How to Make Best Use of Section 80C

What to Check before investing for Section 80C
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How to Make Best Use of Section 80C


Most of the Income Tax payee try to save tax by saving under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. However, it is important to know the Section in toto so that one can make best use of the options available for exemption under income tax Act. One important point to note here is that one can not only save tax by undertaking the specified investments, but some expenditure which you normally incur can also give you the tax exemptions. Here are some tips for you : -
(1) Always Check YOUR FORCED SAVINGS / EXPENDITURE ELIGIBLE FOR DEDUCTION :
(A) Home Loan :
There is a provision that the payment made for repayment of the principal amount (not interest payment) of the Home Loan is eligible for a deduction under Section 80C if you have taken a home loan and you fulfill certain conditions.
(B) Payment towards Education Fee of the children :
Most of the young couples and middle aged income tax payee incur quite high payments
towards the education fees of their children. The expenditure incurred on education fees is also eligible for a deduction under Income Tax Act, Thus, if you are incurring expnediture towards educatin fee of your children, please check whether these are eligible for deduction under the IT Act.
(C) Payment towards Provident Fund :
Salaried income tax payee are usually have a forced saving which are eligible for deduction under section 80C. A fixed percentage of basic salary (ranges from 8.33% 12%) is deducted by your employer towards the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Some employers allow higher deduction towards EPF. Thus, you should first of all check the total amount that is expected to be deducted towards EPF during the financial year. The total amount deducted from your salary will be eligible for investments under Section 80C.
(D) Interest on National Saving Certificates :
In case you have purchased NSCs during some earlier years, then the accrued interest as per the tables released by authorities is eligible for deductions under Section 80C.

(2) Always Check the Lock-In Period of the Investments
Tax saving investments have a minimum lock-in period i.e. the period during which withdrawals are usually not allowed. If the same are withdrawn, these will be taxable in the year of withdrawal. For example, National Savings Certificates (NSC) have a lock-in period of six years, Public Provident Fund (PPF) has a lock-in of 15 years, Equity Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS) have a lock-in period of three years. Insurance policies have even greater period of lock in.


(3) Always Check Whether the investment you intend to make will meet your goals :
You are saving every year and while saving you normally have some goal in mind, e.g. to meet the expenditure on education of children, purchase of a vehicle or house or marriage of your children. Therefore, you should always look at the investments from the angle whether it will meet your specific requirements on maturity. You should also try to diversify your savings in different instruments.
For instance, if you have already invested a fair portion of your money in equity (shares and mutual funds that invest in shares), avoid an ELSS. Opting for an ELSS means a huge portion of your investments will be in equity and that may not be what you want.

Source :

Professional tax may raise for Professionals

Doctors, lawyers and other professionals both salaried and self employed may now have to pay a higher professional tax. Acceding a long-pending demand of the state governments, the Centre has decided to raise the ceiling on professional tax from Rs 2,500 to Rs 7,500 per annum. The Union Cabinet is expected to take up the proposal on Thursday. Professional tax is levied by state governments or local bodies on professions, trades, callings and employment. The power to levy the tax flows from Article 276 of the Constitution that also caps the tax amount. The Centre will amend Article 276 to raise the limit. Although Delhi does not impose the tax, states such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat do so. The limit was fixed in 1998 at Rs 2,500 per annum. Increase in tax has been a long-pending demand of the states, pointing at rise in income levels in the past few years. The Centre’s reluctance to state governments’ demand for a hike in the limit is borne out of the fact that taxpayers who pay professional tax are eligible for a deduction under the Income-Tax Act. So, while the state governments’ revenues grow, the Centre loses tax on this count. However, with the direct tax collections witnessing stupendous growth, state governments had intensified pressure on the Centre. Their argument is that the tax does not have a substantial impact on Centre’s total kitty as the collection under this head by states was only Rs 3,500 crore. Some state governments wanted the limit to be increased to Rs 10,000 per annum, but the Centre has agreed to raise it to Rs 7,500.

Source : - caclubindia.com