INCOME-TAX AND TAX BENEFITS FROM LIFE INSURANCE

A] INCOME-TAX RATES FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2011-2012 (FINANCIAL YEAR 2010-2011)

Education Cess : An additional surcharge called as ‘Education Cess’ is levied at the rate of 2% on the amount of Income tax and   surcharge (if any) in all cases shall be levied.
Secondary and Higher : An additional surcharge, called the “Secondary and Higher Education Cess on income- at the rate of 1% of income-tax and surcharge (not including the “Education Cess on Income-tax”) in all cases shall be levied.

B] SOME IMPORTANT INCOME TAX BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER VARIOUS PLANS OF LIFE INSURANCE ARE HIGHLIGHTED BELOW:

1) Deduction allowable from Income for payment of Life Insurance Premium (Sec. 80C).

(a) Life Insurance premia paid in order to effect or to keep in force an insurance on the life of the assessee or on the life of the spouse or any child of assessee & in the case of HUF, premium paid on the life of any member thereof, deduction allowed upto 20% of capital sum assured during any financial year.

(b) Contribution to deferred annuity Plans in order to effect or to keep in force a contract for deferred annuity, on his own life or the life of his spouse or any child of such individual, provided such contract does not contain a provision to exercise an option by the insured to receive a cash payment in lieu of the payment of annuity is eligible for deduction.

(c) Contribution to Pension/Annuity Plans – New Jeevan Dhara-I & Jeevan Akshaya – VI

2) Jeevan Nidhi Plan & New Jeevan Suraksha – I Plan (U/s. 80CCC)

A deduction to an individual for any amount paid or deposited by him from his taxable income in the above annuity plans for receiving pension (from the fund set up by the Corporation under the Pension Scheme) is allowed.

NOTE: The premium can be paid upto Rs.1,00,000/- to avail deduction u/s.80C, 80CCC & 80CCD (80CCD- Deduction in respect of contribution to pension scheme of Central Government.).  However, there is no sectoral cap i.e. the limit of Rs.1,00,000/- can be exhausted by paying premium under any of the said sections.

3)  Investment under long-term infrastructure bonds notified by the Central Government. (Sec. 80CCF)

A deduction up to Rs. 20000/- is available to individuals and HUF for amount paid or deposited as subscription to long-term infrastructure bonds notified by the Central Government. This is in addition to Rs. ! lakh deduction available under section 80C.

3) Deduction under section 80D

1. Deduction allowable upto Rs.15,000/-  if an amount is paid to  keep in force an insurance on health of assessee or his family (i.e. Spouse & children)
2. Additional deduction upto Rs.15,000/- if an amount is paid to keep in force an insurance on health of parents
3. In case of HUF,  deduction allowable upto Rs.15,000/- if an amount is paid to  keep in force an insurance on health of any member of that HUFNote: If the sum specified in (a) or  (b) or (c) is paid to effect or keep in force an insurance on the health of any person specified therein who is a senior citizen, then the deduction available will be upto Rs.20,000/-.
   provided that such insurance is in accordance with the scheme framed by
   a) the General Insurance Corporation of India as approved by the Central Government in this behalf or;
   b) Any other insurer and approved by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.

4)  Jeevan Aadhar Plan (Sec.80DD) :

Deduction from total income upto Rs.50000/- allowable on amount deposited with LIC under Jeevan Aadhar Plan for maintenance of an handicapped dependent  (Rs.1,00,000/- where handicapped dependent is suffering from severe disability)

5) Exemption in respect of commutation of pension under Jeevan Suraksha &  Jeevan Nidhi Plans:

Under Section 10(10A) (iii) of the Income-tax Act, any payment received by way of commutations of pension out of the Jeevan Suraksha  & Jeevan Nidhi Annuity plans is exempt from tax under clause (23AAB).

6) Income tax exemption on Maturity/Death Claims proceeds under Section 10(10D)

Under the provisions of  section 10(10D) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, Maturity/Death claims proceeds of life insurance policy, including the sum allocated by way of bonus on such policy (other than amount to be refunded under Jeevan Aadhar Insurance Plan in case of handicapped dependent predeceases the individual or amount received under a Keyman Insurance Plan) is exempted from income-tax.  However any sum (not including the premium paid by the assessee) received under an insurance policy issued on or after the 1st day of April, 2003 in respect of which the premium payable for any of the years during the term of the policy exceeds 20% of the actual capital sum assured will no longer be exempted under this section.

U may Invest your valuable money in any Post Office within India for Investment. Near your doorstep is the Best Place to Put the money in Postal Schemes with some Small Saving Agent/ Advisor of  this all things. Contact us for any kind of Postal Investment in ahmedabad & get regular reminder via our automatic system by sms, email & letter.

