Tax Benefits on Loans
Loans are a popular way to access immediate finances and are commonly used in India for various purposes such as starting a business, buying a new home, funding education expenses, or purchasing a car.
Different types of loans, including Personal Loans, Home Loans, Car Loans, Education Loans, and Gold Loans, offer different tax benefits. Here are the tax benefits associated with each loan type:
Tax Exemption on Personal Loan:
While Personal Loans are generally not taxable, there are tax deductions available if the loan amount is used for specific purposes:
Business Investment: If the personal loan is used for commercial purposes, the interest paid on the loan can be deducted from income, reducing both the taxpayer's tax liability and the business's taxable earnings. There is no limit on the deduction amount in this case.
Home Acquisition:
Using a personal loan to acquire or construct a residential property may make the individual eligible for tax benefits. Under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act, the interest repayment on such loans is deductible. For self-occupied properties, the maximum deduction is ₹2,00,000. If the property is rented out, there is no restriction on the maximum deduction amount.
Asset Acquisition:
When the loan amount is used to purchase assets like jewelry, shares, non-residential property, or certain stocks, taxpayers are eligible for tax deductions. However, deductions cannot be claimed in the same year the interest is paid. Instead, the cost of the asset increases, allowing for a tax gain when the asset is sold.
Tax Benefit on Home Loan:
To promote affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), the Indian government initiated several measures. Home Loans offer significant tax benefits to encourage homeownership:
Section 80EE: A residential property loan obtained from any Indian financial institution is eligible for income tax advantages. To qualify for the 80EE deduction, the individual must not own any other residential property, the property's value should not exceed ₹50,00,000, and the loan amount should not exceed ₹35,00,000. The government introduced Section 80EEA in 2019, expanding the tax advantage for home loans.
Section 80EEA:
Under this section, interest payments up to ₹1,50,000 on home loans are deductible. This deduction is in addition to the ₹2,00,000 deduction allowed under Section 24 for interest payments, allowing taxpayers to claim a total deduction of up to ₹3,50,000 on home loan interest.
Tax Benefit on Car Loan:
Car loans do not have specific tax advantages as cars are considered luxury goods. However, if the vehicle is used for business purposes, the car loan can be treated as a business loan and become eligible for a tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
Tax Benefit on Education Loan:
The government supports higher education through various initiatives, and education loans offer tax benefits to make them more accessible:
Section 80E:
Interest paid on education loan repayments is eligible for a tax deduction under Section 80E of the Income Tax Act. The deduction can be claimed from the year the individual starts repaying the interest and can be availed for up to 8 years or until the interest is fully paid, whichever comes first. There is no maximum cap on the deduction size. The loan must be approved by a financial institution or authorized entity and used for higher education purposes, which refers to programs pursued after passing the Senior Secondary Exam (SSE).
Tax Benefit on Gold Loan:
Gold loans do not typically have tax benefits. However, if the loan amount is used for home improvements or the purchase/construction of residential property:
Section 80C:
A deduction can be claimed on the principal amount for home improvement purposes, with a maximum cap of ₹1,50,000 per year.
Section 24:
If the loan amount is utilized for the purpose of constructing or purchasing a residential property, a deduction of up to ₹2,00,000 per year can be claimed under this section.
