Seeking different ways to save some tax on your investment in India? If yes, then your first route towards it is Section 80C of the Income Tax Act 1961. Through this section, you can claim up to INR 1,50,000 tax deductions on your investment in several financial assets like ELSS, PPF, NSC, etc., and reduce your tax liability. Section 80C provides you with several tax-saving options through allowable expenses and several investments. Want to know more about this section? Well, then you are at the right destination. In this blog, we will talk about who can claim deductions under this section, the available tax deductions, and the exemptions it offers. So, let's begin reading.
Here is who can claim tax deductions under Section 80C:
These are the people who can claim tax deduction under Section 80C. Moving ahead, let's do a comparison of the available tax deductions for them.
Here is a comparison of available deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act for Indians, NRIs, and HUFs:
Investment | Indian Residents | Non-Resident Indian (NRI) | Hindu Undivided Family (HUFs) |
---|---|---|---|
Life Insurance Premium | Available for all | Available for self, spouse, and children | Available for all the HUF members |
Equity Linked Saving Scheme (ELSS) | Applicable for all | Applicable for all | Applicable for all |
5-Year Tax-Saving Fixed Deposit (Bank) | Yes, available for all Indian residents | It is only available for NRI via an NRO account | Yes, available for all HUF members |
Principal Repayment of Home Loan | Available | Only available on properties in India | Available |
Tuition Fees (only for 2 children) | Applicable to all Indian residents | Applicable for children studying in India | Not applicable |
Public Provident Fund (PPF) | Yes | NRI do not have permission to open new accounts; however, they can manage their existing ones | Yes |
National Savings Certificate (NSC) | Available for all Indian residents | Not available for NRI | Available for all the members in the HUF |
Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIP) | Applicable | Applicable | Applicable |
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana | Available | Not available | Not available |
Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) | Yes, available for all Indian resident senior citizens | Not available | Yes, available if the member of HUF qualifies |
Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) | Applicable | Only applicable if the NRI is working in India | Not applicable |
The table above shows the investments available for Indian residents and non-residents indians to claim under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Moving further, let's examine the investments eligible under this section and their associated risk comparison.
The table below compares several features of the deduction options available under Section 80C. It simplifies the process for the taxpayers to select the one that suits them the most.
Options for Investment | Average Interest | Lock-in-period for | Risk Factor |
---|---|---|---|
ELSS Funds | 12% to 15% | 3 Years | High |
NPS Scheme | 8% to 10% | Till 60 Years of Age | High |
ULIP | 8% to 10% | 5 Years | Medium |
Tax Saving FD | Up to 8.40% | 5 Years | Low |
PPF | 7.90% | 15 Years | Low |
Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) | 8.60% | Usually 5 years, but can be extended for three years. | Low |
National Savings Certificate | 7.90% | 5 Years | Low |
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana | 8.50% | Till the girl child becomes 21 years old. Additionally, when she turns 18, partial withdrawal is allowed. | Low |
Apart from the above-stated investments, under section 80C, expenses incurred in principal repayment of home loan and tuition fees of children can also be claimed as tax deductions.
This was all about the comparison of different investments that are part of the Section 80C deduction list and their risk factor. Moving ahead, let's know the tax deduction limits under different sections.
Through sections 80CCC and 80CCD, you can claim tax deductions for investments in pension schemes. The combined tax deductions you get from sections 80C, 80CCC, and 80CCD(1) are up to INR 1,50,000. Apart from this, under Section 80CCD(1B), you can claim an extra tax deduction for National Pension Scheme (NPS) payments you made. Hence, the total available tax deductions you claim are INR 2,00,000 under Sections 80C, 80CCC, 80CCD(1), and 80CCD(1B). Confused? Have a look at the table below and resolve all your doubts.
Sections | Investments Eligible for Tax Deductions | Maximum Deduction |
---|---|---|
Section 80C | Investments made in PPF/ SPF/ ELSS/ RPF and payments done towards the principal amount of a home loan, life insurance premiums, NSC, SSY, SCSS, and more. | INR 1,50,000 |
Section 80CCC | Payment of pension funds | INR 1,50,000 |
Section 80CCD(1) | Payments have been made for the Atal Pension Yojana or other schemes mentioned by the Indian government |
|
Section 80CCE | Overall added limit of INR 1,50,000 for 80C + 80CCC + 80CCD(1) | INR 1,50,000 |
Section 80CCD(1B) | Investments in NPS (apart from the INR 1,50,000 limit under section 80CCE) | INR 50,000 |
80CCD(2) | Contribution of the employer towards NPS (apart from the INR 1,50,000 limit under section 80CCE) |
|
These are tax deduction limits under different sections.
Moving further, let's better understand section 80C through an example.
Mr. D, who is a taxable person in India, has an annual salary income of INR 10,00,000. In addition, he also has other income of INR 1,00,000. Apart from this, he also made an investment of INR 1,50,000 in Public Provident Fund (PPF). Now, using section 80C lets us know the difference in tax implications, claimed and unclaimed tax deductions.
Particulars | Claimed Deductions under Section 80C | Unclaimed Deductions under Section 80C |
---|---|---|
Salary Income | INR 10,00,000 | INR 10,00,000 |
Less: Standard Deduction | INR (50,000) |
INR (50,000) |
INR 9,50,000 | INR 9,50,000 | |
Other Income | INR 1,00,000 | INR 1,00,000 |
Gross Total Income | INR 10,50,000 | INR 10,50,000 |
Less: Section 80C tax deduction | INR (1,50,000) | - |
Taxable Income | INR 9,00,000 | INR 10,50,000 |
Total Payable Tax (including cess) | INR 96,200 | INR 1,32,600 |
Hence, claiming tax deduction using Section 80C of the Income Tax Act 1961, Mr. D has saved INR 36,400 under the old tax regime.
Now, moving forward, how to claim tax deduction using this section.
To claim tax deductions under section 80C, consider the points stated below:
This is how you can claim tax deductions under section 80C and enjoy the tax benefits.
Using Section 80C of the Income Tax Act during tax deduction is a strategic way that benefits several financial goals, including wealth accumulation, funding education, and planning for retirement. By understanding and utilizing the various provisions under this section, individuals relying on different income tax slabs can minimize their tax liability and secure their financial future. Furthermore, if you need more guidance on this section or want assistance in claiming the tax benefits under this section, connect with Savetaxs. We have a team of experts who can provide you with a better understanding of this section and help you claim tax benefits using this section. So, why wait? Contact us now and enjoy your applicable tax benefits under this section.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this guide are personal and do not constitute the views of Savetaxs. Savetaxs or the author will not be responsible for any direct or indirect loss incurred by the reader for taking any decision based on the information or the contents. It is advisable to consult with either a Chartered Accountant (CA) or a professional Company Secretary (CS) from the Savetaxs team, as they are familiar with the current regulations and help you make accurate decisions and maintain accuracy throughout the whole process.
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