Some Help About Section 80C of IT ACT

What to Check before investing for Section 80C
or
How to Make Best Use of Section 80C

Most of the Income Tax payee try to save tax by saving under Section
80C of the Income Tax Act. However, it is important to know the
Section in toto so that one can make best use of the options available
for exemption under income tax Act. One important point to note here
is that one can not only save tax by undertaking the specified
investments, but some expenditure which you normally incur can also
give you the tax exemptions. Here are some tips for you : -

(1) Always Check YOUR FORCED SAVINGS / EXPENDITURE ELIGIBLE FOR
DEDUCTION :

(A) Home Loan :

There is a provision that the payment made for repayment of the
principal amount (not interest payment) of the Home Loan is eligible
for a deduction under Section 80C if you have taken a home loan and you
fulfill certain conditions.

(B) Payment towards Education Fee of the children :

Most of the young couples and middle aged income tax payee incur quite
high payments towards the education fees of their children. The
expenditure incurred on education fees is also eligible for a
deduction under Income Tax Act, Thus, if you are incurring
expnediture towards educatin fee of your children, please check whether
these are eligible for deduction under the IT Act.

(C) Payment towards Provident Fund :

Salaried income tax payee are usually have a forced saving which are
eligible for deduction under section 80C. A fixed percentage of
basic salary (ranges from 8.33% 12%) is deducted by your employer
towards the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Some employers allow
higher deduction towards EPF. Thus, you should first of all check the
total amount that is expected to be deducted towards EPF during the
financial year. The total amount deducted from your salary will be
eligible for investments under Section 80C.

(D) Interest on National Saving Certificates :

In case you have purchased NSCs during some earlier years, then the
accrued interest as per the tables released by authorities is eligible
for deductions under Section 80C.



(2) Always Check the Lock-In Period of the Investments

Tax saving investments have a minimum lock-in period i.e. the period
during which withdrawals are usually not allowed. If the same are
withdrawn, these will be taxable in the year of withdrawal. For
example, National Savings Certificates (NSC) have a lock-in period of
six years, Public Provident Fund (PPF) has a lock-in of 15 years,
Equity Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS) have a lock-in period of three
years. Insurance policies have even greater period of lock in.



(3) Always Check Whether the investment you intend to make will meet
your goals :

You are saving every year and while saving you normally have some goal
in mind, e.g. to meet the expenditure on education of children,
purchase of a vehicle or house or marriage of your children.
Therefore, you should always look at the investments from the angle
whether it will meet your specific requirements on maturity. You should
also try to diversify your savings in different instruments.

For instance, if you have already invested a fair portion of your money
in equity (shares and mutual funds that invest in shares), avoid an
ELSS. Opting for an ELSS means a huge portion of your investments will
be in equity and that may not be what you want.