Salaried Employee's Income Exempt from Income under the head of "Salaries".

As per recently issued a circular by Income Tax Department for Salaried Taxpayee, a few Income exempt from under the head of "Salary".

Any income falling within any of the following clauses shall not be included in computing the income from salaries for the purpose of section 192 of the Act :

Leave Travel Concession (LTC): The value of any travel concession or assistance received by or due to an employee from his employer or former employer for himself and his family, in connection with his proceeding (a) on leave to any place in India or (b) after retirement from service, or, after termination of service to any place in India is exempt under Section 10(5) subject, however, to the conditions prescribed in Rule 2B of the Rules.
 

The following are the important points, to be taken into consideration:
 

Number of Trips - The exemption shall be available in respect of 2 journeys performed in the block of 4 calendar years.

• Without performing any journey and incurring expenses thereon, no exemption can be claimed.
• The quantum of exemption will be subject to the following maximum limits for journeys performed on or after 01.10.1997

This exemption is limited to the actual expenses incurred on the journey which in turn is strictly limited to expenses on air fare, rail fare and bus fare only. No other expenses like local conveyance, sight-seeing expense etc., shall qualify for exemption.
 

Where the journey is performed in a circuitous route, the exemption is limited to what is admissible by the shortest route. Likewise, where the journey is performed in a circular form touching different places, the exemption is limited to what is admissible for the journey from the place of origin to the farthest point reached in India, by the shortest route.
 

Restriction on children - The exemption will not be available to more than 2 surviving children of an individual born after 01.10.1998. This restriction shall not apply in respect of children born before 01.10.1998 and also in case of multiple births after one child. It may be noted that section 2 (15B) of the Act defines a child as includes a step child and an adopted child of the individual.
 

Definition of Family - As per the provisions of the Rules, family means:

• Spouse and children of the individual.
• Parents, brothers and sisters who are wholly or mainly dependent on the individual.

Foreign Travel - As per the provisions of the Rules, exemption is not allowable in case of travel abroad.
 

Obligation of the employer - The employer has to satisfy the obligation that leave travel (fare) concession is not taxable in view of section 10(5) and he is not only required to be satisfied about the provisions of the said clause but also to keep and preserve evidence in support thereof.

Some important points to be considered are as under:

1. It is uniform for all employees
2. Where an employee does not avail LTC, either one or on both the occasions during the block of 4 calendar years, the value of LTC first availed during the first calendar year of the immediately succeeding block shall be eligible for exemption in lieu of exemption not availed during the preceding block Only one trip can be carried forward to be availed in the immediately succeeding block.
3. Quantum of Exemption - The basic rule is that quantum of exemption will be limited to the actual expense incurred on the journey.

Any Leave encashed for the purpose of Leave travel or home travel concession is taxable.

Death-cum-retirement gratuity or any other gratuity is exempt to the extent specified from inclusion in computing the total income under Section 10(10). Any death-cum-retirement gratuity received under the revised Pension Rules of the Central Government or, as the case may be, the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, or under any similar scheme applicable to the members of the civil services of the Union or holders of posts connected with defence or of civil posts under the Union (such members or holders being persons not governed by the said Rules) or to the members of the all-India services or to the members of the civil services of a State or holders of civil posts under a State or to the employees of a local authority or any payment of retiring gratuity received under the Pension Code or Regulations applicable to the members of the defence service is exempt. Gratuity received in cases other than those mentioned above, on retirement, termination etc is exempt up to the limit as prescribed by the Board. Presently the limit is Rs. 10 lakhs w.e.f. 24.05.2010 [Notification no. 43/2010 S.O. 1414(E) F.No. 200/33/2009-ITA-1 dated 11th June 2010].

Any payment in commutation of pension received under the Civil Pensions (Commutation) Rules of the Central Government or under any similar scheme applicable to the members of the civil services of the Union or holders of posts connected with defence or of civil posts under the Union (such members or holders being persons not governed by the said Rules) or to the members of the all- India services or to the members of the defence services or to the members of the civil services of a State or holders of civil posts under a State or to the employees of a local authority] or a corporation established by a Central, State or Provincial Act, is exempt under Section10(10A)(i). As regards payments in commutation of pension received under any scheme of any other employer, exemption will be governed by the provisions of section 10(10A)(ii). Also, any payment in commutation of pension from a fund referred to in Section 10(23AAB) is exempt under Section 10(10A)(iii).

Any payment received by an employee of the Central Government or a State Government, as cash-equivalent of the leave salary in respect of the period of earned leave at his credit at the time of his retirement, whether on superannuation or otherwise, is exempt under Section 10(10AA)(i). In the case of other employees, this exemption will be determined with reference to the leave to their credit at the time of retirement on superannuation or otherwise, subject to a maximum of ten months' leave. This exemption will be further limited to the maximum amount specified by the Government of India Notification No.S.O.588(E) dated 31.05.2002 at Rs. 3,00,000/- in relation to such employees who retire, whether on superannuation or otherwise, after 1.4.1998.

