Presently, section 80TTA provides Rs 10,000/- deduction to all individual/HUF taxpayers.

Section 80TTA of the Income Tax Act-1961 reads as under:

Deduction in respect of interest on deposits in savings account.

80TTA. (1) Where the gross total income of an assessee, being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, includes any income by way of interest on deposits (not being time deposits) in a savings account with—

(a) a banking company to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), applies (including any bank or banking institution referred to in section 51 of that Act);

(b) a co-operative society engaged in carrying on the business of banking (including a co-operative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank); or

(c) a Post Office as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 (6 of 1898),

there shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed, in computing the total income of the assessee a deduction as specified hereunder, namely:—

(i) in a case where the amount of such income does not exceed in the aggregate ten thousand rupees, the whole of such amount; and

(ii) in any other case, ten thousand rupees.

(2) Where the income referred to in this section is derived from any deposit in a savings account held by, or on behalf of, a firm, an association of persons or a body of individuals, no deduction shall be allowed under this section in respect of such income in computing the total income of any partner of the firm or any member of the association or any individual of the body.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “time deposits” means the deposits repayable on expiry of fixed periods.

Now, a new section 80TTB is proposed to be added in the Income Tax Act-1961 which will enhanced the deduction for senior citizen toward interest to Rs. 50,000/-.

Proposed Section 80TTB reads as under:

‘80TTB. (1) Where the gross total income of an assessee. Being a senior citizen, includes any income by way of interest on deposits with—

(a) a banking company to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, applies (including any bank or banking institution referred to in section 51 of that Act);

(b) a co-operative society engaged in carrying on the business of banking (including a co-operative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank); or

(c) a Post Office as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898,
there shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section. Be allow, in computing the total income of the assessee, a deduction—

(i) in a case where the amount of such income does not exceed. In the aggregate fifty thousand rupees, the whole of such amount; and

(ii) in any other case, fifty thousand rupees.

(2) Where the income referred to in sub-section (1) is derived from any deposit held by, or on behalf of, a firm, an association of persons or a body of individuals, no deduction shall be allowed under this section in respect of such income in computing the total income of any partner of the firm or any member of the association or any individual of the body.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “senior citizen” means an individual resident in India who is of the age of sixty years or more at any time during the relevant previous year.

Question arises, whether Rs, 50,000/- deduction. Is admissible even on interest on Bank FDR which was not available under section 80TTA. Further question arises, whether senior citizen can claim deduction under section 80TTA as well as 80TTB.

Let us try to understand it.

Section 80TTA provides deduction against interest excluding interest on term deposits. FDR is a term deposits. It means that no deduction is available u/s 80TTA against Bank FDR Interest.

However, there is no such restriction in section 80TTB. It means that Rs. 50,000/- deductIon available to senior citizens will also include interest on Bank FDR.

Further, Finance Bill-2018 proposes that no deduction u/s 80TTA. Is available to senior citizens from FY 2018-19 as deduction is propose in section 80TTB. Senior citizens can claim deduction u/s 80TTB. Alone whereas other individual / HUF taxpayer would be eligible for deduction u/s 80TTA.