Submit Income Tax Proof to Employer – How, When and Why?

Submit Income Tax Proof to Employer

It’s time of the year when everyone including your employer is worried about your taxes. Most people would have received mail from their Accounts department about “submission of proofs for investments done to claim income tax exemption”. In case you have not, it might be on its way.

This post helps you understand why salaried class needs to submit these proofs to their employers, how it should be done, what documents to be submitted and if there is a deadline?

Why Employers Ask for Tax Saving Investment Proofs?

Employers are responsible to deduct income tax (TDS – Tax deduction at source) from salary paid to its employees and deposit the same to income tax department. But income tax is complicated and the final tax depends on the tax saving investments a person makes or if the person lives on rent or if he has a house. So to compute your taxes correctly your employer asks for a declaration at the start of financial year (in April). The TDS is deducted based on this declaration.

As we approach the end of financial year, employer wants to make sure you did what you declared as it impacts the tax calculation. So it asks you to submit proofs for income tax saving investment that you made, rent receipts along with any other documents. Once the proof is submitted the employer computes tax based on the actual investments made and TDS is adjusted accordingly.

Also Read: What is the Maximum Income Tax You can Save?

When does Employer ask for Proofs?

There are no guidelines about when any employer should ask for investment proofs. Some companies start asking for the same in December but most of them would ask for it before end of January. This is asked so early on as the enhanced tax deduction can be done from 2-3 months’ salary. Also this awakes the lazy ones and they start their tax planning.

What if you do not Submit the Proofs?

In case you do not submit the proofs, employer would not be able to give you tax benefit on your tax saving investments. This would lead to higher deduction of taxes. You can claim refund of these taxes only during filing of tax returns.

Documents to be Submitted

Indian income tax laws are complicated and have multiple exemptions and investment options. Below is the list of documents that needs to be submitted to your employer to get relevant tax deductions.

House Rent Allowance (HRA) u/s 10(13A)

Following documents need to be submitted to claim tax benefit on HRA:

• Rent receipt for starting and the end month and of intermediate month in case there has been change in rent or rented accommodation. So you need to submit rent receipt for April and Dec/Jan if there is no rent change.
• The rent receipt must have One rupee revenue stamp on it (ideally a revenue stamp is required for receipts if the rent is paid by cash and is over Rs.5,000 but most employers still ask for it).
• No rent receipt is required if the monthly rent paid is below Rs.3,000
• Some employers may also ask for copy of rent agreement.
• If the annual rent paid exceeds Rs 1 lakh you also need to give PAN number of the landlord. In case your landlord does not have PAN card, a declaration needs to be submitted stating so.

Also Read: What can you do if your landlord does not give his PAN number?

Home Loan Interest u/s 24

• Copy of Provisional Interest certification from Bank/Financial Institution stating the amount of principle and interest separately.
• The certificate should also have the loan sanction date
• Copy of Possession Certificate
• Copy of Sale Deed (In case possession letter in not available)
• Copy of Lease deed, in case of let out property
• In case of Joint Home Loan, self-declaration of the ownership proportion needs to be furnished
• Form 12C

Also Read: Can HRA & home loan tax benefit be claimed at the same time?

Medical Insurance Premium u/s 80D

• Copy of Insurance Premium receipt paid
• Copy of receipt for Preventive Health Checkup for self, spouse, dependent children or parents

Interest on Repayment of Education Loan u/s 80E

• Copy of Provisional Interest certification from Bank/Financial Institution showing the interest and principle separately.

Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme (RGESS) u/s 80CCG

• Demat Account Statement
• Self declaration stating RGESS enabled investments

Handicapped dependent u/s 80DD

• Amount paid or deposited under any scheme framed in this behalf by the LIC or UTI or any other insurer and approved by the Board for the maintenance of the handicapped dependent
• Physical disability certificate from a physician, a surgeon, or a psychiatrist, as the case may be, working in a Govt. hospital. The certificate should contain the employee’s name and percentage of Disability clearly.
• Form 10-IA.

Medical Treatment Expenses u/s 80DDB

• Medical Bills / expenditure incurred by way of medical treatment for a specified disease along with a certificate from a hospital in the prescribed form.
• Form 10-I

National Pension Scheme u/s 80CCD(1B)

• Photo copy of deposit receipt or account statement

Section 80C Deductions:

The table below gives the list of documents to be submitted to get tax benefit u/s 80C

Also Read: Best Tax Saving Investments u/s 80C

Previous Employment Details

In case you were employed with another employer in the financial year you need to give following documents:

• Form 12B with copy of Form 16 for F.Y 2015-16/ Latest / Full and Final Tax computation statement submitted by you).
• Copy of Form 16 for F.Y. 2015-16 / Latest / Full and Final Tax computation statement certifying Earnings and Deductions from your previous employer is mandatory.

Also Read: 11 Tax Free Components You Must have in Salary

Useful Tips:

1. Last date of submission of investment proofs differs employer to employer. You will get to know the last date by your employer.
2. In case you have not utilized your deduction limit u/s 80C to 80U, you can do so by March 31, 2016 and can claim the same at the time of filing ITR.
3. It is always advisable to start your tax planning at the beginning of financial year and avoid rushing at the last minute making poor investments.
4. Always keep a copy of the documents you submit to your employer.
5. You need not submit these documents while filing your income tax returns. However I-T department can investigate any tax returns for up to 6 years. So you should always file and maintain these physical records for 7 years.
6. LTA & Medical Reimbursement can be claimed only by submitting relevant proofs to your employer. You cannot claim these tax benefits while filing tax returns.
7. Other than the above you can claim all tax benefits while filing your tax returns, so if there is a dispute with employer for certain investment, you can claim the same while filing tax returns.

This post would help you to keep the relevant documents while making your tax saving investments.