IMPORTANT POINTS TO FILE ITR FOR A.Y 2015-16

FY 2014-15/AY15-16 is at the corner. In this situation, following are some important points that every individual must know for filing income tax return this year.

1.  Exemption limit increased by INR 50,000 to INR.2,50,000 for Individuals taxpayers.

2. Section 80C deduction limit raised to INR 150,000.

3. Deduction limit for interest expense in respect of self-occupied property raised from INR150,000 to INR 200,000. Read- Home Loan Interest Exemption Limit increased to Rs. 2 Lakh

4. Long term capital Gain on sale of units of Mutual Fund (other than equity oriented) @20%.

5. Amendment in the criteria of holding period for treating an asset as Short Term Capital Asset, as under:

For share in Company (listed) – 12 months;

For share in Company (unlisted) – 36 months;

For other unlisted securities – 36 months;

For other listed securities (including units of Business Trust) – 12 months;

For unit of Mutual Fund (equity oriented) – 12 months;

For unit of Mutual Fund (other than equity oriented) – 36 months;

For zero coupon bond – 12 months

Holding period increased to 36 Month for Unlisted shares and non Equity oriented mutual funds For LTCG Calculation

6. As per CBDT circular No. 6/2015 dt. 09.04.2015, No Capital gains will arise in respect of units of Mutual Funds under the Fixed maturity Plans on extension of their term.

7. Plugging of loop hole to prevent misuse of Section 54EC

Investment within six months from the date of transfer of the asset in specified securities not exceeding fifty lakh rupees is only permitted.

Investments within six months but in different financial years of upto 50 lacs each are not allowed.

Budget 2014 – Exemption U/s. 54EC cannot exceed Rs. 50 Lakh despite investment in two Years

8. Investment only in one residential house in India allowed for claiming exemption under Section 54 or Section 54F. 

9. No exemption allowed for investment in Residential House located outside India.

10. Advance received and forfeited in relation to a transfer of capital asset now taxable immediately under the head ‘income from other sources’ and not to be reduced from the cost or written down value or the fair market value, as the case may be, in computing the cost of acquisition of such asset.  

11. Presumptive income in respect of taxpayers engaged in the business of plying, hiring or leasing goods carriages increased to a uniform amount of INR 7,500 per month for all types of goods carriages. 

12. Employer’s contribution to NPS by non-Central Government employers eligible for deduction up to ten per cent of salary in a financial year, irrespective of the employees’ date of joining of employment and without any limit. The deduction in respect of employee’s contribution is restricted to INR 100,000 within the overall limit of Section 80CCD. 

13. Aggregate payments of INR 100,000 or more under life insurance policy not exempt under Section 10(10D) liable to withholding tax at two per cent. 

14. Transfer of government security, carrying a periodic payment of interest, by a non-resident to another non-resident and made outside India through an intermediary dealing in settlement of securities not to be regarded as transfer and accordingly not liable to capital gains tax. 

15. Trading in commodity derivatives carried out through a recognised association and which is chargeable to commodities transaction tax will not be treated as a speculative transaction.