Life Insurance Plans are very popular as a tool to get deductionu/s 80C of the I T Act. 1. The investment in life insurance can be deducted up to Rs 1,50,000. (Rs. 1 Lakh upto A.Y. 2014-15). It a common perception that Premium Paid all Life Insurance Policies qualifies for deduction under section 80C of the Income Tax Act,1961 and full premium amount qualifies for deduction under section 80C .
How much deduction available u/s 80C for investment in insurance policies???
Section 80C of the Income Tax Act provides deduction up to Rs 1,50,000 provided you invest according to condition given in section itself. One of the most popular way of saving tax by deduction u/s 80C is purchase of insurance policy. There is common perception that premium upto Rs 1,50,000 on any insurance product like life insurance or Unit Linked Insurance plan is fully allowed.However, this is not correct. The reason for such conclusion is section 80C (3) and 3(A) of the Income Tax Act which specifies which premium is eligible for deduction under section 80C of the Income Tax Act,1961.
Eligible Premium under Sub-section (3) and (3A) of 80C of Income Tax Act,1961 For regular Life Insurance Policies (other than contract for deferred annuity)
Issued from 01.04.2012 – premium paid not in excess of 10% of Capital Sum Assured (as amended by Finance Act 2012.
Issued from 01.04.2003 and on or before 31.03.2012 – premium paid not in excess of 20% of Capital Sum Assured
Eligible Premium under Sub-section (3) and (3A) of 80C of Income Tax Act,1961 For Life Insurance Policies (other than contract for deferred annuity) for (a) a person with disability or a person with severe disability as referred to in section 80U, or (b) suffering from disease or ailment as specified in the rules made under section 80DDB,
Issued from 01.04.2013 – premium paid not in excess of 15% of Capital Sum Assured ( Inserted by the Finance Act, 2013, w.e.f. 1-4-2014).
Therefore , it is clear from section 80C (3) that whatever insurance premium is paid for any insurance policy( other than deferred annuity) or ULIP , the maximum allowable is fixed at 10% of the sum assured.
So, next time you buy any insurance product , think about sum assured and whether the insurance premium is just below 10 % of sum assured regular policies and 15% for for (a) a person with disability or a person with severe disability as referred to in section 80U, or (b) suffering from disease or ailment as specified in the rules made under section 80DDB.
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