Individual who is earning is required to pay income tax if his income falls under the taxable income slab. Certain exemptions are also provided by the government on the tax. For senior citizens and very senior citizens Income Tax Department offers certain income tax benefits and exemptions.

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Here are some of the important details regarding income tax for senior citizens:

 

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At what age a person will qualify as a senior citizen and very senior citizen under the Income-tax Law?

Before understanding the age criteria, it is very important to know that the tax benefits offered under the Income-tax Law to a senior citizen/very senior citizen are available only to resident senior citizen and resident very senior citizens.

Criteria for senior citizen: Must be of the age of 60 years or above but less than 80 year at any time during the respective year.

Criteria for very senior citizen: Must be of the age of 80 years or above at any time during the respective year.

What are the benefits available to a senior citizen and very senior citizen in respect of tax rates?

​​​Senior citizens and a very senior citizen are granted a higher exemption limit as compared to normal tax payers. Exemption limit is the quantum of income up to which a person is not liable to pay tax.

Senior citizen: A senior citizen is granted a higher exemption limit compared to non-senior citizens. The exemption limit for the financial year 2020-21 available to a resident senior citizen is Rs 3,00,000. The exemption limit for non-senior citizen is Rs 2,50,000. Thus, it can be observed that an additional benefit of Rs 50,000 in the form of higher exemption limit is available to a resident senior citizen as compared to normal tax payers.

Very senior citizen: A very senior citizen is granted a higher exemption limit compared to others. The exemption limit for the financial year 2020-21 available to a resident very senior citizen is Rs 5,00,000. The exemption limit for non-senior citizen is Rs 2,50,000. Thus, it can be observed that an additional benefit of Rs 2,50,000 in the form of higher exemption limit is available to a resident very senior citizen as compared to normal tax payers.

Is a very senior citizen granted exemption from e-filing of income tax return?

From Assessment year 2019-20 onwards, a very senior citizen filing his return of income in Form ITR 1/4 can file his return of income in paper mode, i.e., for him e filing of ITR 1/4 (as the case may be) is not mandatory. However, he may go for e-filing if he wishes.

Is a Resident senior citizen granted exemption from payment of advance tax?

​​​​​​​​As per section 208, every person whose estimated tax liability for the year is Rs 10,000 or more, shall pay his tax in advance, in the form of "advance tax". However, section 207 gives relief from payment of advance tax to a resident senior citizen.

As per section 207​ a resident senior citizen (i.e., an individual of the age of 60 years or above during the relevant financial year) not having any income from business or profession, is not liable to pay advance tax.

What are the benefits available in respect of interest on deposits in case of senior citizens?

​​​​​Section 80TTB ​of the Income Tax law gives provisions relating to tax benefits available on account of interest income from deposits with banks or post office or co-operative banks of an amount up to Rs. 50,000 earned by the senior citizen (i.e., an individual of the age of 60 years or above). Interest earned on saving deposits and fixed deposit, both shall be eligible for deduction under this provision.

Section 194A of the Income Tax law gives corresponding provisions that no tax shall be deducted at source from payment of interest by bank or ppost-office or co-operative bank to a senior citizen up to Rs. 50,000. Therefor limit is to be computed for every bank individually.

Is a senior citizen exempts from filing Income-tax return (ITR)?

Income-tax Act, 1961 provides no exemption to senior citizen or very senior citizen from filing of return of income. However, to provide relief to the senior citizens (whose age is 75 years or more) and to reduce the compliance burden on them, the Finance Act, 2021, has inserted a new section 194P.

This provision requires a banking company to deduct tax under this provision if deductee is maintaining an account with it in which he is receiving his pension income. The tax is required to be deducted under this new provision if the recipient is a resident individual whose age is 75 years or more at any time during the year and the following conditions are fulfilled:

a) Total Income of the deductee consists only income in the nature of pension and interest received or receivable from any account maintained with deductor (such bank); and

b) Deductee has furnished a declaration to deductor containing prescribed particulars.

If the above conditions are satisfied, the deductor shall compute the income of deductee after giving effect to the deduction allowable under Chapter VI-A and rebate under section 87A. Tax on such income is required to be deducted on the basis of rates in force.

If tax is deducted from the income of such senior-citizen, he shall not be liable to furnish the return of income for the previous year in which tax has been deducted.