Guide to House Rent Allowance (HRA) Under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961

House Rent Allowance (HRA) is a component of a salaried individual's income provided by employers to cover housing expenses. Under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, HRA can be partially or fully exempt from taxes, subject to certain conditions.

Eligibility for HRA Exemption:

To qualify for HRA exemption under Section 10(13A), the following criteria must be met: 

• Salaried Individual: The exemption is available only to salaried individuals receiving HRA as part of their salary package. 
• Rented Accommodation: The individual must reside in rented accommodation and pay rent for it. 
• Proof of Rent Payment: Valid rent receipts or a rental agreement should be maintained as evidence of rent payment. 

Calculation of HRA Exemption: 

The amount of HRA exemption is the minimum of the following three amounts: 

• Actual HRA Received: The HRA amount provided by the employer. 

• 50% of Salary (for Metro Cities) or 40% of Salary (for Non-Metro Cities): 

  • For individuals residing in metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai), 50% of salary 
  • For those in non-metro cities, 40% of salary 

• Actual Rent Paid minus 10% of Salary: The excess of rent paid over 10% of salary. 

Note: For HRA calculation purposes, 'salary' includes basic salary, dearness allowance (if it forms part of retirement benefits), and commission as a fixed percentage of turnover achieved by the employee. 

Example Calculation:

Assume the following details for an individual residing in a non-metro city: 

• Basic Salary: Rs.30,000 per month 
• Dearness Allowance (DA): Rs.5,000 per month 
• HRA Received: Rs.12,000 per month 
• Rent Paid: Rs.15,000 per month 

Calculations: 

• Actual HRA Received: Rs.12,000 per month 
• 40% of Salary: 
  • Monthly Salary = Basic Salary + DA = Rs.30,000 + Rs.5,000 = Rs.35,000 
  • 40% of Monthly Salary = 0.40 × Rs.35,000 = Rs.14,000 
• Actual Rent Paid minus 10% of Salary: 
  • 10% of Monthly Salary = 0.10 × Rs.35,000 = Rs.3,500 
  • Excess of Rent Paid over 10% of Salary = Rs.15,000 – Rs.3,500 = Rs.11,500 

The minimum of the above three amounts is Rs.11,500. Therefore, the monthly HRA exemption is Rs.11,500. 

Important Considerations:

• Documentation: Maintain rent receipts and rental agreements as proof of rent payment. If the annual rent exceeds Rs.1 Lakh, the landlord's PAN may be required. 
• Multiple Residences: If residing in different cities during the year or if there are changes in salary, rent, or HRA, calculate the exemption separately for each period. 
• Own Property: Individuals owning a house can still claim HRA exemption if they reside in rented accommodation elsewhere. 
• Section 80GG: Self-employed individuals or those not receiving HRA can claim a deduction for rent paid under Section 80GG, subject to specific conditions.