One of the commonest questions we are asked is:
Is it legally possible to not pay any
income tax at all?
Indeed, this is possible in several
situations…
An individual is not required to pay any income tax at all if he can plan his tax affairs as described here.
The golden rule for this purpose is that a
person’s total taxable income should not exceed the exemption limit, i.e. ` 2,00,000 during
the F.Y. 2012-13, relevant to the assessment year 2013-2014.
This may sound common place but it contains
the essence of tax planning.
-
Thus,
if an assessee’s total income is likely to exceed ` 2,00,000 for the
F.Y. 2012-2013, he should plan the tax affairs of his family such that each
male member of the family has a total taxable income up to ` 2,00,000, and thus
become entitled to complete income tax exemption.
-
This
amount, of `
2,00,000
which is completely exempt from income tax in the case of a male individual
assessee is, of course, to be computed after taking into consideration several
deductions that are admissible in computing total income and are mentioned in
various tips in this book at appropriate places.
o
For
example, deduction in full is allowed upto ` 1 lakh under Section 80C for various
investments, such as payments towards life insurance premium, provident fund
contributions, N.S.C., etc. Only after the deduction of these items, the net
resultant income becomes the total taxable income considered for income tax
purposes.
-
Thus,
if the net taxable total income is kept within ` 2,00,000 for the
F.Y. 2012-2013 through tax planning, an individual can enjoy his income
completely tax-free.
-
A
senior citizen is entitled to an initial exemption of ` 2,50,000 for the
A.Y. 2013-2014.
-
The
exemption limit for very senior citizens for financial year 2012-
2013 would be ` 5,00,000 for all those who are of 80 years and above.
2013 would be ` 5,00,000 for all those who are of 80 years and above.
-
As
per the Finance Act 2012 the income-tax slabs for the financial year 2012-2013
relevant to the assessment year 2013-2014 are changed as under:
In
the case of a male/female individual tax payer:
Upto ` 2,00,000 Nil
` 2,00,001 to ` 5,00,000 10 per cent
` 5,00,001 to ` 10,00,000 20 percent
Above ` 10,00,000 30 per cent
In the case of every individual,
being a resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years (60 Years) or more but less than eighty years (80 Years) at
any time during the previous year:
Upto ` 2,50,000 Nil
` 2,50,001 to ` 5,00,000 10 per cent
` 5,00,001 to ` 10,00,000 20 per cent
Above ` 10,00,000 30 per cent
In the case of every senior citizen,
being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years (80 Years) or more at any time during the previous year:
Upto ` 5,00,000 Nil
` 5,00,001 to ` 10,00,000 20 per cent
Above ` 10,00,000 30 per cent
In
all the above three cases there will he no surcharge.
In the case of co-operative societies, the rates of income-tax will continue to be the same as those specified for assessment year 2013- 2014. [ No surcharge will be levied. ]
-
Similarly,
for payments made towards Medi-Claim Policy, a taxpayer is entitled
deduction up to ` 15,000 (` 20,000 for a
Senior Citizen). Besides, additional deduction is available for parents.
Further, in case some donation is paid to a recognised charity trust, then a
further deduction is available under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
-
The
theme of not paying income tax is also helped if a taxpayer were to buy a
residential self-occupied house property with the help of a loan, deduction is
available on the interest on loan up to a maximum extent of ` 1.5 lakh. This one
single aspect is so very important that it would bring a tax saving to the
extent of about `45,000.
-
Thus,
if a family were to spread its income among different family members, and plan
their incomes as well as investments keeping in mind the available deduction,
then they may not pay any income tax at all on substantial amount of income
derived by them because a person can individually enjoy tax-free income up to ` 2,00,000 per
annum. This figure could easily go up to over ` 3 lakh per person
and still no payment of income tax in case they liberally take advantage of
provisions relating to deduction by making investments as per Section 80C.
If a person receives money by way of gift or on inheritance, then too he does not pay any income tax on gift amount received or the assets inherited.
It should be kept in mind, however, that the definition of income was amended by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2004 whereby gifts received from non-relatives are now taxed as income. However, gifts up to ` 50,000 would be exempted. Also, gifts received on the occasion of marriage from non-relatives would not be taxed as income.
As per the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2009 not
only cash gifts but even gifts in kind like property, jewellery, shares, etc.
in excess of `
50,000
received during the year from non-relatives are to be taxed as income.