Section 80CCD(1B) of the Income Tax Act deals with the deductions provided to individuals contributing to the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
What is Section 80CCD(1B) or NPS?
Through the Union Budget, 2015 a new section namely Section 80CCD(1B) was inserted in Income Tax Act. This Section offers an additional deduction of Rs. 50,000 over and above the deduction of Rs. 1,50,000 under Section 80C.
Having stated that, NPS or National Pension Scheme is a pension scheme which is available to both government employees and private citizens. In other words, the contributions to NPS can be made by any major individual in India. Further, the investment in NPS can be done by the individual till he is working and then, on retirement, the corpus can be availed in form of annuities.
Also Read: Best Ways to save tax other than Section 80C
Tax Deductions available under Section 80CCD (1B)
The benefits of tax deductions under Section 80CCD(1B) is in addition to deduction of Rs. 1.5 lacs under Section 80C. Through Section 80CCD(1B), an additional deduction of Rs. 50,000 can be availed during each financial year. They can split their NPS contribution and claim partly in 80C and remaining in 80CCD(1B), making the most of Rs. 2 lakhs of tax deduction.
Here’s a look at NPS tax benefits:
| Particulars | Section  | Maximum Deduction | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self Contribution to NPSÂ | 80CCD (1B)Â | Rs. 50,000Â | In addition to Section 80C and Section 80CCD(2)Â |
How to claim Section 80CCD(1B)?
The deduction of Section 80CCD(1B) can be claimed by opening and investing NPS Tier-I Account. Having stated this, the amount contributed by the individual can be claimed as deduction under Section 80CCD(1B) at the time of filing of Income Tax Return.
Eligibility to invest in National Pension Scheme
Investment in National Pension Scheme can be done by Resident Individuals as well as NRI. The age of the investor should be between 18 – 60 years.
Types of NPS Account to claim deduction under Section 80CCD(1B)
To claim deduction under Section 80CCD(1B), there are two types of accounts under NPS:
| Aspect | Tier-I Account | Tier-II Account |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Retirement corpus and pension after retirement | Savings and investment |
| Mandatory/Optional | Mandatory | Optional |
| Tax Benefits | Eligible for tax deductions under Section 80CCD(1) and additional deduction under Section 80CCD(1B) | No additional tax benefits |
| Contribution Limits | Subject to the minimum and maximum limits set by the NPS | No specific limits |
| Withdrawal Restrictions | Partial withdrawals allowed under specific circumstances and subject to conditions | No restrictions, easy withdrawals possible |
| Lock-in Period | Lock-in until the age of 60, with limited exceptions for premature withdrawal | No lock-in period |
Also Read: Section 80D: Deductions On Medical Expenditure & Health Insurance
How to invest in National Pension Scheme Section 80CCD(1B)?
National Pension Scheme Section 80CCD(1B) investment can be through a financial institution, which acts as Point of Presence (POP). In India, almost all the financial institutions are authorised to act as POP. These institutions have specialised branches to collect NPS deposits from the proposed investors.
Documents required for opening account for National Pension Scheme Section 80CCD(1B)
The documents required for opening account for National Pension Scheme Section 80CCD(1B) are as follows:
– NPS Registration form,
– Identity proof,
– Age proof, and
– Address proof.
Withdrawal from National Pension Scheme
National Pension Scheme matures when the individual attains 60 years of age. Withdrawals from the National Pension Scheme before this age would be subject to certain terms and conditions. These terms and conditions apply to investments done in Tier I Account. In Tier II Account, withdrawals are allowed without any restrictions.
Withdrawals can be of two types
– Full withdrawal or
– Partial withdrawal.
Also Read: Know About Public Provident FundÂ
Full withdrawal
The individual can close the National Pension Scheme investment before attaining 60 years of age. When he does so, 20% of the accumulated corpus can be availed in lump sum and the remaining 80% is used for paying annuities. 20% of the lump sum withdrawn is allowed as a tax-free income. The annuity payments are, however, taxable in your hands.
Partial withdrawals
Partial withdrawals are allowed after two years have been completed of investing in the National Pension Scheme. Furthermore, up to 25% of the accumulated funds can be withdrawn. Withdrawals are allowed only for meeting specified expenses like marriage expenses, medical emergencies, financing a home, etc.
Up to three partial withdrawals can be done during the investment period of the scheme and between each withdrawal, there should be a gap of 5 years. The amount of partial withdrawal is allowed as a tax-free benefit.
Maturity of the National Pension Scheme
When the individual attains 60 years of age, the scheme matures. On maturity, 60% of the accumulated corpus can be taken in a lump sum. Annuity payments would then be made from the remaining 40% of the corpus. The lump sum benefit would be tax-free in individual’s hands and the annuity payments that he receives would be taxed as per his income tax slab rates.
Important Points related to Section 80CCD(1B)
– Â The returns under the NPS are directly related to the market performance but the return from this scheme is highest in the market. This is so because the National Pension Scheme is backed by the government.
– The additional deduction of Rs. 50,000 is available only for contributions made to NPS Tier-I Account.
– No deduction can be claimed under Section CCD(1B) for making contributions in NPS Tier-II Account.
– The deductions under Section 80CCD(1B) are available to salaried individuals as wells as self employed individuals.
– In case the assessee dies, and the nominee decides to close the NPS Account, then the amount received by the nominee is free from tax.
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Employee contribution to NPS, compulsory deducted by central or state government will be considered as deduction under section 80CCD(1) or 80CCD(1B).
Hello sir, under NPS, the compulsory deduction by Central or State Government can be claimed as deduction under Section 80CCD(1B).
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