allowance  upto

            Rs.3000/-  per  month will be exempted from  production  of

            rent  receipt.   It  may,  however,   be  noted  that  this

            concession  is  only  for the purpose of  tax-deduction  at

            source, and, in the regular assessment of the employee, the

            Assessing  Officer will be free to make such enquiry as  he

            deems  fit  for the purpose of satisfying himself that  the

            employee  has  incurred  actual expenditure on  payment  of

            rent.

                                                                    

(10)  Clause (14) of section 10 provides for exemption of the following allowances :-

 

                 (i) Any special  allowance  or benefit granted  to  an

                     employee  to  meet  the expenses incurred  in  the

                     performance of his duties as prescribed under Rule

                     2BB  subject to the extent to which such  expenses

                     are actually incurred for that purpose.

 

                (ii) Any  allowance  granted to an employee  either  to

                     meet  his  personal expenses at the place  of  his

                     posting  or at the place he ordinarily resides  or

                     to  compensate  him  for  the  increased  cost  of

                     living, which may be prescribed and to the extent

as may be prescribed.

                                                                     

                However, the allowance referred to in (ii) above should

            not be in the nature of a personal allowance granted to the

assessee  to remunerate or compensate him  for  performing

duties  of  a  special  nature relating to  his  office  or

            employment unless such allowance is related to his place of

            posting or residence.

              

The  CBDT has prescribed guidelines for the purpose  of   clauses  (i)  and (ii) of Section 10(14) vide  notification  No.SO617(E)  dated 7th July, 1995  (F.No.142/9/95-TPL)which has been   amended  vide  notification   SO  No.403(E)   dt 24.4.2000  (F.No.142/34/99-TPL).  The transport allowance granted  to  an  employee to meet his expenditure  for  the purpose of commuting between the place of his residence and the place  of  duty is exempt to the extent of  Rs.800  per month  vide  notification  S.O.No. 395(E) dated  13.5.98.     

                

                (11) Under Section 10(15)(iv)(i) of the Income-tax Act,            interest  payable by the Government on deposits made by  an            employee of the Central Government or a State Government or            a public   sector  company  out  of  his  retirement            benefits,  in  accordance with such scheme framed  in  this           

behalf  by  the  Central  Government and  notified  in  the            Official   Gazette   is  exempt    from   income-tax.    By            notification No.F.2/14/89-NS-II dated 7.6.89, as amended by notification No.F.2/14/89-NS-II dated 12.10.89, the Central Government  has notified a scheme called Deposit Scheme for Retiring  Government Employees, 1989 for the purpose of the            said clause.

(12) Any scholarship granted to meet the cost of education is not to be included in total income as per subsection (16) of section 10 of Income Tax Act.

 

           (13) Clause (18) of Section 10 provides for exemption of            any income  by way of pension received by an individual who has  been  in the service  of  the  Central Government  or State Government and has been awarded "Param Vir Chakra"  or  "Maha Vir Chakra" or "Vir Chakra" or  such other  gallantry  award as may be specifically notified  by the Central  Government or family pension received by any member of the family of such individual.  “Family” for this purpose shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 10(5) of the Act.   Such notification has been  made            vide  Notifications No.S.O.1948(E)  dated  24.11.2000  and 81(E) dated  29.1.2001, which are enclosed as per Annexure VA & VB.

                                                              

           (14)  Under  Section 17 of the Act, exemption from  tax            will also be available in respect of:-

 

                    (a)  the  value  of  any medical treatment provided  to  an  employee  or any member of his family, in any hospital maintained by the employer;

 

                    (b)  any  sum  paid  by  the employer  in  respect  of    any expenditure  actually incurred by the employee on  his medical treatment or of any member of his family:

 

 

(i)in any hospital maintained by the Government or any local  authority or any other hospital approved  by the   Government  for  the   purposes  of   medical treatment of its employees;

                                                                    

(ii)in respect of the prescribed diseases or ailments as  provided in Rule  3A(2) of I.T.  Rules  1962, in any hospital  approved  by  the  Chief Commissioner having  regard  to  the prescribed guidelines as provided in Rule 3(A)(1)of I.T.  Rule, 1962 :

                                   

(c)  premium  paid  by the employer in respect  of  medical

                        insurance taken for his employees (under any  scheme approved by the Central Government or Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) or  reimbursement of insurance premium to the employees who take medical insurance  for themselves or for their family  members (under any scheme approved by the Central Government or Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority);

                                                                    

(d) reimbursement, by the employer, of the amount spent by an employee in obtaining medical treatment for himself or  any  member  of his family from  any  doctor, not exceeding in the aggregate Rs.15,000/- in an year.

