How Standard Deduction would lower tax outgo for Salaried and Pensioners?

Budget 2018 though did not change the broad tax slabs but made some changes in the tax exemptions. One of them was reintroduction of Standard Deduction for salaried and pensioners. From FY 2018-19 (AY 2019-20) all salaried and pensioners would be eligible for standard deduction of Rs 40,000. However, as they say devil lies in details. With introduction of standard deduction, finance minister has removed two popular tax deductions which were available for salaried: Transport Allowance of Rs 19,200 and Medical Reimbursement of Rs 15,000. So, the net impact of standard deduction for salaried would only be Rs 5,800 (40,000 – 19,200 – 15,000). However, as pensioners did not have these allowances standard deduction for them is really good news.

Standard Deduction Impact:

The table below shows the impact of standard deduction on salaried who used to receive tax free transport allowance and medical reimbursement till this year.

ParticularsUntil AY 2018-19From AY 2019-20
Gross Salary (in Rs.)10,00,00010,00,000
(-) Transport Allowance19,200Not Applicable
(-) Medical Allowance15,000Not Applicable
(-) Standard DeductionNot Applicable40,000
Net Taxable Salary9,65,8009,60,000

As you can see in the above example the NET impact would be only Rs 5,800 extra tax exemption over last year.

Clarification from Income Tax Department:

Here is a series of tweet from @IncomeTaxIndia (the official twitter handle of the IT department):

CBDT issues clarification regarding applicability of standard deduction to pension received from former employer.

As per the amended Section 16 of the Income–tax Act, 1961, a taxpayer having income chargeable under the head “Salaries” shall be allowed a deduction of Rs 40,000/- or the amount of salary, whichever is less, for computing his taxable income.

It is clarified that a taxpayer who is in receipt of pension from his former employer shall be entitled to claim a deduction of Rs 40,000/- or the amount of pension, whichever is less, under Section 16 of the Act.

Clarification from Income Tax Department on Standard Deduction
Clarification from Income Tax Department on Standard Deduction

Download: Excel based Income Tax Calculator for FY 2018-19

A bit of History:

Standard Deduction for salaried was abolished in Budget 2005. Until then salaried individuals could claim Rs 30,000 or 40% of salary whichever is less for gross salary up to Rs 5 lakh. For salary of more than Rs 5 Lakh, the standard deduction was fixed at Rs 20,000.

Standard Deduction for Salaried and Pensioners
Standard Deduction for Salaried and Pensioners

Proof for Standard Deduction:

Many salaried had this question what proof would be required to claim standard deduction? The answer is there is NO proof or declaration is required for standard deduction. Its more in the lines of transport allowance where no proof was required. An added advantage with abolition of medical reimbursement there would be one lesser proof to submit to employer!

Also Read: 13 Important Changes in Tax Rules from FY 2018-19

Standard Deduction for Family Pension?

The rules for standard deduction is clear for Pensioners but what happens after the death of pensioner? After death of pensioner the legal heir (Spouse, children below the age of 25 years, unmarried daughter and dependent parents in certain cases) continue to receive pension. This is referred to as “Family Pension”. Also in case of normal pension the income is part of salary in ITR, however in case of family pension the income is considered from other sources. So the above standard deduction of Rs 40,000 proposed in Budget 2018 would not be applicable to family pension. 

However for family pension, a standard deduction u/s 57(iia) is available under which an amount of Rs 15,000 or 1/3rd of the uncommuted pension received, whichever is less, shall be exempt. For Example, if a family member receives a pension of Rs 50,000, the exemption available is least of Rs 15,000 or Rs 16,667 (1/3rd of Rs 50,000). Thus, the taxable family pension will be Rs 50,000 – Rs 15,000 = Rs 35,000.

Do EPF/Insurance Pension get Standard Deduction?

The standard deduction provision is clear for salaried and for people receiving pension from their ex-employers. But what about investors receiving pension from pension plans they invested? Well they would not be eligible for standard deduction.

To Conclude:

Standard deduction was long demanded by salaried and getting it in this Budget was good. This would help salaried save a bit more tax while for pensioners this would lead to tax saving up to Rs 12,500 in highest tax bracket.

20 thoughts on “How Standard Deduction would lower tax outgo for Salaried and Pensioners?”

  1. SIR I AM A WIDOW, GETTING FAMILY PENSION AND ALSO GETTING A STATE GOVT JOB IN UP GOVT. WILL MY SALARY BE AFFECTED OR DEDUCTED ON JOINING.

  2. SATISH KUMAR KAPOOR

    WHAT ABOUT PERSONS RETIRED FROM PVT SECTOR ? THEY DO NOT GET PENSION , THEIR INCOME IS FROM INVESTMENT OF FUNDS RECEIVED ON RETIREMENT.

  3. N.Narasimha Sastry

    Very useful .My pension payments were. 562270, FD interest is 35000 , interest on small savings is 10000 .Can you tell me whether Standard Deduction & 80 TTB of 50000 are both admissible.Thank you.

  4. my total income after .all deduction comes to Rs.407618/-. Being retired person, what would be my tax eligibility.

  5. Sir, I am regular employee in state Govt. I am drawing monthly an amount of 1000/- per month in shape of fixed travelling allowance with salary. Can I take a rebate on above said amount i.e 12000/- in income tax along with Standard Deduction of Rs. 40,000/-

  6. Sir, I am getting Fixed Travelling Allowance in my monthly salary at the rate of 1000/- PM. Should I have to take rebate in income Tax on FTA i.e. 12000/-? I am also taking rebate on standard Deduction Rs. 40000/-.

    1. For 8 lakh salary, deduct Rs 2 lakh for 80C & 80CCD(1B) and 40,000 as standard deduction. You need additional 60,000 deductions which you can have through HRA, Medical Insurance, etc

  7. My mother is receiving a salary and also a family pension. Can she availe both benifits that is standard deduction and 1/3 or 15000 deduction from family pension.

  8. HELLO WHETHER A NRI SR CITIZEN WHO IS GETTING PENSION FROM INDIA IS ELIGIBLE FOR STANDAD DEDUCTION?PL REPLY THANKS

  9. ASHOK KUMAR MANRAL

    i am getting pension from EPFO and LIC (annuity). Please clear wehthter the standard deduction of Rs 40000/- is applicable

    1. Dinesh Kumar Jain

      Pension from EPFO is received on behalf of the employer only. In fact, this concept of mandatory deduction of EPF and equal contribution of PF by employer to EPFO was only to pass on the pension liability from an employer to a more secure Government protected entity EPFO was made by Union Govt. to ensure that in case a private employer get liquidated or does not pay, the employee should not suffer after retirement. Thus, standard deduction must be available on EPFO pension also as it would deem to be paid by employer only.

  10. A CANDIDATE RECEIVING PENSION AS WELL AS SALARY WHEATHER HE IS ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM STANDARD DEDUCTION FOR BOTH INCOME OR ONLY ONE ? PLEASE REPLY

    1. Irrespective of if the income is from pension and/or salary the maximum amount of standard deduction is Rs 40,000 (50,000 from FY 2019-20)

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