Reduce the tax liability on arrears of salary by claiming relief u/s 89
tax liability
Query 1]
I am working in a PSU & our wage revision has been done on December-2015. I have received arrears for the last 3 years. Now my questions are:
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In order to claim a relief u/s 89(1), do I need to revise the earlier IT returns that I have filled online?
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If yes, then what is the procedure to do it?
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If not then which ITR is to be use for the current assessment year 2016-17. [Dr. Jacob Sakariah- jacobsakariah@hotmail.com]
Opinion:
Issue relate to taxability of “Arrear of salary” is again in the limelight as a result of retrospective revision of the pay scale for various spectrum of employee. Along with the bonanza, emerges the question of its taxability. Arrears of salary, even if it may be pertaining to earlier years, shall be taxable as the income of the year in which it is receive. Whenever arrear of salary is receive in any particular year, the tax liability for that year increases simply because of the rise in the aggregate income in that particular year. However, Income tax law has take care of the hardship that may be cause to the taxpayer by providing relief under section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act-1961. tax liability
What is relief u/s 89(1)?
The objective of section 89(1) read with Rule 21A(2) is to mitigate hardship caused because of high incidence of tax due to progressively increasing slab rates. The benefit under this is available to every taxpayer who gets salary in advance or in arrears irrespective of being a government employee or private sector employee. In simple words, taxpayers are compensat against higher tax rate because of delay in payment. In simple words, taxpayers are saved from paying more tax because of delay in the payment of the salary.
Mode of computing relief u/s 89(1)?
Relief u/s 89(1) would almost nullify excessive tax impact arising as a result of clubbing of earlier years salary income with the current years income. The mode of computing relief u/s 89 is merely an arithmetical calculation & not that complicated as is perceived by the taxpayers. The relief can be calculate by adhering to the point-wise steps, mentione below:
1. Calculate the tax payable on the total income, including the arrears of salary, of the relevant previous year in which the same is receive.
2. Calculate the tax payable on the total income, excluding the arrears of salary, of the relevant previous year in which the additional salary is receive.
3. Find out the difference between the tax at (1) and (2). tax liability
4. Compute the tax on the total income after including the arrears of salary in the previous year to which such salary relates.
5. Compute the tax on the total income after excluding the arrears of salary in the previous year to which such salary relates.
6. Find out the difference between tax at (4) and (5).
7. The excess of tax computed at (3) over tax computed at (6) is the amount of relief admissible under section 89. No relief is admissible if tax computed at (3) is less than tax computed at (6). If the arrears of salary relates to more than one previous year, salary would be spread over the previous years to which it pertain in the manner explain above.
8. The require particular for relief u/s 89 is require to be work out in Form No. 10E.
How to claim relief u/s 89(1):
The income tax department has made it mandatory to file Form 10E if taxpayer wishes to claim relief under section 89(1). It is compulsory to upload online 10E form w.e.f. Assessment Year 2015-16, else claim will be reject. Taxpayers would be receiving the notices in case relief u/s 89(1) is claim without uploading Form No. 10E. [All taxpayers who had already claim relief u/s 89(1) in the A.Y. 2015-16 without uploading 10E are informed by the department through intimation order u/s 143(1) that their claim u/s 89(1) is rejected and accordingly demand is raised on them].
How to file Form No. 10E online:
Form No. 10E can be fille online from Income Tax website by taking following sequential steps:
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Login toIncome Tax e-filing portal at incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in.
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After logging in, click on tab name ‘e-File’ and select ‘Prepare & Submit Online Form (Other than ITR)
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On the next screen, select Form 10E and the Assessment Year from the drop down options.
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The Form 10E would be display with instructions and annexure. Fill the relevant details and submit.
In your case:
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There is no need to revise the return of the earlier years. Relief has to be work out in the year of receipt only.
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The ITR form would be same as applicable depending upon the nature of your other income. It would not change as a result o relief u/s 89(1). tax liability