 

(e) As  regards  medical  treatment   abroad,  the  actual   expenditure  on  stay  and  treatment  abroad  of  the  employee  or  any  member of his family, or,  on  stay abroad  of one attendant who accompanies the  patient, in  connection  with such treatment, will be  excluded from  perquisites  to  the  extent  permitted  by  the Reserve Bank of India. It may be noted that  the  expenditure  incurred on travel abroad by the patient/attendant, shall  be  excluded  from   perquisites  only  if  the  employee's  gross  total  income, as  computed  before including  the said expenditure, does not exceed  Rs.2 lakhs.

 

For    the    purpose   of     availing    exemption    on          expenditure incurred on medical treatment, "hospital" includes          a dispensary or clinic or nursing home, and  "family" in relation          to an individual  means  the  spouse   and  children  of  the          individual.   Family  also  includes  parents,  brothers  and          sisters  of  the  individual  if they are  wholly  or  mainly          dependent on the individual.

 

      

 

        5.3 Deductions u/s 16 of the Act

                                                            

          Entertainment Allowance:

 

                A deduction is  also  allowed under  clause  (ii)  of            section  16 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:

                                                                    

                The tax on employment (Professional Tax) within the meaning of clause (2) of Article 276 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.

          

  5.4  Deductions under chapter VI-A of the Act

                                                                     

                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:

                

 A.  As per section 80C, an  employee will be entitled  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.1,00,000/-:

                                                                    

(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 ;

 

              [The Central Government has since notified Public Provident Fund vide Notification S.O. No. 1559(E) dated 3.11.05.]

 

         (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;

 

(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.

      

[The Central Government has since notified National Saving Certificate (VIIIth Issue) vide Notification S.O. No. 1560(E) dated 3.11.05.]

 

                                                                    

(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 in clause (23D) of  section 10 and as notified  by  the Central  Government.

 

                      [The Central Government has since notified Unit Linked Insurance Plan (formerly known as Dhanraksha, 1989) of LIC Mutual Fund vide Notification S.O. No. 1561(E) dated 3.11.05.]

 

(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;

             

[The Central Government has since notified New Jeevan Dhara, New Jeevan Dhara-I, New Jeevan Akshay, New Jeevan Akshay-I and New Jeevan Akshay-II vide Notification S.O. No. 1562(E) dated 3.11.05 and Jeevan Akshay-III vide Notification S.O. No. 847(E) dated 1.6.2006 ]

 

 

(8) Any subscription made to any units of any Mutual Fund, referred to in clause(23D) of section 10, 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 Central Government has since notified the Equity Linked Saving Scheme, 2005 for this purpose vide Notification S.O. No. 1563(E) dated 3.11.2005]

     

           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  clause  (23D) of section 10, or, by the Administrator or the specified company referred to 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;

 

[The Central Government has since notified UTI-Retirement Benefit Pension Fund vide Notification S.O. No. 1564(E) dated 3.11.05.]

                                                                    

(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.

 

[The Central Government has since notified the Public Deposit Scheme of HUDCO vide Notification S.O. No.37(E), dated 11.01.2007, for the purposes of Section 80C(2)(xvi)(a)].

 

(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 Income-tax 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.

    

             [The Central Government has since notified the Bank Term Deposit Scheme, 2006 for this purpose vide Notification S.O. No. 1220(E) dated 28.7.2006]

 

 

 (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.

 

It may be clarified that the amount of premium or other payment made on an insurance policy [other than a contract for deferred annuity mentioned in sub-para (2)] shall be eligible for deduction only to the extent of 20 percent of the actual capital sum assured. In calculating any such actual capital sum, the following shall not be taken into account:

 

i)       the value of any premiums agreed to be returned, or

 

ii)     any benefit by way of bonus or otherwise over and above the sum actually assured which may be received under the policy.

