Raising the limit of deduction under section 80C

     Under the existing provisions of section 80C of the Act, an individual or a Hindu undivided family, is allowed a deduction from income of an amount not exceeding one lakh rupees with respect to sums paid or deposited in the previous year, in certain specified instruments. The investments eligible for deduction, specified under sub-section (2) of section 80C, include life insurance premia, contributions to provident fund, schemes for deferred annuities etc. The assessee is free to invest in any one or more of the eligible instruments within the overall ceiling of ₹ 1 lakh.

     The limit of above investments eligible for deduction under section 80C was fixed vide Finance Act, 2005. In order to encourage household savings, it is proposed to raise the limit of deduction allowed under section 80C from the existing ₹ 1 lakh to ₹ 1.5 lakh. In view of the same, consequential amendments are proposed in sections 80CCE and 80CCD of the Act.

     These amendments will take effect from 1st April, 2015 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2015-16 and subsequent assessment years.

[Clauses 27, 28 & 29]

Increase in deduction limit under section 80C expands allowable investments ceiling for individuals and HUFs. The Finance (No. 2) Bill, 2014 raises the deduction limit under section 80C from Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 for individuals and Hindu undivided families in respect of specified instruments (life insurance premia, provident fund contributions, deferred annuity schemes, etc.), allows allocation across eligible instruments within the overall ceiling, and provides consequential amendments to related provisions, with effect from 1 April 2015 for the assessment year 2015 16 and thereafter.