Taxability of Arrear of Salary – Relief u/s 89
August 16, 2016 - Income Tax e-Filing, Income Tax Help, Income Tax Learning, Income Tax Saving
(Last Updated On: March 14, 2018)
Usually salary income is received as it becomes due but many a times an employee may receive any component of his salary in the form of arrear or advance salary in the course of employment. In that case relief of tax u/s 89 is allowed under Income Tax Act, 1961 as then the assessee might have to pay higher taxes because the arrear /advance salary is taxed in the year of receipt of the same and not in the year in which it is actually due. The difference in the tax liability in due year and in the receipt year might be due to changes in the slab rates. For this reason, the provision of relief u/s 89 comes in.
The Relief is available under the following cases:
- Salary received in arrears or in advance;
- Salary for more than 12 months in one financial year;
- Family Pension being paid in arrears;
- Gratuity;
- Compensation on termination of employment; and
- Commuted Pension
One important thing to note is that relief can only be claimed if tax paid is actually higher due to receipt of such arrears. If there is no extra tax liability, relief is not allowed. In case of VRS Compensation being received by the employee no relief shall be granted under Section 89 if one has claimed exemption u/s 10(10C) for Voluntary Retirement Scheme. An assessee can claim either exemption under section 10(10C) or relief u/s 89 but not both together.
To calculate the relief, the following steps should be taken:
Step 1: Firstly, calculate the tax due in the current year by including the arrears in your total income.
Step 4: Now Calculate your tax due in the year for which the arrears have been received by including the arrears in your total income.
Step 5: Then Calculate your tax due in the year for which the arrears have been received by excluding the arrears from your total income.
Step 6 : After that compute the difference of the two figures of Step 4 & 5 and let’s call the difference as ‘Y’.
Step 7: Lastly subtract X (Step 3) from Y (Step 6) and you will get the relief amount.
This can be better understood with the help of the example below:
Suraj earned Rs. 15,00,000 p.a. in FY 2016-17 and also received an arrear of Rs. 3,00,000 p.a. for FY 2014-15. His total salary in FY 2014-15 was Rs. 6,00,000 p.a.
The table below explains the calculation of relief:
Particulars | Tax liability for F.Y. 2016-17 | Tax Liability for F.Y. 2014-15 | ||
Salary inclusive of arrears | Salary without arrears | Salary inclusive of arrears | Salary without arrears | |
Step -1 | Step -2 | Step -4 | Step -5 | |
Salary | 18,00,000 | 15,00,000 | 9,00,000 | 6,00,000 |
Income Tax | 3,65,000 | 2,75,000 | 1,05,000 | 45,000 |
Cess | 10,950 | 8,250 | 3,150 | 1,350 |
Total Tax Liability | 3,75,950 | 2,83,250 | 1,08,150 | 46,350 |
Step- 3 | 92,700 | – | ||
Step- 6 Tax at (4) – Tax at (5) | ( Column Merge required)–– | ( Column Merge required)– | 61,800– | |
Relief u/s 89 : Step 3 – Step 6 | 30,900 | |||
Tax payable :- | 3,45,050 | |||
Relief under section 89 = X-Y = 92700-61800=30900.
Now, after the calculation of relief let’s talk about the mandatory requirement in these cases:
To claim relief u/s 89, you must submit Form 10E online on the Income Tax Website before filing the Return of Income. Remember, your salary slips serve as proof of receipt of arrears therefore should be kept safely.
Now, let’s understand the process to file Form 10E:
The steps to file Form 10E online –
- Login to https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/ with your User ID, password and date of birth.
- Now click on tab named ‘e-File’ and select ’Income Tax Forms’.
- The screen shall appear as below. From the 1st drop down select Form 10E.
- Now select the Assessment Year for which Form 10E is to be filed and fill the submission mode as “Prepare and submit online.”
- Now when you will click on continue, the Form 10 E screen shall appear as below. You may read the instructions on how to file Form 10E given in the 1st blue tab and then enter the relevant information by clicking on other blue tabs.
Don’t forget on click on “Save Draft” while filling the form and lastly click on “Preview & submit “and you are done with it.
Conclusion:
When in a financial year an employee receives salary in arrears or advance then in order to save you from any additional burden of tax due to delay in receiving income as per section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 relief for income tax has been provided. However, for claiming this relief he/she must have to submit the form 10E with income tax department.
14 Comments
Ann
Uncommuted pension or any periodical payment of pension is fully taxable as salary. In the above case Rs 9,000 received by you is fully taxable. Rs 10,000 starting the age of 70 years are fully taxable as well.
BRAJEH KUMAR GUPTA
HOW TO CALCULATE 89(1) RELIEF ON VRS AMOUNT
Team Tax2Win (Author)
Dear Mr. Gupta,
In case of VRS Compensation being received by the employee, no relief shall be granted under Section 89 if he has claimed exemption u/s 10(10C) for Voluntary Retirement Scheme. An assessee can claim either exemption under section 10(10C) or relief u/s 89 or not both together. Further, you can connect with us at [email protected] or at +09660996655 for customized opinion and safe tax planning.