 

       B.  As  per section 80CCC, where an assessee being  an            individual  has in the previous year paid or deposited  any            amount  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  clause            (23AAB)  of  section 10, he shall, in accordance with,  and            subject  to  the provisions of this section, be  allowed  a            deduction  in  the computation of his total income, of  the            whole  of the amount paid or deposited (excluding  interest            or bonus  accrued or credited to the assessee's account, if any)  as does not exceed the amount of one lakh rupees in the previous year.

                 

                Where  any amount paid or deposited by the assessee has            been taken into account for the purposes of this section, a            rebate/ deduction  with reference to such amount shall not be  allowed under section 88 up to assessment year 2005-06 and under section 80C from assessment year 2006-07 onwards.

                                          

 

C. As per the provisions of section 80CCD, where an assessee, being an individual employed by the Central Government on or after the 1st day of January, 2004, has in the previous year paid or deposited any amount in his account under a pension scheme as notified vide Notification No. F.N. 5/7/2003- ECB&PR dated 22.12.2003, he shall be allowed a deduction in the computation of his total income, of the whole of the amount so paid or deposited as does not exceed ten per cent of his salary in the previous year.

The benefit of new pension scheme has been extended to any other employees (also self employed person) w.r.e.f 1/04/09 and deduction is allowed to employees upto 10% of salary in the previous year and in other cases upto 10% of his gross total income in the previous year. Further it has been specified that w.r.e.f 1/04/09 any amount received by the assessee from the new pension scheme shall be deemed not to have received in the previous year if such amount is used for purchasing an annuity plan in the previous year.  

 Where any amount standing to the credit of the assessee in his account under such pension scheme, in respect of which a deduction has been allowed as per the provisions discussed above, together with the amount accrued thereon, if any, is re­ceived by

the assessee or his nominee, in whole or in part, in any financial year,—

 

(a) on account of closure or his opting out of such pension scheme; or

(b) as pension received from the annuity plan purchased or taken on such closure or opting out,

 

the whole of the amount referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) above shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee or his nominee, as the case may be, in the financial year in which such amount is received, and shall accordingly be charged to tax as income of that financial year.

 

For the purposes of deduction under section 80CCD, “salary” includes dearness allowance, if the terms of employment so provide, but excludes all other allowances and perquisites.

 

The aggregate amount of deduction under sections 80C, 80CCC and 80CCD shall not exceed Rs.1,00,000/- (Section 80CCE)

 

      D.  Section 80D provides for deduction available for health premia paid etc. In computing the total income of an assessee, being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, there shall be deducted such sum, as specified below payment of which is made by any mode, other than cash, in the previous year out of his income chargeable to tax.

 Where the assessee is an individual, the sum referred to shall be the aggregate of the following, namely:—

    (a) the whole of the amount paid to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the health of the assessee or his family as does not exceed in the aggregate fifteen thousand rupees; and

    (b) the whole of the amount paid to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the health of the parent or parents of the assessee as does not exceed in the aggregate fifteen thousand rupees.

Explanation.—For the purposes of clause (a), “family” means the spouse and dependent children of the assessee.

Where the assessee is a Hindu undivided family, the sum referred to shall be the whole of the amount paid to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the health of any member of that Hindu undivided family as does not exceed in the aggregate fifteen thousand rupees.

 Where the sum specified above is paid to effect or keep in force an insurance on the health of any person specified therein, and who is a senior citizen, the deduction available is “twenty thousand rupees” rather than fifteen thousand as specified above.

Explanation.—For the above “senior citizen” means an individual resident in India who is of the age of sixty-five years or more at any time during the relevant previous year.

 The insurance referred to above shall be in accordance with a scheme made in this behalf by—

    (a) the General Insurance Corporation of India formed under section 9 of the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act, 1972 (57 of 1972) and approved by the Central Government in this behalf; or

    (b) any other insurer and approved by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (41 of 1999).]

 

            E. Under section 80DD, where an assessee, 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 Board in this behalf for the maintenance of a dependant, being a person with disability,

the assessee 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 clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be allowed only if the following conditions are fulfilled:-

A.(i) the scheme referred to in clause (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 assessee 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 assessee, an amount equal to the amount paid or deposited under sub-para(b) above shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee of the previous year in which such amount is received by the assessee and shall accordingly be chargeable to tax as the income of that previous year.

