A Closer Look at Four Types of Loans That Offer Incredible Tax Benefits

The very nature of credit makes many people uncomfortable at the thought of availing a loan. Being long-term financial instruments, they lock up a better part of your monetary resources with constant worries over repayments until loan tenor completion. At the same time, loans can potentially fulfil every scheduled or urgent funding need. When planned judiciously, they help tide over financial crises effectively without depleting your savings pool. Furthermore, there are several kinds of loans that come with sizeable tax concessions resulting in lower credit liabilities.  

Ensure Significant Tax Benefits with These Loans

The Indian Income Tax Act (ITA), 1961 extends tax rebates to loan borrowers subject to specific conditions. Here are the four types of instruments that enable you to save taxes:  

1. Home Loan Tax Benefits

Both salaried and self-employed individuals can avail of home loan and enjoy substantial tax savings on the principal and interest variables. As per ITA amendment guidelines, new house loans sanctioned after April 2022 cannot be considered for tax deductions under Section 80 EEA since the benefit duration has already elapsed. 

The table below summarises the different home loan tax benefits that borrowers are entitled to:

Income Tax Rebates on Home Loans Under Section 80 C

Section 80 C permits concessions up to Rs.1.5 lakh on the principal component of a home loan. However, it is applicable only at the end of property construction and not during the actual construction stage. This section also tenders exemptions on stamp duty and registration fees, which may be claimed just once, in the year they were incurred. In case of a joint home loan, both applicants can benefit immensely from house loan principal deductions individually up to Rs.1.5 lakh with combined savings up to Rs.3 lakh.  

Tax Savings on Home Loans Under Section 24

For a self-occupied property, you can enjoy tax savings to the tune of Rs.2 lakh under Section 24 on home loan interest paid. On the other hand, if the house is rented out, there is no ceiling on the benefits that could be claimed on the interest sum. These exemptions may be availed only if the construction of the property is completed within five years, otherwise, the rebate dips to Rs.30,000. Additionally, Section 24 (b) grants tax subsidies up to Rs.30,000 annually for home loans taken to renovate or repair an existing residential property. Individuals servicing joint home loans can receive maximum tax deductions of Rs. 2 lakh each; altogether amounting to Rs. 4 lakh, maximising tax savings.  

Home Loan Tax Benefits Under Section 80 EE

Section 80 EE is useful for first-time home buyers who can obtain subsidies on the pre-condition that the property’s value should be less than Rs.50 lakh and the loan amount does not exceed Rs.35 lakh. This provision takes into consideration home loans sanctioned between 1st April 2016 and 31st March 2017. Thus, one can claim housing loan repayment deductions till the end of their loan tenor beginning from FY 2016-17.  

Tax Relief Under Section 80 EEA

Section 80 EEA stipulates home loan tax benefits on the interest paid for a house loan provided it has been utilised for acquiring a residential property under Rs.45 lakh. But it does not proffer rebates for house construction. Eligible taxpayers can claim deductions up to Rs.1.5 lakh every fiscal year, in addition to the exemptions under Section 24, fetching tax savings up to Rs.3.5 lakh on their housing loan interest. However, if one has already availed concessions under Section 80 EE, they cannot claim any benefits under this section.  

Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS)

This central sector scheme tenders first-time homeowners considerable home loan tax benefits up to Rs.2.67 Lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Eligible PMAY beneficiaries in the EWS, LIG or MIG categories are entitled to deductions on the housing loan interest for the construction or purchase of a house.  

2. Education Loan – Tax Deductions Under Section 80 E and 80 C

An education loan lets you comfortably cover the cost of tuition, books, accommodation, food, travel, study materials, living expenses and other charges associated with education. This particular loan facility grants tax relief as per Section 80 E of the ITA. Following are the main highlights of this subvention: 

• Borrowers can avail deductions on the interest portion of the EMIs and not the principal amount when securing education loans for either self, spouse or children.  
• The loan must be obtained from an authorised financial institution for pursuing higher studies in India or abroad upon completion of senior secondary school. 
• You may enjoy tax relief for the entire loan tenor or up to 8 years, whichever is earlier. There is no defined interest limit to claim the rebates. 
• This concession is over and above the tax deductions of Rs.1.5 lakh that a person can avail under Section 80 C for the tuition fees paid. 
• Lenders provide a moratorium period of 1 year before commencing loan repayment.

Also Read: 10 Useful Income Tax Deductions

3. Personal Loans – Exemptions Based on Loan Usage

Personal loan borrowers may qualify for tax concessions only under certain circumstances such as: 

• When a personal loan is obtained for business purposes, the interest amount can be claimed as business expenses. This reduces your taxable income and the net taxable profits of your business.  
• If the borrowed money has been utilised for the purchase or construction of a house, one could obtain tax relief on the loan interest under Section 24. There is no restriction on the amount that may be claimed if the house is rented out. However, the borrower should be the owner of the house to secure these benefits.  
• Section 24 (b) allows tax deductions on the interest outgo if the loan amount is used to make a down payment on a home or for renovations. 
• The interest paid on the loan raises the acquisition cost if the funds are directed towards commercial ventures or asset purchases like shares, jewellery or non-residential property, thereby lowering the capital gains tax.  

Additional Read: How to Avail Maximum Home Loan Tax Benefit in India in 2023? 

4. Car Loans – Tax Deductions Under Sections 43 B and 32

Self-employed professionals and businesspersons can save up on their car loan interest under Section 43 B as deductible expenditures, which should be maintained in the financial records of their business/profession. Hence, retain the car loan interest certificate issued by your lender. For example, if your earnings from a business stand at Rs.25 lakh and you pay Rs.1.2 lakh as car loan interest in a single fiscal year, you may deduct this sum from your income. Remember, you can only deduct the interest component and not the principal portion of the EMIs. 

Moreover, Section 32 provides depreciation benefits that could decrease the taxable profits even further. So, when you buy a vehicle and utilise it for business with a run time of over 182 days, you are entitled to concessions up to 15% of the purchase price as depreciation. However, if the car is used for less than 182 days, you may deduct just 7.5% of its cost. Nonetheless, granting tax benefits is the prerogative of the Income Tax Assessing Officer (AO), who might refuse the exemptions if it is established that the vehicle wasn’t used for business purposes. 

Also Read: Tax Savings Under Sections 80C, 80D, and 80G 

Summing Up

Along with assured convenience and consistent cash flow, the four credit facilities mentioned here offer ample tax rebates. Therefore, when you service a loan, remember to claim the applicable deductions while filing your taxes. Also, consider other tax components like TDS on unsecured loans and advance taxes when you compute taxes payable for the current financial year. All these calculations can be easily carried out online through an Income Tax Calculator simplifying your tax planning greatly. 

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