Vikal
How does arrears affect advance tax, if arrears are received after september
R.Prasanna
If I am claiming relief under I.T Section 89(1), arrears pertaining to previous 5 years being paid in current year, is it necessary that I should have filed I.T returns for all those 5 Years?
Team Tax2Win (Author)
Dear Mr. Prasanna,
Thanks for your query, it is worth appreciating.
As per Section 89(1), tax relief is provided by recalculating tax for previous years i.e. the year in which arrears are received and the years to which the arrears pertain then your taxes are adjusted assuming that arrears were received in the year in which they were due.
Normally, it is always necessary to file the return if the income exceeds the basic exemption limit. Relief provisions are governed by the section 89(1) along with the Rule 21A and 21AA of the Income Tax Rules. In your case, we need some more data like Form 16 of all the years, amount of arrear etc. Therefore, we request to share your contact details at [email protected] so that our expert CA can check and discuss the issue in detail and can provide the opinion as needed.
PARAS CHHAJED
It is not necessary that the assessee claiming relief u/s 89(1) must have filed his return of income for those years for which he has received arrears of salary for whatever reason say pay revision etc. The assessee needs to file Form 10E online giving full details of previous salary and arrears received and may claim tax relief u/s 89(1).
Team Tax2Win (Author)
Hi Paras,
Thanks for writing to us. We appreciate your query.
Yes, definitely the assessee needs to file Form 10E online to claim tax relief u/s 89(1).However, it must be noted that both activities must be performed to claim the relief u/s 89(1) i.e. filing of Form 10E as well as the filing of return along with relief u/s 89(1) in the year in which assessee receives the arrear amount.
For customized opinion and safe tax planning, you can connect with us at [email protected] or at +09660996655.
PARAS CHHAJED
An assessee received arrears of salary for 5 years. Tax payable before relief u/s 89(1) works out to Rs.11,700 and relief u/s 89(1) works out to Rs. 8,900. thus, effective tax liability for AY 2017-18 comes to Rs.2,800. Whether there will be any liability towards interest u/s 234A, 234B and 234C for AY 2017-18. Kindly enlighten. Thanks
Team Tax2Win (Author)
Hi Paras,
Thanks for writing to us. We appreciate your query.
As per section 234A, 234B and 234C, while calculating the interest liability under these sections various deductions are made for the purpose of calculation of assessed tax (the amount on which interest under these sections is calculated) like Tax deducted at source/Tax collected at source or Advance Tax paid or Relief under section 90, 90A, 91 or the MAT credit. However, the relief under sec 89(1) is not subtracted in the calculation of assessed tax. Therefore, effectively the relief of tax is being provided as per the provision u/s 89(1) but not of the interest amount computed u/s 234A,234B and 234C.
Hence, in your case, the liability towards interest u/s 234A, 234B and 234C would be calculated on the unpaid amount of tax before allowing the relief of sec 89(1) for AY 2017-18.
For customized opinion and safe tax planning you can connect with us at [email protected] or at +09660996655.
Anver P S
The arrears of allowances, like PRIS in DAE, can be claimed for relief under section 89?
Team Tax2Win (Author)
Hi Anver,
Thanks for writing to us. We appreciate your query.
Section 89 of Income Tax Act provides a rebate to salaried individuals for receiving any portion of salary in arrears or in advance or profit in lieu of salary. Therefore, if you receive any allowance of previous years in the form of arrear and which is forming a part of your taxable salary then relief under section 89 can be claimed. However, if the allowance is received in the same year when it becomes due then no relief u/s 89 shall be granted. For customized opinion and safe tax planning, you can connect with us at [email protected] or at 9660996655.
Yog Raj Wadhwa
As per Excel utility sheet the benefit under section 89 is considered for the purpose of Tax as well as while calculating interest under 234b & 234c and accordingly the shortfall was deposited as self assessment tax while filing the return for the AY 2017-18.
But CPC at banglore has raised the demand without considering the relief for the purpose of interest under 234B and 234C .
What is correct ?. The utility or the demand u/s 234B and 234C without considering relief u/s 89. Pl. Advise.
Team Tax2Win (Author)
Hi Yog Raj,
Thanks for writing to us. We appreciate your query.
As per section 234A, 234B and 234C, while calculating the interest liability under these sections, various tax amounts substracted like Tax deducted at source/Tax collected at source or Advance Tax paid or Relief under section 90, 90A, 91 or the MAT credit for the purpose of calculation of assessed tax (the amount on which interest under these sections is calculated). However, the relief under sec 89(1) is not subtracted in the calculation of assessed tax. Therefore, effectively the relief of tax is being provided as per the provision u/s 89(1) but not of the interest amount computed u/s 234A,234B, and 234C. However, please note that this answer is based on the one possible view on the said matter. For customized opinion and safe tax planning, we suggest you to connect with us at [email protected] or at +09660996655.