B.  The assessee, claiming a deduction under this section, shall furnish a copy of the certificate issued by the medical authority

in the prescribed form and manner, along with the return of income under section 139, in respect of the assessment year for which the deduction is claimed:

In cases where the condition of disability requires reassessment of its extent after a period stipulated in the aforesaid certificate, no deduction under this section shall be allowed for any subsequent period unless a new certificate is obtained from

the medical authority in the prescribed form and manner and a copy thereof is furnished along with the return of income.

For the purposes of section 80DD,—

(a)  “Administrator” means the Administrator as referred to in clause (a) of section 2 of the Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking and Repeal) Act, 2002 (58 of 2002) ;

(b)  “dependant” means—

(i)   in the case of an individual, the spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters of the individual or any of them;

(ii)  in the case of a Hindu undivided family, a member of the Hindu undivided family,dependant wholly or mainly on such individual or Hindu undivided family for his support and maintenance, and who has not claimed any deduction under section 80U in computing his total income for the assessment year relating to the previous year;

(c)  “disability” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (i) of section 2 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996) and includes “autism”, “cerebral palsy” and “multiple disability” referred to in clauses (a), (c) and (h) of section 2 of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retar­dation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 (44 of 1999);

(d)  “Life Insurance Corporation” shall have the same mean­ing as in clause (iii) of sub-section (8) of section 88;

(e)  “medical authority” means the medical authority as referred to in clause (p) of section 2  of the Persons with Disa­bilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996) or such other medical authority as may, by notification, be specified by the Central Government for certifying “autism”, “cerebral palsy”, “multiple disabilities”, “person with disability” and “severe disability” referred to in clauses (a), (c), (h), (j) and (o) of section 2 of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabili­ties Act, 1999 (44 of 1999);

(f)  “person with disability” means a person as referred to in clause (t) of section 2 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participa­tion) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996) or clause (j) of section 2 of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabili­ties Act, 1999 (44 of 1999);

(g)  “person with severe disability” means—

(i)  a person with eighty per cent or more of one or more disabilities, as referred to in sub-section (4) of section 56 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996); or

(ii) a person with severe disability referred to in clause (o) of section 2 of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons

 

with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 (44 of 1999);

(h)  “specified company” means a company as referred to in clause (h) of section 2 of the Unit Trust of India (Transfer of Undertaking and Repeal) Act, 2002 (58 of 2002).]

 

F.       Under  Section 80E of the Act a deduction will  be            allowed  in  respect of repayment of interest on loan taken for  higher education, subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)In computing the total income of an assessee, being an                 individual,  there  shall be deducted,  in  accordance                 with  and  subject to the provisions of this  section,                 any  amount  paid by him in the previous year, out  of                 his income chargeable to tax, by way of interest on                 loan,  taken by him from any financial institution or any approved charitable institution for the purpose of pursuing his higher education or for the purpose of higher education of his spouse or children.                                                       

                                                                   

             (ii) The  deduction  specified above shall be  allowed  in computing  the total income in respect of the initial assessment   year   and    seven   assessment years immediately succeeding the initial assessment year or until  the  interest  referred  to  above  is paid in  full by the assessee , whichever is earlier.                

 

                  For this purpose -

        

              (a) "approved    charitable    institution"    means   an

                  institution  established for charitable purposes  and

                  approved  by the prescribed authority  under clause (2C)

                  of  section  10,  or, an institution referred  to  in

                  clause (a) of sub-section (2) of Section 80G.

                                                                    

              (b) "financial  institution"  means a banking company  to

                  which  the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of  1949)

                  applies  (including  any bank or banking  institution

                  referred to in section 51 of that Act);  or any other

                  financial  institution  which the  Central Government

                  may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify

                  in this behalf;

 

(c) "higher education” means any course of study pursued after passing the Senior Secondary Examination or its equivalent from any school, board or university recognised by the Central Government or State Government or local authority or by any other authority authorised by the Central Government or State Government or local authority to do so;

 

              (d) "initial  assessment year" means the assessment  year

                  relevant  to the previous year, in which the assessee

                  starts paying the interest on the loan.

