Tax Saving Options for Salaried Employees by Investments in 2021

A salaried employee chooses diverse approaches and ways to save income tax. Most of the time, professionals merely stick to the ways they know and miss out on more effective conducts of saving tax. We have created this blog post to direct those salaried professionals who want to know more tax-saving options by precise investments in 2021.

Here are some of the significant tax-saving options for salaried staff  

  • ELSS Investment

ELSS stands for Equity Linked Savings Scheme and it primarily invests in equity and equity related securities of corporates. This scheme offers a deduction in the total income tax paid by the investors. The returns are much higher than most investment in ELSS.

Click here to Invest in ELSS right now

  • Standard Deduction

The utmost standard deduction amount is Rs. 40000.

  • Leave Travel Allowance

The staff members can utilize this option to cover the tour ticket of spouse, parents, and kids. The siblings are covered under this option if they are reliant on the salaried employee. This scenario is included under section 10(5).

  • While HRA is Salaries Integral Part

One needs to reside in a rented house to attain this option and should have specific receipts. This scenario is included under section 10(13).

  • While HRA is Not Salaries Integral Part

Here one can enable the tax advantages with these approaches: A) Deduct rent amount from 10 percent of total income, B) a fixed rate of Rs. 5000/month, C) 1/4th of the income. All the deductions are covered under section 80GG.

  • Voluntary Retirement Scheme

Professionals move away from employment and decide to opt for Voluntary Retirement, taking a pay-out. The Voluntary Retirement amount is non-taxable till the amount of Rs. 5 lakh.

  • National Pension Scheme (NPS) 

One can benefit from an added deduction if an employee invests its income in the NPS section of 80CCD (1B). The NPS is advantageous in two ways, one through the claim of an added deduction and even assist in planning for the retirement in the longer term.

  • Health Insurance

One can use the paid health insurance policy premiums as deductions from taxable income under section 80D.

  • Gratuity Amount

The funds received as gratuity is tax-free up to Rs. 20 lakh.

  • Food Coupons

They are not taxable to a limit of Rs. 2600.

  • Organization Leased Car

One can use the organization leased car to save tax amounts.

  • Expenses

One can use the charges of an online connection and the phone for tax benefits.

  • Other Options

One can claim a precise deduction on savings account interest earnings till Rs.10000 in a year. Investments in your new home, diverse insurance premiums, as well as ELSS investments, are the most accepted financial instruments for enabling tax deductions.

Moving Forward

So, these tax-saving options would surely assist you in reducing your taxes by planning investments in 2021. Keep these suggestions handy, and try to diminish your overall tax liability with smart investment options.

About Jayesh Khandwala

KIFS Trade Capital

Annexure-I: Risk disclosures

RISK DISCLOSURES ON DERIVATIVES
  • • 9 out of 10 individual traders in equity Futures and Options Segment, incurred net losses.
  • • On an average, loss makers registered net trading loss close to ₹ 50,000.
  • • Over and above the net trading losses incurred, loss makers expended an additional 28% of net trading losses as transaction costs.
  • • Those making net trading profits, incurred between 15% to 50% of such profits as transaction cost.

Source: SEBI study dated January 25, 2023 on “Analysis of Profit and Loss of Individual Traders dealing in equity Futures and Options (F&O) Segment”, wherein Aggregate Level findings are based on annual Profit/Loss incurred by individual traders in equity F&O during FY 2021-22.