Its time when you would be asked to submit proof of investment to your employer to save taxes. HRA (House Rent Allowance) has been one thing which confuses many people. so here answers to 8 frequently asked questions about HRA:
Read on…
Any salaried employee can claim HRA if they satisfy the following condition:
Also Read: How to Claim HRA Tax Exemptions while filing Income Tax Return?
The maximum HRA that can be claimed for tax exemption is minimum of
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The HRA calculation has been explained by an example:
Assumptions
HRA Exemption Calculation:
Download: ebook on Tax Planning for FY 2018-19
Rs 9,000 being the least of the three amounts will be the exemption from HRA. The balance HRA of Rs 6,000 (15,000-Rs 9,000) is taxable.
If the rent paid is less than Rs. 3,000 per month you need not submit any proof. But if the rent is more than Rs 3,000 you need to submit rent receipt / rent agreement to your employer. A one rupee revenue stamp affixed with the signature of landlord receiving the rent, with other details of the rented address, rent paid and name of the person who rents it, need to be mentioned on the receipt.
In case the annual rent exceeds Rs 1 lakh you also need to submit PAN Card copy of the landlord. In case landlord does not have PAN Card, you would need to submit a declaration from landlord stating the same. Download the declaration for landlord from here. Employers do not accept declaration anymore!
It is wise to still keep rent receipt and rent agreement because, at the time of assessment, the Income Tax Officer may demand the receipts/ agreement.
Yes, if your parents own the house you can pay them rent. This would make your parents landlord. But .they will have to declare it in their personal income tax return to prevent litigation in the future.
In case your parents don’t pay any tax or are in lower tax slab its good idea to pay them rent. This can be good strategy to save tax outgo from family.
Also Read: Best Tax Saving Investments
You cannot claim rent paid to spouse. The relationship between a husband and wife is not commercial in nature; a husband and wife are supposed to stay together. So payment of rent to a spouse will not be accepted by the income tax authorities.
If you have taken home loan for buying a house in a different city from where you are working, you are eligible to claim both HRA exemption and Home Loan Tax benefits.
Also Read: How to Generate Rent Receipts Online?
It could be that the home is at a considerable distance from your work place. Or, it could be that the home is rather small and your parents are living in it so you have to stay elsewhere on rent. You still can claim both, HRA Tax exemption and Home Loan Tax exemption – provided you are paying your rent. However, it is necessary you have some of your belongings at your home (the one you own) and you stay there on and off on during weekends and holidays.
Also Read: Submit Income Tax Proof to Employer – How, When and Why?
Despite this, if your employer does not agree and denies your tax benefits, you will have to claim it at the time of filing your tax returns.
The period in which the HRA is actually received from the employer, must necessarily pertain to the period in which the employee actually pays rent for his accommodation. In case HRA is received for a period in which no rental accommodation is occupied by the employee, exemption cannot be claimed.
If you have some other question about HRA, ask us!
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View Comments
hello Amit,
I am 50 yrs, i have one flat on my name but staying in rented house as my flat is small, now i want to construct an independent house and we will move into this house after completion, can i take construction loan and get tax benefit on this loan.
Dr B Indira
Yes you can take loan based on your income/age eligibility.
I have only one house which is in different city of my work place and i have housing loan for that, Can i claim the Housing loan interest completely for that house for FY 2017-18 or is it restricted to 2 lakhs ?
For FY 2017-18 the total loss on home loan payment cannot exceed Rs 2 lakh. SO in your case too its restricted to 2 lakhs!
But what about Interest paid for last 2 years on under construction property for which occupation is received in Current financial year and is rented out
Hi Amit...
I am recieving a monthly salary of 40000 plus i am being provided a RFA(Rent Free Accomodation) by my employer to the amount of 3900 but i actually pay the rent Rs 7500. So can i claim any exemption in income tax.
Thanks
Sorry I am not clear about the question. But if you have HRA in your salary then you can claim HRA benefit. If there is NO HRA component and you pay rent you can claim tax exemption up to Rs 60,000 per year u/s 80GG
I am drawing Consolidated salary of 30,000 / pm and I have no HRA heads in this. I am paying 4500 / pm as rent. How can I get exemption when fining ITR?
Yes you can get tax exemption on rent paid under section 80GG provided you satisfy certain conditions.
i have constructed 2 house by taking joint home loan. I am living in one house and renting out other.. how to calculate the Loss on property because interest paid is 3 times the rental received.
could you please revert on the above queries
how to claim for the "loss on property".. interest paid for home loan is more than the rent received
Broadly speaking Loss on Property = Interest paid - 70% of rent recived
I took a home loan but my possession of flat is not completed. Can I claim home loan benefit under 80c
No -- Tax benefit on home loan can be taken after possession only!
Hi Amit, I submitted my Investment proof submission form on 30 January 2017, proofs given are LIC with total sum assured 10 lakhs. and other investment is of EPF which is directly deducted from salary. However, in the month of january 2017, income tax of 21000 was deducted from my salary. Kindly confirm whether i will get the deducted amount back as i have submitted premium receipts of LIC.
The excess tax paid would be adjusted in next 2 months salary. If it cannot be adjusted in next 2 months you can get refund of excess taxes paid by filing your return.
Thank you very much for the prompt response.
My annual salary is above 5 lakhs.
Hello Amit,
My landlord is not providing PAN and my employer is not accepting PANNOTAVBL while declaring investment proofs. I pay tax > 1lakh/year. What can i do?
Thanks,
Rahul
As landlord is not providing PAN, you cannot do much in this case. All I can suggest is claim HRA benefit while filing Income Tax Return. In case there is scrutiny by I-T department on a later date, you should have all proofs of rent paid readily available with you.
how to include the company deducted tax in the tax calculator
Sorry we have not provided space to include TDS. You will have to do it manually.
But feedback taken will incorporate space to make entries for TDS in next version.