Under Section 10(10B), the retrenchment compensation received by a workman is exempt from income-tax subject to certain limits. The maximum amount of retrenchment compensation exempt is the sum calculated on the basis provided in section 25F(b) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 or any amount not less than Rs.50,000/- as the Central Government may by notification specify in the Official Gazette, whichever is less. These limits shall not apply in the case where the compensation is paid under any scheme which is approved in this behalf by the Central Government, having regard to the need for extending special protection to the workmen in the undertaking to which the scheme applies and other relevant circumstances. The maximum limit of such payment is Rs. 5,00,000/- where retrenchment is on or after 1.1.1997 as specified in Notification No. 10969 of 25-06-1999.

Under Section 10(10C), any payment received or receivable (even if received in installments) by an employee of the following bodies at the time of his voluntary retirement or termination of his service, in accordance with any scheme or schemes of voluntary retirement or in the case of public sector company, a scheme of voluntary separation, is exempt from income-tax to the extent that such amount does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/-:

• A public sector company;
• Any other company;
• An Authority established under a Central, State or Provincial Act;
• A Local Authority;
• A Cooperative Society;
• A university established or incorporated or under a Central, State or Provincial Act, or, an Institution declared to be a University under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956;
• Any Indian Institute of Technology within the meaning of Section 3 (g) of the Institute of Technology Act, 1961;
• Such Institute of Management as the Central Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.

The exemption of amount received under VRS has been extended to employees of the Central Government and State Government and employees of notified institutions having importance throughout India or any State or States. It may also be noted that where this exemption has been allowed to any employee for any assessment year, it shall not be allowed to him for any other assessment year. Further, if relief has been allowed under section 89 for any assessment year in respect of amount received on voluntary retirement or superannuation, no exemption under section 10(10C) shall be available.
 

Any sum received under a Life Insurance Policy (Sec 10(10D), including the sum allocated by way of bonus on such policy other than the following is exempt under section 10(10D):

1. any sum received under section 80DD(3) or section 80DDA(3); or
2. any sum received under a Keyman insurance policy; or
3. any sum received under an insurance policy issued on or after 1.4.2003, but on or before 31-03-2012, in respect of which the premium payable for any of the years during the term of the policy exceeds 20 percent of the actual capital sum assured; or
4. any sum received under an insurance policy issued on or after 1.4.2012 in respect of which the premium payable for any of the years during the term of the policy exceeds 10 percent of the actual capital sum assured; or
5. any sum received under an insurance policy issued on or after 1.4.2013 in cases of persons with disability or person with severe disability as per Sec 80U or suffering from disease or ailment as specified in Sec 80DDB, in respect of which the premium payable for any of the years during the term of the policy exceeds 15 percent of the actual capital sum assured

However, any sum received under such policy referred to in (iii), (iv) and (v) above, on the death of a person would be exempt.
 

Any payment from a Provident Fund to which the Provident Funds Act, 1925, applies or from any other provident fund set up by the Central Government and notified by it in the Official Gazette is exempt under section 10(11).

Under section 10(13A) of the Act, any special allowance specifically granted to an assessee by his employer to meet expenditure incurred on payment of rent (by whatever name called) in respect of residential accommodation occupied by the assessee is exempt from Income-tax to the extent as may be prescribed, having regard to the area or place in which such accommodation is situated and other relevant considerations. According to Rule 2A of the Rules, the quantum of exemption allowable on account of grant of special allowance to meet expenditure on payment of rent shall be the least of the following:

• the actual amount of such allowance received by the assessee in respect of the relevant period i. e. the period during which the accommodation was occupied by the assesse during the financial year; or
• the actual expenditure incurred in payment of rent in excess of one-tenth of the salary due for the relevant period; or

• where such accommodation is situated in Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi or Madras, 50% of the salary due to the employee for the relevant period; or

• where such accommodation is situated in any other places, 40% of the salary due to the employee for the relevant period,

For this purpose, "Salary" includes dearness allowance, if the terms of employment so provide, but excludes all other allowances and perquisites.
 

It has to be noted that only the expenditure actually incurred on payment of rent in respect of residential accommodation occupied by the assessee subject to the limits laid down in Rule 2A, qualifies for exemption from income-tax. Thus, house rent allowance granted to an employee who is residing in a house/flat owned by him is not exempt from income-tax. The disbursing authorities should satisfy themselves in this regard by insisting on production of evidence of actual payment of rent before excluding the House Rent Allowance or any portion thereof from the total income of the employee.
 

