Section 80TTA

What is Section 80TTA of Income Tax Act?

Section 80TTA of the Income Tax Act provides a deduction for interest income. The deduction is available with a few limitations and restrictions. In this article, we have covered all about claiming a tax exemption on account of interest earned

Tax Exemption on Interest Income

Where a taxpayer’s gross total income includes any income by way of interest on deposits then such income is tax-free. The taxpayer must be an individual taxpayer, a Hindu undivided family, or a member of a Hindu undivided family.

The income way of interest must be from a deposit with a savings account with a :

• a banking company to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), applies
• a co-operative society engaged in carrying on the business of banking.  a co-operative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank
• a Post Office under Indian Post Office Act, 1898

The assessee can claim tax exemption while computing his/ her total income

The tax exemption is not available on the interest income from time deposits. A time deposit is a deposit that is repayable on the expiry of a fixed period along with a fixed interest rate. Hence the exemption is not allowed in the below cases:

• Interest from fixed deposits
• Interest from recurring deposits
• Any other time deposits

Quantum of deduction under Section 80TTA of Income Tax Act

The maximum deduction allowed u/s 8TTA is Rs 10000 for a financial year.

• In case the total interest is less than Rs 10000 then the actual interest is exempt.
• In case the total interest is more than Rs 10000 then only Rs 10000 is allowed as tax exemption

The assessee must consider his/ her total interest from all the savings bank accounts. 

Eligibility for Claiming Deductions under 80TTA

Allowed Deductions u/s 80TTA

The following taxpayers can claim the deductions under section 80TTA of the Income Tax Act:

• Individual taxpayers or Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
• Indian Residents
• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) owning NRO savings accounts
• An entity with savings accounts at institutions like banks, post offices, or cooperative societies

Deduction u/s 80TTA Disallowed

The following type of taxpayers are not eligible for the deduction:

The interest income is derived from any deposit in a savings account. The account is held by or on behalf of:

1. a firm, or
2. an association of persons, or 
3. a body of individuals

Then no deduction will be allowed to any partner of the firm or any member of the association or any individual of the body. While calculating the total income these taxpayers will not be allowed a deduction against the interest income.

Basically, a firm, AOP or BOI cannot claim the interest deduction. And the partner or member receives his/ her income from these firms, AOP or BOI. Hence, they cannot claim the deduction

Moreover, senior citizens also cannot claim deduction u/s 80TTA. They can claim tax benefit u/s 80TTB.

How to claim Section 80 TTA deduction while filing an income tax return?  

You will have to first add the interest income under the head ‘Income from other sources’ as interest income. Then you will have to claim tax benefit under section 80 Deductions under section 80TTA.

Section 80TTB of Income Tax Act, 1961

Where a taxpayer’s gross total income includes any income by way of interest on deposits then such income is tax-free. The taxpayer must be a resident of India and a senior citizen. A senior citizen is an individual who is of the age of sixty years or more at any time during the relevant previous year.

The income way of interest on a deposit with:

• a banking company to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), applies
• a co-operative society engaged in carrying on the business of banking. a co-operative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank
• a Post Office under Indian Post Office Act, 1898

The assessee can claim tax exemption while computing his/ her total income

The maximum deduction allowed u/s 8TTB is Rs 50000 for a financial year.

• In case the total interest is less than Rs 50000 then the actual interest is exempt.
• In case the total interest is more than Rs 50000 then only Rs 50000 is allowed as tax exemption

Difference between Section 80TTA and 80TTB

Section 80TTA	Section 80TTB
Allowed to individual taxpayers and Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)	Allowed to senior citizens above the age of 60 only
Interest received on deposit with savings account only	Interest earned on:- Deposit with a savings account- Fixed Deposit, Term Deposit or Recurring Deposit
Exemption limit under Section 80TTA is Rs 10,000 per annum	Exemption limit under Section 80TTB is Rs 50,000 per year

explore our article on Section 80P.

Frequently Asked Questions

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