FAQ for senior citizens

• What are the benefits available to a senior citizen and very senior citizen in respect of tax rates

Senior citizens and a very senior citizen are granted a higher exemption limit as compared to normal tax payers. Exemption limit is the quantum of income up to which a person is not liable to pay tax. The exemption limit granted to senior citizen and very senior citizen for the financial year 2018-19 is as follows :
Senior citizen
A senior citizen is granted a higher exemption limitcompared to non-senior citizens. The exemption limit for the financial year 2018-19 available to a resident senior citizen is Rs. 3,00,000. The exemption limit for non-senior citizen is Rs. 2,50,000. Thus, it can be observed that an additional benefit of Rs. 50,000 in the form of higher exemption limit is available to a resident senior citizen as compared to normal tax payers.
Very senior citizen
A very senior citizen is granted a higher exemption limit compared to others. The exemption limit for the financial year 2018-19 available to a resident very senior citizen is Rs. 5,00,000. The exemption limit for non-senior citizen is Rs. 2,50,000. Thus, it can be observed that an additional benefit of Rs. 2,50,000 in the form of higher exemption limit is available to a resident very senior citizen as compared to normal tax payers.

• At what age a person will qualify as a senior citizen and very senior citizen under the Income-tax Law

Before understanding the age criteria, it is very important to know that the tax benefits offered under the Income-tax Law to a senior citizen/very senior citizen are available only to resident senior citizen and resident very senior citizens. In other words, these benefits are not available to a non-residenteven though he may be of higher age. The age and other criteria to qualify as a senior citizen and very senior citizen under the Income-tax Laware as follows :
Criteria for senior citizen
Must be of the age of 60 years or above but less than 80 year at any time during the respective year.
Must be resident
Criteria for very senior citizen
Must be of the age of 80 years or above at any time during the respective year.
Must be resident

• Is there any special benefit available under the Income-tax law to senior citizens

Yes, the Income-tax Law very well takes care of the senior citizens of the nation by offering them several tax benefits.In this part you can gain knowledge of various benefits offered by the Income-tax Law to senior citizens.

• Is a very senior citizen granted exemption from e-filing of income tax return

From the assessment year 2018-19 onwards any taxpayer filing return of income inForm ITR 1/4and having a refund claim in the return or having total income of more than Rs. 5,00,000 is required to furnish the return of income electronically with or without digital signature or by using electronic verification code. However, Income-tax Law grants relaxation from e-filing in above case to very senior citizen.
In other words, a very senior citizen filing his return of income inForm ITR 1/4and having total income of more than Rs. 5,00,000 or having a refund claim can file his return of income in paper mode, i.e., for him e filing ofITR 1/4(as the case may be) is not mandatory. However, he may go for e-filing if he wishes.

• Is a Resident senior citizen granted exemption from payment of advance tax

As persection 208, every person whose estimated tax liability for the year is Rs. 10,000 or more, shall pay his tax in advance, in the form of “advance tax”. However,section 207gives relief from payment of advance tax to a resident senior citizen. As persection 207 a resident senior citizen (i.e., an individual of the age of 60 years or above during the relevant financial year) not having any income from business or profession, is not liable to pay advance tax.

• What are the benefits available in respect of interest on deposits in case of senior citizens

Section 80TTBof the Income Tax law gives provisions relating to tax benefits available on account of interest income from deposits with banks or post office or co-operative banks of an amount upto Rs. 50,000 earned by the senior citizen (i.e., an individual of the age of 60 years or above). Interest earned on saving deposits and fixed deposit, both shall be eligible for deduction under this provision.
Section 194Aof the Income Tax law gives corresponding provisions that no tax shall be deducted at source from payment of interest to a senior citizen up to Rs. 50,000.

• What are the benefits available in respect of expenditure incurred on account of medical treatment of specified diseases on treatment of a senior citizen

section 80DDBof the Income-tax Law gives various provisions relating to tax benefits available on account of expenditure on medical treatment of specified diseases. Click the following link to know about details ofsection 80DDBwhich covers the details of special benefits undersection 80DDBavailable to a senior citizen. Check page 8 topic“Deduction in respect of expenditure on medical treatment of specified diseases [section 80DDB]”

• What are the benefits available in respect of expenditure incurred on account of medical insurance premium/ medical expenditure to a senior citizen and on account of

Section 80Dof the Income-tax Law gives various provisions relating to tax benefits available on account of payment of medical insurance premium and other related items. Click the following link to know about details ofsection 80Dwhich covers the details of special benefits undersection 80D available to a senior citizen. Check page 5 topic“Deduction in respect of medical insurance premium [Section 80D]”
You may also like:General FAQs on Income Tax Act
Tags:FAQ for senior citizens, senior citizen savings scheme 2017, senior citizen saving scheme 2015, loan against scss, senior citizens savings scheme sbi, senior citizen saving scheme 2004, senior citizen saving scheme calculator, senior citizen saving scheme sbi interest rate, senior citizen saving scheme interest rate.