Do you know the incomes that are exempted from income tax even in the new tax regime?

For FY 2020-21, Salaried individuals, who have no business income, will have to choose between the existing and new tax regimes every financial year, as per their convenience. The new income tax rates are lower compare to old tax rate. However, anyone opting for the new tax regime will have to forego most of the deductions available under the old tax regime (prevailing option) such as Section 80C, 80D, 80E, 80TTA or 80 TTB, Tax rebate u/s 87A (Up to Rs.12500 on taxable income up to Rs.5 lakh) and tax exemptions such as HRA, LTA, exemption under 10(15)(i) etc.  In addition to that, the individual who opt for new tax regime are not eligible for deduction on home loan interest up to Rs.2 lakh and additional deduction on Home Loan interest on affordable houses u/s 80EEA – Up to Rs.1.5 lakh. They are also not eligible for deduction on Auto Loan interest for purchase of electric vehicle u/s 80EEB -Up to Rs.1.5 lakh.  Other common deductions tax payer has to give up under new tax rule is furnished at the bottom of this post.

However, the government left unchanged some deductions available on some income also in the new tax regime which is applicable from April 1, 2020.

Here are the details of incomes that are exempted from income tax even in the event you opt for new tax regime.

1. Interest income form Post Office saving scheme :  As per a government notification, dated June 3, 2011, exemption is granted on post office savings account interest up to Rs.3,500 for single accounts and up to Rs.7,000 for joint accounts under 10(15)(i) of income tax act. The balance interest amount needs to be included in the gross income. While  section 10(15)(i) of income tax act 1961 provides exemption from the taxability, section 80TTA or 80TTB of the act provides a deduction from taxable income. Hence both the sections are mutually exclusive without any cross reference or restricting the benefit provided by either section. Therefore, individual opting for new tax regime not eligible to claim deduction under section 80 TTA or 80TTB but exemption under 10(15)(i)  is available in the new tax regime as well.
2. Interest received from EPF & PPF:  The annual contribution to PPF account not eligible for deduction under new tax regime. However, interest earned on PPF contribution or maturity proceeds from PPF are exempt from tax in the new tax structure as well. Interest received from Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) account is  also exempted from income tax even in the new tax regime
3. Amount received from life insurance policy maturity: U/S 10(10D) of income tax act 1961 maturity proceeds received from life insurance policy is exempt from capital gain tax. This exemption is still available in the new tax regime.
4. Gratuity received from employer: For private-sector employees, gratuity up to Rs.20 lakh in a lifetime is exempt from income tax even in new tax regime.  Nevertheless, gratuity received due to the death of a private sector employee will be tax-exempt irrespective of any amount.  In case of Government employees, gratuity is exempt from tax irrespective of any amount. 
5. Employer’s contribution to EPF/NPS account:  Contribution made by the employer towards employee’s EPF, NPS and to any other superannuation fund will be exempt from tax up to Rs.7.5 lakh in a year. Any contribution in excess of Rs.7.5 lakhs per year or interest or gains earned from the excess contribution by the employer over Rs.7.5 lakh per year on  EPF, NPS and to any other superannuation fund will be subject to tax in the hands of the employee

In order to know which tax regime is beneficial for an individual, it is important to know how much will be the tax liability in both the regimes.

Tax slabs of new tax regime are as under.

Those earning up to Rs.5 lakhs are exempt from paying taxes

10% tax for everyone earning Rs.5-7.5 lakh against the old tax rate 20%

 15% tax for everyone earning Rs.7.5- 10 lakhs against the old tax rate 20%

 20% tax for everyone earning Rs.10-12.5 lakhs against the old tax rate 30%

 25% tax for everyone earning Rs.12.5-15 lakhs against the old tax rate  30%

30% tax for income above Rs.15 lakh. (Those earning more than Rs.15 lakhs get no exemptions)

The list of other common exemptions and deductions that a taxpayer will have to forego while choosing the new tax regime.

Leave Travel Allowance (LTA),  –   House Rent Allowance (HRA), –    Conveyance, –   Daily expenses in the course of employment, –   Relocation allowance, –  Helper allowance,   –  Children education allowance,  – Other special allowances [Section 10(14)],  – Professional tax, – Interest on housing loan (Section 24),  Chapter VI-A deduction (80C,80D, 80E and so on) (Except Section 80CCD(2) and 80JJA),

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