Introduction To Income Tax Benefit

The word "tax benefit" typically refers to any tax legislation that allows you to decrease your tax burden if you meet specific qualifying rules. A tax advantage might take the form of a deduction, exclusion, or credit. The amount of tax you can save also relies on the sort of tax advantage you claim, as each one provides a different type of savings.

Tax benefits come in a variety of shapes and sizes, assisting individuals and businesses in lowering their overall tax payment. These advantages may take the form of tax credits, tax deductions, and tax exemptions or exclusions. These advantages are a larger portion of tax regulation or law enacted by the government at all levels—local, state, and federal. Though tax deductions, credits, and exclusions reduce the amount taxpayers owe to the federal and state governments each year, tax shelters are another type of tax advantage that can assist to minimise taxes through unique investments. These are legal entities that give taxpayers with preferential tax treatment. Municipal bonds and employer-sponsored plans are two common types of tax shelters.

Deductions allow you to save money on taxes.
  • A tax deduction is the most prevalent sort of tax benefit. When you claim a tax deduction, it decreases the amount of your income that is liable to tax. The amount of the deduction you are qualified to claim is the amount of the decrease in your taxable income. Commonly claimed deductions include tuition and fees, medical expenditures, charity contributions, and state income taxes. Another advantage of a deduction is that it decreases income due to the higher tax bands initially.
Exempting income from income tax

Exclusion from tax gives the greatest tax advantage because the income is never shown on your tax return, and if it is, it is usually reported in a different area of your return. Exclusions effectively make certain forms of income exempt from taxation.

The exclusion for overseas earned income is one of the most significant accessible to taxpayers. For example, in 2021, the legislation permits you to exclude up to $108,700 of income earned outside the United States if you spend the majority of the tax year in a foreign nation. Exclusions, unlike deductions, are not subject to restrictions or reductions; you either fulfill or do not meet the standards to exclude the income.

Taking advantage of tax breaks

A tax credit often has more tax-saving potential than a deduction since it reduces the amount of income tax you owe on a dollar-for-dollar basis rather than just decreasing the amount of income subject to tax. Tax credits are available for a wide range of costs that you may spend during the year, from college tuition to the installation of energy-efficient household equipment.

The IRS normally requires you to create a separate credit-specific form to document and compute the amount you are qualified for when claiming any tax credit, regardless of the amount you are claiming. In contrast, the majority of eligible tax deductions do not need the completion of additional paperwork.

Reducing income tax with capital losses

Money loss is never a pleasant experience. However, one perk of a loss is that it may offer you with a tax break. During the year, many taxpayers sell their stocks for less than what they purchased for them. This capital loss can be used to offset any other capital gains you have during the year.

Tax-loss harvesting begins with the sale of a stock or an equity fund whose price has been consistently declining. You believe that the security has lost much of its value and that the odds of a recovery are slim. Once the loss is realised, it is adjusted against capital gains achieved by your portfolio throughout the time.

Income tax for assessment year 2022-23 (financial year 2012-22)

Income Slabs Tax Rates
Individual & HUF below age of 60 years Individual 60 years of age and more but less than 80 years at any time during the previous year individual 80 years of age and more at any time during the previous year -
income up to Rs. 2,50000 income up to Rs. 3,00000 income up to Rs 5,00000 Nil
Rs.2,50,001 to Rs 5,00,000 Rs. 3,00,001 to Rs 5,00,000 - 5%
Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000 Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000 Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000 20%
Above Rs 10,00,000 Above Rs 10,00,000 Above Rs 10,00,000 30%

INCOME-TAX RATES FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2022-23 (FINANCIAL YEAR 2021-22) UNDER ALTERNATIVE TAX REGIME (SECTION 115BAC) WITHOUT CERTAIN DEDUCTIONS/EXEMPTIONS

Income Slabs Tax Rates Under Alternative regime
Individual & HUF for all age group -
Income up to Rs 2,50,000 Nil
Rs. 2,50,001 to Rs 5,00,000 5%
Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 7,50,000 - 10%
Rs 7,50,001 to Rs 10,00,000 15%
Rs 10,00,001 to Rs 12,50,000 20%
Rs 12,50,001 to Rs 15,00,000 25%
Above Rs 15,00,000 30%

Surcharge on income tax: The amount of income tax computed in line with the preceding rules will be enhanced by a surcharge of

  • 10% if total income exceeds Rs. 50 lakh but does not exceed Rs. 1 Crore.
  • 15% of total revenue that exceeds Rs. 1 crore but does not exceed Rs. 2 crore.
  • 25% of total revenue that exceeds Rs. 2 crore but does not exceed Rs. 5 crore.
  • 37% of total revenue that exceeds Rs. 5 crore.

Health and Education Cess: Health and Education Cess is levied at the rate of 4% on the amount of income-tax plus surcharge.

Rebate of Income-Tax (Section 87A): A resident individual whose total taxable income does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000 is entitled to a reduction from the amount of income-tax on his total income with which he is chargeable for any assessment year equivalent to 100% of income-tax. or Rs. 12,500, whichever is less.