Though incurring actual expenditure on payment of rent is a pre-requisite for claiming deduction under section 10(13A), it has been decided as an administrative measure that salaried employees drawing house rent allowance upto Rs.3000/- per month will be exempted from production of rent receipt. It may, however, be noted that this concession is only for the purpose of tax-deduction at source, and, in the regular assessment of the employee, the Assessing Officer will be free to make such enquiry as he deems fit for the purpose of satisfying himself that the employee has incurred actual expenditure on payment of rent.
 

Further if annual rent paid by the employee exceeds Rs 1,00,000 per annum, it is mandatory for the employee to report PAN of the landlord to the employer. In case the landlord does not have a PAN, a declaration to this effect from the landlord along with the name and address of the landlord should be filed by the employee.

Section 10(14) provides for exemption of the following allowances :-

1. Any special allowance or benefit granted to an employee to meet the expenses wholly, necessarily and exclusively incurred in the performance of his duties as prescribed under Rule 2BB subject to the extent to which such expenses are actually incurred for that purpose.
2. Any allowance granted to an employee either to meet his personal expenses at the place of his posting or at the place he ordinarily resides or to compensate him for the increased cost of living, which may be prescribed and to the extent as may be prescribed.

However, the allowance referred to in (ii) above should not be in the nature of a personal allowance granted to the assessee to remunerate or compensate him for performing duties of a special nature relating to his office or employment unless such allowance is related to his place of posting or residence.
 

CBDT has prescribed guidelines for the purpose of Section 10(14) (i) & 10 (14) (ii) vide notification No.SO 617(E) dated 7th July, 1995 (F.No.142/9/95-TPL)which has been amended vide notification SO No.403(E) dt 24.4.2000 (F.No.142/34/99-TPL). The transport allowance granted to an employee to meet his expenditure for the purpose of commuting between the place of his residence and the place of duty is exempt to the extent of Rs.800 p. m. or Rs1600 p.m (for a blind person) vide notification S.O.No. 395(E) dated 13.5.98.

Under Section 10(15)(iv)(i) of the Act, interest payable by the Government on deposits made by an employee of the Central Government or a State Government or a public sector company out of his retirement benefits, in accordance with such scheme framed in this behalf by the Central Government and notified in the Official Gazette is exempt from income-tax. By notification No.F.2/14/89-NS-II dated 7.6.89, as amended by notification No.F.2/14/89-NS-II dated 12.10.89, the Central Government has notified a scheme called Deposit Scheme for Retiring Government Employees, 1989 for the purpose of the said clause.

Any scholarship granted to meet the cost of education is not to be included in total income as per provisions of section 10(16) of the Act.

Section 10(18) provides for exemption of any income by way of pension received by an individual who has been in the service of the Central Government or State Government and has been awarded "Param Vir Chakra" or "Maha Vir Chakra" or "Vir Chakra" or such other gallantry award as may be specifically notified by the Central Government. Family pension received by any member of the family of such individual is also exempt [Notifications No. S.O.1948(E) dated 24.11.2000 and 81(E) dated 29.1.2001, which are enclosed as per Annexure VIII & IX]. ¢wFamily¡ü for this purpose shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 10(5) of the Act.
 

DDO may not deduct any tax in the case of recipients of such awards after satisfying himself about the veracity of the claim.

Under section 17 of the Act, exemption from tax will also be available in respect of:-

• the value of any medical treatment provided to an employee or any member of his family, in any hospital maintained by the employer;
• any sum paid by the employer in respect of any expenditure actually incurred by the employee on his medical treatment or of any member of his family:

• in any hospital maintained by the Government or any local authority or any other hospital approved by the Government for the purposes of medical treatment of its employees;

• in respect of the prescribed diseases or ailments as provided in Rule 3A(2) of the Rules in any hospital approved by the Chief Commissioner having regard to the prescribed guidelines as provided in Rule 3(A)(1)of the Rules.

• premium paid by the employer in respect of medical insurance taken for his employees (under any scheme approved by the Central Government or Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) or reimbursement of insurance premium to the employees who take medical insurance for themselves or for their family members (under any scheme approved by the Central Government or Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority);
• reimbursement, by the employer, of the amount spent by an employee in obtaining medical treatment for himself or any member of his family from any doctor, not exceeding in the aggregate Rs.15,000/- in an year;
• As regards medical treatment abroad, the actual expenditure on stay and treatment abroad of the employee or any member of his family, or, on stay abroad of one attendant who accompanies the patient, in connection with such treatment, will be excluded from perquisites to the extent permitted by the Reserve Bank of India. It may be noted that the expenditure incurred on travel abroad by the patient/attendant, shall be excluded from perquisites only if the employee's gross total income, as computed before including the said expenditure, does not exceed Rs.2 lakhs.

For the purpose of availing exemption on expenditure incurred on medical treatment, "hospital" includes a dispensary or clinic or nursing home, and "family" in relation to an individual means the spouse and children of the individual. Family also includes parents, brothers and sisters of the individual if they are wholly or mainly dependent on the individual.