Union Budget 2021: 10 things individual taxpayers should know
TNN | Feb 2, 2021, 03.03 PM IST
Union Budget 2021: 10 things individual taxpayers should know
NEW DELHI: The fineprint of the finance bill usually leaves taxpayers wondering what’s in store. Times of India – EY Guide decodes how salaried employees can save more of their salary from the taxmen.
Here are the 10 things individual taxpayers should know:1. Interest on employee’s share of contribution to EPF on or after April 1, 2021 will be taxable at the stage of withdrawal if it exceeds Rs 2.5 lakh in any year. This will lead to additional tax liability, especially for HNIs, who make higher contributions, and will also discourage voluntary EPF contributions. Coupled with taxation of aggregate employer’s contributions in excess of Rs 7.5 lakh to EPF, NPS and superannuation fund and interest thereon introduced last year, this may make EPF an even less attractive retirement scheme.
2. Taxpayers will not be required to estimate their dividend income while making advance tax payments. Advance tax will now be payable only when dividend is declared or paid by the company. This will save payment of interest by taxpayer due to underestimation while paying advance taxes.
Union Budget 2021-22: Complete coverage
3. HNI taxation juggernaut rolls on! Proceeds from ULIPs issued on or after February 1, 2021 will be taxable as capital gains if the amount of premium exceeds Rs 2.5 lakh in any year (except when received on death). Where a taxpayer pays premium for more than one ULIP (issued after February 1, 2021) exemption shall apply to those
ULIPs where aggregate premium does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh.
4. Senior citizens get some relief ! Resident senior citizens, aged 75 or above, earning only pension and bank interest income (from the same bank where pension is credited) are not required to file income tax return. On the basis of declaration submitted by such a taxpayer, bank has to compute taxable income and deduct tax thereon
5. More is better! In addition to salary income, bank accounts, tax payments and TDS details, pre-filled income-tax returns will now also include details of capital gains from listed securities, dividend income, interest from banks, post office etc.
6. Affordable housing — extension on extension! Tax exemption for affordable housing further extended by 1 year. It will benefit middle-class first-time home buyers who will get enhanced deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh (over and above the existing deduction of Rs 2 lakh) for interest on housing loan for a house valued up to Rs 45 lakh if the loan is taken before March 31, 2022 (earlier March 31, 2021).
7. Good news for individuals with overseas retirement funds! Central government will announce rules to determine the manner and year of taxability of income from overseas retirement funds opened by a resident taxpayer while he was a residing in a foreign country. This will provide relief from hardship faced on account of double taxation due to mismatch in timing of taxation in different countries
8. Time limit for filing delayed (belated) / revised income-tax return is reduced by 3 months: last date to file income-tax return now stands at December 31 after the close of tax year. Similarly, timeline for completion of assessment has been reduced by 3 months. While this will reduce the overall tax compliance timelines, it may create practical difficulties for taxpayers with overseas income in claiming tax exemption or relief where such benefit is dependent on tax filing in the other country.
9. Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to be set up to help taxpayers with taxable income of up to Rs 50 lakh, and disputed income up to Rs 10 lakh. All proceedings before DRC to be faceless and jurisdiction-less. This will reduce litigation and provide impetus to small and medium taxpayers to settle disputes at initial stages.
10. National Faceless Income-tax Appellate Tribunal Centre proposed to be set up for all second-level appeal cases.
Budget 2021: Cheaper & Dearer
Here are the 10 things individual taxpayers should know:1. Interest on employee’s share of contribution to EPF on or after April 1, 2021 will be taxable at the stage of withdrawal if it exceeds Rs 2.5 lakh in any year. This will lead to additional tax liability, especially for HNIs, who make higher contributions, and will also discourage voluntary EPF contributions. Coupled with taxation of aggregate employer’s contributions in excess of Rs 7.5 lakh to EPF, NPS and superannuation fund and interest thereon introduced last year, this may make EPF an even less attractive retirement scheme.
Union Budget: Provident - Finance minister eyes your PF with interest
Budget 2021 has restricted avenues for tax-free returns for middle-class taxpayers. From April 1, returns on investment of more than Rs 2.5 lakh in two of the most popular instruments — provident fund and unit linked insurance plan (ULIP) — will be taxed. This, say industry sources, will bring ULIPs on a par with mutual funds.
2. Taxpayers will not be required to estimate their dividend income while making advance tax payments. Advance tax will now be payable only when dividend is declared or paid by the company. This will save payment of interest by taxpayer due to underestimation while paying advance taxes.
Union Budget 2021-22: Complete coverage
3. HNI taxation juggernaut rolls on! Proceeds from ULIPs issued on or after February 1, 2021 will be taxable as capital gains if the amount of premium exceeds Rs 2.5 lakh in any year (except when received on death). Where a taxpayer pays premium for more than one ULIP (issued after February 1, 2021) exemption shall apply to those
ULIPs where aggregate premium does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh.
TOI interview: We never considered imposing a cess, says Nirmala Sitharaman
Hours after presenting her third Budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told TOI that the government prioritised investment to boost demand and create jobs as a durable strategy.
4. Senior citizens get some relief ! Resident senior citizens, aged 75 or above, earning only pension and bank interest income (from the same bank where pension is credited) are not required to file income tax return. On the basis of declaration submitted by such a taxpayer, bank has to compute taxable income and deduct tax thereon
5. More is better! In addition to salary income, bank accounts, tax payments and TDS details, pre-filled income-tax returns will now also include details of capital gains from listed securities, dividend income, interest from banks, post office etc.
6. Affordable housing — extension on extension! Tax exemption for affordable housing further extended by 1 year. It will benefit middle-class first-time home buyers who will get enhanced deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh (over and above the existing deduction of Rs 2 lakh) for interest on housing loan for a house valued up to Rs 45 lakh if the loan is taken before March 31, 2022 (earlier March 31, 2021).
7. Good news for individuals with overseas retirement funds! Central government will announce rules to determine the manner and year of taxability of income from overseas retirement funds opened by a resident taxpayer while he was a residing in a foreign country. This will provide relief from hardship faced on account of double taxation due to mismatch in timing of taxation in different countries
8. Time limit for filing delayed (belated) / revised income-tax return is reduced by 3 months: last date to file income-tax return now stands at December 31 after the close of tax year. Similarly, timeline for completion of assessment has been reduced by 3 months. While this will reduce the overall tax compliance timelines, it may create practical difficulties for taxpayers with overseas income in claiming tax exemption or relief where such benefit is dependent on tax filing in the other country.
Union Budget 2021-22: Personal income tax 'checks' you must watch out for
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced the Union Budget for 2021-22. While the government has kept the tax slabs unchanged, taxpayers will have some relief in dealing with their personal finances.
9. Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to be set up to help taxpayers with taxable income of up to Rs 50 lakh, and disputed income up to Rs 10 lakh. All proceedings before DRC to be faceless and jurisdiction-less. This will reduce litigation and provide impetus to small and medium taxpayers to settle disputes at initial stages.
10. National Faceless Income-tax Appellate Tribunal Centre proposed to be set up for all second-level appeal cases.
Budget 2021: Cheaper & Dearer