A Look at Income Tax Slabs for Women

 

In India, income tax is progressive in nature. So the more you earn, the more income tax you have to pay. It may sound like a complicated concept, but it is easy to understand. Apart from a person’s income, their income tax liability also depends on their age. For the purpose of taxation, everybody is broadly divided into three age groups – Under 60, between 60 and 80 (senior citizens), over the age of 80 (super senior citizens). So, the Income Tax Department created a number of tax slabs to quickly understand how much income tax a person needs to pay. Based on the income tax slab you fall under, you can quickly understand your taxable income calculation. Earlier, there were separate income tax slabs for women and men. However, since 2013, common tax slabs are prescribed for both men and women. Let’s take a look at the income slabs and tax exemptions for women.

A Detailed Look at Income Tax Slabs for Women

An income tax slab talks about the tax rate applicable to a person depending on their age and income. While the conditions remain the same throughout, the tax rate may change with each Union Budget. Whenever no changes are mentioned in the budget, the tax rate remains the same as the previous year. The existing tax slabs for women who claim deductions under their salary are as follows:

Income Tax Slab for Women Under the Age of 60:

Apart from the rates mentioned above, a health and education cess of 4% will be applied to your total taxable amount.

Income Tax Slab for Senior Citizen Women

Apart from the rates mentioned above, a health and education cess of 4% will be applied to your total taxable amount.

Income Tax Slab for Super Senior Citizen Women

Apart from the rates mentioned above, a health and education cess of 4% will be applied to your total taxable amount.

Additionally, the Union Budget for 2019-2020 proposed a 100% rebate under Section 87A for those who earn an income up to INR 5,00,000 per year.

In 2021, the Union Budget proposed new income tax slabs vide sec 115BAC for taxpayers who do not avail of any deductions subject to provisions of sec. 115BAC under the Income Tax Act. The new tax slabs are as follows:

Apart from the rates mentioned above, a health and education cess of 4% will be applied to your total taxable amount.

Surcharge (applicable for Old & New Tax Regime):

Surcharge is levied over and above the tax subject to marginal relief at following rates if total income exceeds specified limits:

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What is the Taxable Income Calculation for Women?

In India, the Income Tax department views income under five broad categories as taxable income. Your taxable income gets calculated after considering your income from:

• Salary
• House property
• Business or profession
• Capital gains
• Income from other sources

It may seem like a lot of tax, but the Income Tax Act, 1961, also allows a tax rebate or exemption if you meet certain conditions.

Income Tax Exemptions for Women

A woman can enjoy tax exemptions under various sections of the Income Tax Act. Let’s see what they are:

Section 80C

Here, you can get a tax exemption of up to INR 1,50,000 per year for the money you invest in:

• Tax-saving fixed deposits
• National Savings Certificate
• NPS
• Life Insurance premium
• ELSS
• EPF
• Senior Citizen Savings Schemes
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana etc.

Section 80CCC

The section outlines an exemption of up to INR 1,50,000 against money put into pension  and annuity plans.

Section 80TTA

Women can get an exemption up to INR 10,000 per year on the interest they earn by way of interest on deposit (other than time deposit).

Section 80TTB

Senior citizen women can get an exemption up to INR 50,000 per year on the interest they earn on deposits both saving and time deposits.

Section 80D

Women can enjoy exemptions for the premiums they pay for health insurance policies for themselves, their spouse, dependent children and parents.

Section 80E

The interest you pay on an education loan gets deducted from your taxable income.

Section 80GG

Individuals who do not receive a House Rent Allowance can enjoy this exemption on rent payments.

Section 80DD

Under this section, women can get exemptions for the medical treatment of a dependant, being person with disability.

Section 80DDB

Here, women can enjoy tax exemptions against payment for medical treatments of themselves or dependents who suffer from specific diseases. The maximum exemption is INR 40,000 for those below the age of 60 and INR 1,00,000 for those above the age of 60.

Section 80GGC

Contributions to political parties also do not attract any tax. There is no limit on the exemption amount as long as the contribution has not been made in cash.

Section 80G

Contributions to charitable organisations and certain relief funds are also exempt from taxation. In certain cases, only a 50% exemption is allowed. In others, 100% exemption is allowed.

Section 80CCG

Here, you can enjoy exemptions on investments you make towards equity products. The exemption is limited to INR 25,000 or 50% of the investment amount, whichever is lower.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do women have different income tax liabilities in India?

A: No. Women had different income tax liabilities until 2012. Since 2013, the income tax slab depends solely on the individual’s age and income.

Q: Is the date to file taxes the same for all taxpayers?

A: The date to file taxes varies. Those who require a mandatory audit can file their taxes later, while individuals must file their taxes earlier.

Q: Can women enjoy tax exemptions on group health insurance policies?

A: No, individuals cannot get any tax rebate on the premium paid for a group health policy. But, the premiums paid for individual health plans offer considerable tax exemptions.

Related articles:

• Income Tax Slab 2021-22
• Best Tax Saving Investment Options in 2022 (FY 2022-2023)

ARN:  ED/09/22/29483