Section 80GG Deduction
Section 80GG Deduction – Income Tax Act
Section 80GG is a facility introduced in the Income Tax Act to provide tax-deduction to taxpayers not obtaining a House Rent Allowance (HRA). The deduction under this section can be availed exclusively by assessees who are resident individuals. To be eligible to claim a deduction under this section, the individual should not be obtaining any HRA from the employer. Further, self-employed persons can also avail of this deduction. Also, the individual should have paid rent for residential accommodation. The accommodation can be used by the assessee or by the family members; in either case, the deduction under this section will be allowed. The assessee or the specified category of persons may own a residential property in the location where the taxpayer resides, is employed or carries on any business or profession. In such cases, it is impossible to claim any deduction under this section.
Section 80GG Deduction Eligibility
For a taxpayer to claim Section 80GG deduction, the following conditions must be satisfied:
- HRA has not been claimed by the taxpayer.
- The taxpayer or spouse or minor child of the taxpayer should not own a residential house property in the location where the taxpayer resides, is employed or carries on any business or profession.
- Suppose the taxpayer is a member of a HUF. In that case, the HUF should not own a residential house property where the taxpayer resides, is employed or carries on any business or profession.
- If the taxpayer owns a residential house property at a location other than where the taxpayer resides, is employed, or carries on any business or profession, then the taxpayer should not claim any benefits under the Income Tax Act as self-occupied property.
- A declaration in Form 10BA regarding the eligibility of availing this deduction should be filed with the Income Tax Authorities on demand.
Amount of Deduction under Section 80GG
Under Section 80GG, the taxpayer can claim a deduction that is the lowest of the following three amounts:
- Rs. 5000 per month (Budget 2016 increased the limit of rent from Rs. 2000 per month to Rs. 5000 per month)
- 25% of the individual’s total income
- Rent paid more than 10% of the individual’s total income (i.e., Rent paid minus 10% of total income)
To calculate the Total Income mentioned above, the following deductions should be made from Gross Total Income:
- Long-term Capital Gains
- Short-term Capital Gains which have been mentioned under Section 111A
- Deductions under Chapter-VIA, from Section 80C to 80U, with the exception of Section 80GG
- Income under Section 115A
Form 10BA
Form 10BA should be used by an assessee who is claiming a deduction under this section. The form should NOT be attached to the return of income. The form should be submitted to the Income Tax Department only when it is demanded by the tax authorities. The format of Form 10BA is given below for reference:
Declaration in Form No.10BA
A declaration in Form No. 10BA has been filed by the assessee as required under rule 11B of the Income-tax Rules, 1962, for filing Form 10BA log to the e-filing website. Goto ‘Prepare and Submit Online Form (other than ITR)’ under Tab ‘e-file’. Select Form 10BA from the dropdown list fill in the form, and submit it.
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