(e) relative”, in relation to an individual, means the spouse and children of that individual or the student for whom the individual is the legal guardian

                                                            

        

                G. Section 80G provides for deductions on account of donation made to various funds , charitable organizations etc. Generally no deduction should be allowed by the D.D.O.  from the salary  income  in  respect of any donations  made  for charitable  purposes.  The tax relief on such donations  as admissible  under  section 80G of the Act, will have to  be claimed by the tax payer in the return of income. However  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.

 

               

               H. Under  Section  80GG  of the Act  an  assessee  is            entitled  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  assessee 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  assessee  files the declaration in Form  No.10

                    BA.  (Annexure-VI )

 

               (c)  He  will  be entitled to a deduction in respect  of

                    house  rent paid by him in excess of 10 per cent of

                    his  total  income, subject to a ceiling of 25  per

                    cent  thereof 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.

 

               (d)  The assessee does not own:

 

                    (i) any residential accommodation himself or by his

                    spouse  or minor child or where such assessee 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 being accommodation in the occupation of  the  assessee,  the  value of which  is  to  be determined  under clause (a)  of sub section  (2) or, as the case may be, clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 23:

 

                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

            assessee.   They  should  also satisfy themselves  in  this

            regard  by  insisting on production of evidence  of  actual

            payment of rent.

 

I. 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.

 Every individual claiming a deduction under this section shall furnish a copy of the certificate issued by the medical authority in the prescribed form and manner along with the return of income, in respect of the assessment year for which the deduction is claimed.

In cases where the condition of disability requires reassessment of its extent after a period stipulated in the aforesaid certificate, no deduction under this section shall be allowed for any subsequent period unless a new certificate is obtained from the medical authority in the prescribed form and manner and a copy thereof is furnished along with the return of income.

For the purposes of this section, the expressions “disability”, “medical authority”, “person with disability” and “person with severe disability” shall have the same meaning as given in section 80DD (sub-para E of para 5.4 of this Circular).

          

           DDOs to satisfy themselves of the genuineness of claim:

 

           (21) The Drawing and Disbursing Officers should satisfy          themselves about the  actual deposits/ subscriptions / payments  made by the employees, by calling for such  particulars/ information  as they  deem  necessary  before  allowing the aforesaid deductions.  In case the DDO  is   not satisfied about the genuineness of the employee's claim  regarding any deposit/subscription/payment made by the employee,  he  should not allow the same, and the  employee would  be free to claim the deduction/ rebate on such amount by filing his return  of  income and furnishing the  necessary  proof etc.,  therewith,  to  the satisfaction  of  the  Assessing Officer.

            

 6.  CALCULATION OF INCOME-TAX TO BE DEDUCTED:

 

6.1  Salary income for the purpose of Section 192 shall be computed  as  follow:-

                                                                    

                (a)  First  compute  the gross salary as  mentioned  in

                     para  5.1  excluding all the incomes mentioned  in

                     para 5.2;

                                                                    

                (b)  Allow  deductions  mentioned in para 5.3 from  the

                     figure arrived at (a) above.

                                                               

               

(c) Allow  deductions  mentioned in para 5.4 from  the                     figure   arrived  at  (b)   above  ensuring   that             

aggregate  of the deductions mentioned in para 5.4 does  not  exceed  the  figure of (b)  and  if  it exceeds,  it should be restricted to that  amount.

 

This  will be the amount of income from salaries on which income tax would be  required to be deducted.  This income should be rounded off to the nearest multiple of ten rupees.

                                                                    

          6.2  Income-tax on such income shall be calculated at the rates given in para 2 of this Circular keeping in view the age and gender of the employee.                               

              

          6.3  The amount of tax  payable  so arrived at shall be increased by educational cess as applicable (2% for primary and 1% for secondary education) to arrive at the total tax payable.                                                    

               

          6.4     The amount of tax as arrived at para 6.3 should  be deducted  every month in equal installments.  Any excess or deficit arising out of any previous deduction can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of subsequent deductions during the same financial year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subject :- Clarification regarding deduction of tax at source from payments of  second  installment of arrears to Government employees on account of implementation of Sixth Central Pay Commission’s recommendations matter regarding.

