Union Budget 2023-24 + FINANCE Bill, 2023

Rationalization of provisions related to the valuation of residential accommodation provided to employees

As per clause (2) of section 17 of the Act, “perquisite” inter alia includes value of rent-free accommodation or value of any concession in the matters of rent provided to employees by the employer. The employer may be either Central/State Government or other than that, with different methodologies of valuation of perquisites for the two categories of employers.

2. However, the methodology to compute the value of rent-free accommodation is prescribed in Rule 3 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 (the Rules), while the methodology to compute the value of any concession in the matters of rent provided to employees by the employer is prescribed in the Explanations to the clause (2) of section 17.

3. In order to rationalize this provision by prescribing a uniform methodology in the Rules for computing the value of perquisite and to clearly classify the two categories of perquisites with respect to accommodation provided by the employers, it is proposed to amend sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of clause (2) of section 17 of the Act. It is proposed to take the power of prescription of the method for computation of the value of rent-free accommodation provided to the assessee by his employer and the value of any accommodation provided to the assessee by his employer at a concessional rate.

4. Further, it is proposed to amend the Explanation 1 to sub-clause (ii) of clause (2) of section 17 of the Act so as to provide that accommodation shall be deemed to have been provided at a concessional rate if the value of the accommodation computed in the prescribed manner exceeds the rent recoverable from, or payable by, the assessee.

5. Further, it is proposed to delete the Explanation 2, Explanation 3 and Explanation 4 of sub-clause (ii) of clause (2) of section 17 of the Act to rationalize the section and specify the method of computation for the value the accommodation provided to employee by his employer through proper prescription of the Rules.

6. This amendment is proposed to take effect from the 1st day of April, 2024 and shall accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2024-25 and subsequent assessment years.

[Clause 10]

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Union Budget 2023-24 + FINANCE Bill, 2023