Union Budget 2026-27 - Finance Bill, 2026

B. Ease of Living

Section 29 of the Act provides for deductions related to employee welfare. Clause (e)(i) of sub-section (1) of the said section provides for deduction of any amount of contribution received by the assessee being an employer, from an employee to which the provisions of section 2(49)(o) apply, if such amount is credited by the assessee to the account of the employee in the relevant fund or funds by the due date.

2. For the purposes of said clause, “due date” means the date by which the assessee is required as an employer to credit employee contribution to the account of an employee in the relevant fund under any Act, rule, order or notification issued under it or under any standing order, award, contract of service or otherwise.

3. It is proposed to amend section 29(1)(e) to provide that the due date for the said clause shall be the due date of filing of return of income under section 263(1) of the Act.

4. The amendment will take effect from the 1st day of April, 2026 and will, accordingly, apply to tax year 2026-27 and subsequent tax years.

[Clause 31]

 

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Full Text:

Union Budget 2026-27 - Finance Bill, 2026

Employer deduction for employee contributions will be tied to the return filing due date under section 263(1). The Finance Bill, 2026 amends section 29(1)(e) to provide that the due date for claiming a deduction for employee contributions credited by the employer shall be the due date of filing of return of income under section 263(1); the amendment takes effect from 1 April 2026 and applies to tax year 2026-27 and subsequent years.