 

 Under the provisions of Section 192 of the Income-tax Act, an employer is required to deduct tax at source from any payments in the nature of salary, which inter alia also includes any arrear payments. The Implementation Cell of the Department of Expenditure, Govt of India, vide its Office Order dated 30th Aug’08 had stated that 40% of the aggregate arrear (first installment of arrears) would be payable during FY 2008-09. In Circular No. 09/2008 dated 29th Sept.2008 issued from this office it was stated that during 2008-09 the tax has to be deducted at source on this 40% of aggregate arrear during FY 2008-09.The OM,F.No-1//1/2008-IC, of the Implementation Cell of the Department of Expenditure, Govt of India, vide its order dated 25th August,2009 has stated that the remaining 60% of the aggregate arrear ( second installment of arrears) would be paid to the concerned Government servants during FY 2009-10. Such arrangements could be followed by State Governments also.

 

In this regard, all the DDOs and PAOs as the case may be, in the Central/State Government and various organizations under them are advised to compute the correct tax liability of every employee on second installment of arrears drawn by him and immediately recover the full tax liability along with education cess thereon at the rates in force. The deduction of tax at source on such arrear payment should not be deferred in any circumstance.  They should further ensure that the tax so recovered is paid to the account of Central Government account immediately as per the Income Tax Rules, 1962. The DDOs/PAOs are further advised that they should ensure that the PAN details of the deductees (recipient of arrears) are correctly quoted in the relevant quarterly e-TDS returns filed by them so that the Government Servants get proper credit of their tax deducted in their respective income tax returns.    

 

DDOs/PAOs who fail to comply with the provisions of Section 192 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 would be liable to pay interest under section 201(1)/(1A) of Income Tax Act along with other penal consequences.

 

Hindi version will follow.

 

( Ansuman Pattnaik )

Director ( Budget )  

 

 

Circular No-6/2009  dated 31/08/09 F. No- 275/192/2008-IT(B)   

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

7.  MISCELLANEOUS:

 

          7.1  These  instructions  are not  exhaustive  and  are            issued  only  with  a  view to  helping  the  employers  to            understand  the various provisions relating to deduction of            tax from  salaries.  Wherever there is any doubt, reference            may be  made to the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961,          the Income-tax Rules, 1962 and the Finance Act 2009.

 

7.2  In case any assistance is required, the  Assessing            Officer/the local Public Relation Officer of the Income-tax            Department may be contacted.

 

         7.3 These  instructions may be brought  to  the              notice   of  all  Disbursing   Officers  and   Undertakings            including  those  under  the control of  the  Central/ State            Governments.

 

          7.4  Copies  of  this Circular are available  with  the            Director  of Income-tax(Research, Statistics & Publications            and Public  Relations),  6th  Floor,  Mayur  Bhavan,  Indira            Chowk, New Delhi-110 001 and at the following websites:

 

 

                             www.finmin.nic.in

 

                              www.incometaxindia.gov.in

 

 

                                                   

(A Pattnaik)

                                                 Director(Budget)

                                         Central Board of Direct Taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To

 

                                                                

   1.  All  State  Governments/Union Territories.

 

2. All Ministries/Departments of Government of India etc.

 

            3. President's Secretariat

 

            4. Vice-President's Secretariat

 

            5. Prime Minister's Office

 

            6. Lok Sabha Secretariat

 

            7. Rajya Sabha Secretariat

 

            8. Cabinet Secretariat

 

            9. Secretary, U.P.S.C., Dholpur House, New Delhi

 

10.Secretary, Staff Selection Commission, Lodhi Complex,  New Delhi

 

            11.Supreme Court of India, New Delhi

 

            12.Election Commission, New Delhi

 

            13.Planning Commission, New Delhi

 

            14.Secretariat of Governors/Lt.Governors of all States/Union Territories

 

            15.All   Integrated   Financial   Advisors  to   Ministries/Departments of Government of India

 

            16.All Heads of Departments & Offices subordinate to the

               Department of Revenue CBDT, CBEC etc.

