Section 80TTA and 80TTB – Income Tax Deduction on Interest Income

Section 80TTA: Income Tax Deduction of Rs 10,000 on interest income and Section 80TTB: Income Tax Deduction for Senior Citizens 

Section 80TTA – All about Claiming Deduction on Interest

Section 80TTA provides a deduction of Rs 10,000 on interest income. This deduction is available to an Individual and HUF.

This deduction is allowed on interest earned –

• From a savings account with a bank
• From a savings account with a co-operative society carrying on the business of banking
• From a savings account with a post office

This deduction is NOT allowed on interest earned on time deposits. Time deposits mean deposits repayable on expiry of fixed periods. It shall not be allowed for –

• Interest from fixed deposits
• Interest from recurring deposits
• Any other time deposits

Maximum Deduction – The maximum deduction is limited to Rs 10,000. If your interest income is less than Rs 10,000, the entire interest income will be your deduction. If your interest income is more than Rs 10,000, your deduction shall be limited to Rs 10,000. (You have to consider your total interest income from all banks where you have accounts).

How to claim the deduction – First add your total interest income under the head ‘Income from Other Sources’ in your Return. The deduction is shown under section 80 Deductions under section 80TTA.

Section 80TTB Deduction for Senior Citizens – Budget 2018

Old age is often associated with health concerns, both physical and mental for the senior citizens, which in turn takes a heavy toll on their finances. Therefore, it is necessary to provide them with adequate relaxations in the form of tax deductions.

Having this in mind, the government in the Finance budget 2018 has chosen to introduce a good number of benefits for our senior citizens. One such important amendment in Budget 2018 (for senior citizens) is the introduction of a new section – Section 80 TTB.

1. Applicability of Section 80TTB

Section 80TTB is a provision whereby a taxpayer who is a resident senior citizen, aged 60 years and above at any time during a Financial Year (FY), can claim a specified amount as a deduction from his gross total income for that FY. This section is applicable w.e.f 1 April 2018.

2. Quantum of deductions available

A deduction of lower than Rs 50,000 or an amount from a specified income is allowed from the gross total income. Specified income is any of the following income in aggregate:

• Interest on bank deposits (savings or fixed);
• Interest on deposits held in a co-operative society engaged in the business of banking, including a co-operative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank; or
• Interest on post office deposits

3. Exceptions to Section 80TTB

If the specified deposits are held by or on behalf of a partnership firm, an association of persons (AOP) or a body of individuals (BOI), Section 80TTB deduction is not available for the partner of such a firm or for any member of such an AOP or BOI, while computing their total income.

4. Section 80TTA vs 80TTB

Section 80TTA provides deductions similar to Section 80TTB. However, it provides deductions of interest only on savings account held in a bank, co-operative bank or a post office, from the gross total income of the individual taxpayer or a hindu undivided family upto Rs 10,000.

With the introduction of Section 80TTB exclusively for senior citizens, deductions under Section 80TTA is not available to senior citizens.

Difference between Section 80TTA and Section 80TTB

Particulars	Section 80TTA	Section 80TTB
Applicability	Applicable to individuals and HUF except for senior citizens	Applicable to senior citizens
Specified income	Interest on savings account only	Interest on all kinds of deposits
Quantum of deduction	Upto Rs 10,000	Upto Rs 50,000

5. Illustration on tax savings by senior citizens

Senior citizens already enjoy a higher basic exemption limit compared to normal taxpayers. The introduction of Section 80TTB further aids tax savings for senior citizens. Let us see how with the following example.

Let us consider the following incomes for a taxpayer:

• Savings interest of Rs 5,000
• Interest on fixed deposits of Rs 200,000
• Other income of Rs 150,000

Now, the following table will help you understand how a senior citizen stands to benefit (as against a normal taxpayer) with the provisions of Section 80TTB

Tax computation

(Amount in Rs)

Particulars	Normal taxpayer	Senior Citizen
Savings interest	5,000	5,000
FD interest	2,00,000	2,00,000
Other income	1,50,000	1,50,000
Gross total income	3,55,000	3,55,000
Less: Deduction under Section 80TTA	5,000	Not Applicable
Less: Deduction under Section 80TTB	Not Applicable	50,000
Taxable income	3,50,000	3,05,000
Tax (before 87A rebate)	5,000	250
Less: Rebate under section 87A	2,500	250
Tax payable including cess @ 4%	2,600	NIL

NOTE: For the AY 2020-21, the rebate under section 87A is available up to Rs 12,500 (for a total income up to Rs. 5,00,000). Hence, the above tax computation would change accordingly.

In the above example, the senior citizen ends up paying no taxes in comparison to an ordinary taxpayer, below 60 years of age, who pays Rs 2,600.