• Kisan Vikas Patra: Kisan Vikas Patra is another fixed income scheme that doubles your money in eight years and seven months. But it offers no benefits under the Income Tax Act. In terms of liquidity, the scheme is better than the PPF and NSC. You can exit the scheme any time after two and a half years from the investment date, though you will forfeit the interest earned for the invested time period.
• National Savings Cerficates: National Savings Certificate is an assured return scheme and provides for tax rebates under section 80C. It pays interest at 8 per cent for a duration of six years, which is relatively lower compared to other small saving schemes. You buy NSC for a specific value and the interest compounded and returned along with the principal amount on maturity. NSCs have low liquidity and premature withdrawals can be done only under specific circumstances, such as the death of the holder(s), forfeiture by the nominee, or under court’s order.
• Monthly Income Schemes: Post office monthly income scheme provides a monthly income at 8 per cent per annum. On completion of six years, you get a 5 per cent bonus on the principal. The scheme offers better liquidity you have an exit option after one year from the investment date.
• Post Office Time Deposits
• Senior Citizen Savings Schemes
• Postal Recurring Deposit Scheme (RD Account): The post office recurring deposit (PO-RD) account is a systematic way of saving money. The scheme is meant for those investors who want to deposit a fixed amount regularly on a monthly basis and get a tidy sum on maturity after the stipulated 5 years.
• 15 Years Public Providend Fund (PPF Account): If you haven’t already started on a long-term savings strategy, you could begin with a Public Provident Fund (PPF) subscription . A government-guaranteed fixed income security, this is very apt as a long-term savings instrument. Yearly subscriptions can be as low as Rs. 500 to as high as Rs. 70,000.
• Post Office Savings Account

Sec 80C benefit: Investments up to INR 1 lakh in specified securities (maximum of INR 70,000 in PPF) qualify for deduction

• Compounded half-yearly
• Compounded yearly
• Compounded quarterly
• Payable quarterly 

U may Invest your valuable money in any Post Office within India for Investment. Near your doorstep is the Best Place to Put the money in Postal Schemes with some Small Saving Agent/ Advisor of  this all things.

Read here some FAQ’s on Small Saving Schemes:

• Whether Kisan Vikas Patra can be purchased by a Non Resident Indians?  No, The Non Resident Indians are not eligible to purchase Kisan Vikas Patra as there is no such provision in the rules.
• Whether Kisan Vikas Patra can be purchased by Karta on behalf of Hindu Undivided Family? No, The Kisan Vikas Patra can not be purchased by the Karta on behalf of the Hindu Undivided Family as there is no provision in the rules.
• Whether, The teacher’s provident fund are eligible to invest in Kisan Vikas Patra? No, The teacher’s provident funds are not eligible to be invested in Kisan Vikas Patra.
• Whether, a duplicate Kisan Vikas Patra can be issued? Yes, If a certificate is lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated or defaced, the person entitled thereto may apply for the issue of a duplicate certificate to the post office of issue.
• Whether, Annual interest of Post Office Time Deposit Account automatically credited in the savings account? Yes, In case of 2/3/5 year Time Deposit Accounts, the depositor on request to the post office can get annual interest due on his time deposit account credited in his Post Office Savings Account in the same post office.
• Whether, Post maturity interest is payable on Post Office Time Deposit Account?  Yes. where repayment of a deposit has become due but has not been made, interest shall be allowed on the amount due for a maximum period of two years from the date of maturity to the date of repayment of the deposit subject to the following conditions :-
  (i). The interest shall be simple and shall be calculated at the rate applicable from time to time, to savings accounts of the type of single or joint account.
  (ii). For the purpose of payment of interest any part of the period which is less than one month shall be ignored.
  (iii). The interest shall be paid to the depositor in a lump sum at the time of repayment of amount due. 
• Whether, Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) account can be opened by Non Resident Indians or Karta of the Hindu Undivided Family? The Monthly Income Scheme account can not be opened by the Non Resident Indians and Karta of Hindu Undivided Family as there is no provision for opening of such accounts in M.I.S. Rules.
• Whether the National Savings Certificates can be purchased by the Karta of the Hindu Undivided Family by adding the words “HUF” after his name?  No, Joint type certificate can be issued only to two adults under the rules. As such the Karta of Hindu Undivided Family can purchase certificates in his own name by adding the name of one of his co-partners without adding “HUF” after his name.
• Whether, irregular Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) accounts can be converted from single account to joint account or vice versa?  No, MIS accounts opened irregularly by exceeding the prescribed limits from single to joint or vice versa in order to compound the irregularity is not admissible.
• Whether, Public Provident Fund account can be opened by a Non Resident Indians?  Yes, there is no objection to Non Residents opening PPF account out of moneys held in the applicants non resident account in Indian Banks.
• Whether a Public Provident Fund account can transferred from Head Post Office to Bank or vice versa?  Yes, A Public Provident Fund account can be transferred from one Head Post Office to another Head Post Office and one Head Post Office to a Bank or vice versa.
• If a subscriber of a Public Provident Fund account holder dies and there is no nomination who will get the deposited amount?  If it is upto one lakh rupees, the accounts office will pay it to the legal heirs of the deceased on receipt of application in prescribed form, supported with necessary documents without production of succession certificate. If the balance is more than one lakh rupees, the production of succession certificate will be necessary..