 

            17.Army Headquarters, New Delhi

 

            18.Air Headquarters, New Delhi

 

            19.Naval Headquarters, New Delhi

 

            20.Director-General of Posts & Telegraphs, New Delhi(10

               copies)

 

            21.Comptroller & Auditor General of India (50 copies)

 

            22.Accountant General - I, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad

 

            23.Accountant General-II, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad

 

            24.Accountant General, Assam, Shillong

 

            25.Accountant General-I, Bihar, Ranchi

 

            26.Accountant General-II, Bihar, Patna

 

            27.Accountant General-I, Gujarat, Ahmedabad

 

            28.Accountant General-II, Gujarat, Rajkot

 

            29.Accountant General, Kerala, Trivandrum

 

            30.Accountant General, Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior

 

            31.Accountant General, Tamil Nadu, Chennai

 

            32.Accountant General-I, Maharashtra, Mumbai

 

            33.Accountant General-II, Maharashtra, Nagpur

 

            34.Accountant General, Karnataka, Bangalore

 

            35.Accountant General, Orissa, Bhubneshwar

 

            36.Accountant General, Punjab, Chandigarh

 

            37.Accountant General, Himachal Pradesh, Simla

 

            38.Accountant General, Rajasthan, Jaipur

 

            39.Accountant General-I, II & III, Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad

 

            40.Accountant General, West Bengal, Calcutta

 

            41.Accountant General, Haryana, Chandigarh

 

            42.Accountant General, Jammu & Kashmir, Srinagar

 

            43.Accountant General, Manipur, Imphal

 

            44.Accountant General, Tripura, Agartala

 

            45.Accountant General, Nagaland, Kohima

 

            46.Director of Audit(Central)Kolkatta

 

            47.Director of Audit(Central Revenue), New Delhi

 

            48.Director of Audit (Central), Mumbai

 

            49.Director of Audit, Scientific & Commercial Department,

               Mumbai

 

            50.All Banks (Public Sector, Nationalised including State

               Bank of India)

 

            51.Secretary, Reserve Bank of India Central Office

               P.B.No.406, Mumbai-400001(25 copies for distribution to

               its Branches).

 

            52.Accounts Officer, Inspector General of Assam Rifles,

               (Hqrs), Shillong

 

            53.All Chambers of Commerce & Industry

 

            54.Lok Sabha /Rajya Sabha Secretariat Libraries(15 copies

               each)

 

            55.All Officers and Sections in Techinical Wing of CBDT

 

56.Asstt. Chief Inspector, RBI Inspection Deptt. Regional Cell                     Mumbai/Kolkata/Chennai/New Delhi/and Kanpur.    

 

            57. Controller of Accounts, Deptt. Of Economic Affairs, New Delhi

 

58. Manager , Reserve Bank of India, Public DFebt Office, Ahmedabad,Banglore/Bhubneswar/Mumbai/Kolkata/Hyderabad/Kanpur/Jaipur/Chennai/Nasgpur/New Delhi/Patna/Guwahati/Trivandrum.

           

            59. Accountant General, Post & Telegraph, Simla.

 

            60. Controller General of Defence Accounts, New Delhi.

 

            61.  Directorate of Audit, Defence Services, New Delhi.

 

            62. World Health Organisation, New Delhi.

 

            63.  International Labour Office, India Branch, New Delhi.

 

            64. Secretary, Indian Red ross Society, New Delhi

 

            65. Atomic Energy Deptt. Mumbai.

 

            66. Secretary, Development Board, Ministry of Commerce&Industry.

 

            67. Natyional Saving Organisation, Nagpur.

 

            68. Deputy Accountant Geeneral, Post & Telegraph, Kolkata.

 

            69. The Legal Adviuser, Export-Import Bank of India,   P.B.No.19969,Mumbai.4000021.

 

70. The Deputy Finance4 Manager(Hqdr.) Indian Airlines, New Delhi.

            71. Manager, State Bank of India, Local Head Office :-

 

                i) JeevanDeep Buiulding, 1 Middleton Street, Kolkata.

 

                ii) Circle Top House, Rajai Salai, Chennai-600001.

 

(iii)   Lucknowm Uttar Pradesh.

 

               iv) Bank Street, Hyderabad-500001

 

               v) Hamida Road, Bhopal-462001

 

               vi)Shop Nos.101 to 105, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh

 

               vii)New Amn.Building, Madam Cama Road, Mumbai-400021

 

            &n