Tax Advantages of National Pension Scheme (NPS): Tax Exemptions under Section 80CCD
In the ever-evolving world of personal finance, understanding tax liabilities and saving opportunities is crucial. One such investment option that offers significant tax benefits is the National Pension System (NPS). Here's a breakdown of how NPS can help you save taxes, whether you're self-employed or salaried.
Firstly, let's clarify that the tax liability for self-employed individuals and salaried individuals, each with varying salaries, will be calculated similarly if they only avail of NPS deductions. The taxable salary for an individual with a salary of Rs 4 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, or Rs 15 lakh is Rs 4,10,000, Rs 9,50,000, and Rs 14,50,000 respectively.
For salaried individuals, there are specific sections under the Income Tax Act, 1961, that provide tax benefits. Under Section 80CCD (1), Tier I investments are eligible for deductions of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh. Additionally, government employees can claim 14% of their salary under Section 80CCD (2) if they are government employees, and 10% if they are in the private sector. An additional deduction of up to Rs. 50,000 can be claimed for self-contribution under Section 80CCD (1B).
The total deductions for an individual with a salary of Rs 4 lakh is Rs 1,30,000, for a salary of Rs 10 lakh is Rs 2,50,000, and for a salary of Rs 15 lakh is Rs 3,50,000. This means that the tax liability for an individual with a salary of Rs 4 lakh is Rs 16,000, for a salary of Rs 10 lakh is Rs 1,15,000, and for a salary of Rs 15 lakh is Rs 2,60,000. However, the tax liability is relatively lower in every tax slab if your employer also contributes to NPS.
For self-employed individuals, the tax savings are equally attractive. The tax liability for a self-employed individual with a salary of Rs 4 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, or Rs 15 lakh, and falls in different tax slab rates, will be calculated similarly.
It's important to note that the NPS Tier II account holders do not qualify for any tax benefits directly. However, contributions to the NPS Tier I account are advisable, as they offer tax deductions under Section 80CCD(1), Section 80CCD(1B), and Section 80CCD(2).
Once an investor turns 60, up to 60% of the corpus can be withdrawn in a lump sum, which is tax-free. The remaining 40% has to be used to purchase annuities, and this amount is also exempt for tax purposes under Section 80CCD(5). However, annuity income earned through the annuity plan is taxable as per your income tax slab.
After 3 years of investment, an investor can withdraw up to 25% of the corpus from the NPS Tier I account for specific purposes such as medical expenses, children's higher education, marriage, etc. This withdrawal is exempt from tax.
In conclusion, NPS offers a host of tax benefits for both self-employed and salaried individuals, making it an attractive investment option for those looking to save on taxes. To reap these benefits, opening an NPS Tier I account is mandatory for all NPS investors.
- Utilizing an interest calculator, one can determine the potential returns on investments in the National Pension System (NPS), a finance tool that offers significant savings on taxes.
- For those interested in investing prudently for retirement planning, a sip calculator can help estimate the monthly contributions required to reach a specific retirement goal, with NPS being an options for tax savings under Section 80CCD (1) and Section 80CCD (1B).
- After reaching the age of 60, investors can withdraw a lumpsum calculator-determined amount from their NPS Tier I account in a lump sum, which is tax-free, while the remaining amount must be used to purchase annuities that are also tax-exempt under Section 80CCD(5).
- Personal-finance management can be made simpler with the help of various finance-related calculators like a lumpsum calculator, tax calculator, and sip calculator, which can provide insights on tax-saving, investment, and retirement planning using options like NPS.