80C – How To get maximum benefit of this deduction.

How would you reach Rs 1,50,000 under Section 80C with no investments? Let’s examine that in detail here.

Lately not a day passes without someone mentioning Section 80C and Rs.1,50,000, does it? You sit down with coworkers for lunch and someone tells you that they just invested money in an ELSS in a last-minute attempt to save taxes. You get calls at least once a week from mutual fund agents telling you to make the most of the increased limit.

But before you get convinced that you must make investments to take advantage of the extended limit under Sec 80C, just pause.

We’ll show you how to reach the Rs.1,50,000 limit without making any investments. Section 80C not only encourages investments in savings schemes but also offers tax relief on some of your expenses.

The following investment instruments get tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961

NSC.PPF.SCSS.Life Insurance.ELSS Mutual Funds.Pension Fund.5 years Bank Fixed Deposits.5 years Post Office Deposits.
How to reach the Rs.1,50,000 limit without investments :-

Step 1: Check your PF balance. Your provident fund contribution accumulated over the current financial year itself might add up to a sizeable amount. This is covered under the Rs.1,50,000 limit.

Step 2: Did you buy a house? Expenses related to stamp duty and registration charges can be deducted under Section 80C.

Step 3: Are you paying off a home loan? Check your home loan interest certificate for EMI payment details. Your principal repayment for this year can be claimed as a deduction.

Step 4: Do you have children who go to school or college? Get their tuition fee receipts and add it. (This also includes playschool, preschool)

Step 5: Are you making life insurance premium payments? Claim the premium payments too. The only condition is the premium must be less than 10% of the sum assured.

Step 6: Add it all up and reduce it from Rs.1.5 lakh, i.e.

Rs.1,50,000 – (Step 1 + Step 2 + Step 3 + Step 4 + Step 5) = Amount remaining under Section 80C

Step 7: You might find yourself with very little of the overall limit left, say Rs.15,000.

Step 8: You can think about investing your money in products that suit your risk profile