Blogs - sreevatsa-realestate

Explainer: All You Need To Know About Encumbrance Certificate

By venpep_dev,June 16, 2022April 4, 2023

Explainer: All You Need To Know About Encumbrance Certificate

If you are planning to buy a house property, you must have come across the ‘Encumbrance Certificate (EC)’. While preparing for the big purchase by bringing together all required documents, make sure you don’t miss out on an Encumbrance Certificate of the specific property.

What is an Encumbrance Certificate?

An encumbrance refers to any charge created on any asset, more often used in the context of real estate. An Encumbrance Certificate or EC is a certificate of assurance that the property in question is free from any legal or monetary liability such as a mortgage or an uncleared loan.

It is of capital importance that a home-buyer obtains an EC not only to secure his legal title over the property but also to be eligible to obtain loans from most banks and financial institutions for or against the property.

There are two types of ECs. They are:

Form 15
Form 16

The sub-registrar’s office issues an EC on Form 15 if a property has any encumbrances during the period for which the applicant has sought a certificate. While a nil-encumbrance certificate is issued on Form 16 by the same office if a property has not registered any encumbrances during the period for which the applicant has sought a certificate.

What is a Nil Encumbrance Certificate?

When you apply for an EC, you will be asked to specify the period for which you need the information

If there are no charges placed on the property during the requested period, a “Nil Encumbrance Certificate” will be issued. This means that no lender has placed a lien on the property during that period. The application fee to get an EC differs from state to state. It depends on the location of the property and the state government that governs it.

How to Apply for an EC Online

The steps to apply for an EC differs from one state to another. Some States allow users to apply for an EC online. If you cannot apply for an EC online in your State, you must visit the respective sub-registrar’s office.

Below is the procedure to apply for an EC online:

Visit the respective State’s official land registration website and select the option to apply for an EC.
Enter all the required fields on the application for EC window, then click save/update.
Enter the search period for which you require the EC and then click on ‘Calculate Fee’.
Upon paying the required application fee is paid and is filed, you’ll be directed to the ‘Acknowledgment’ window. Click ‘View Acknowledgement’ and you’ll be able to take a print of the acknowledgement.
An inspection will be carried out by an inspector from the land records department and check for all information of the said property for a period.
Post the completion of the inspection, an EC will be issued will all transactions occurred during the specified period. If there were no transaction during the period, then a nil EC will be issued.

Which States Issue Online ECs?

ECs are primarily granted physically throughout India, with the exception of a few states. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are among the states that provide ECs online.

How to Apply for EC Offline

Visit the respective sub-registrar’s office (the jurisdiction depends on the location of the property).
Submit the duly filled Form 22.
You will be required to enter details such as the names of the seller and buyer, property details, the type of document you are requesting for (in this case, EC), etc.
Pay the required fee at the counter.
Once your application is successfully submitted, you will get a reference/acknowledgement number. You can use this number to track the status of the application online.

How to Track EC Status

The steps to track the status of your EC application differs from one website to another. Most of the government websites that allow you to apply for an EC online will also let you track the status of the application.

Most official websites of states allow users to check the status online. The steps are as follows:

Choose “EC Status” under the “Encumbrance Certificate” option available under the “Certificate” menu.
Enter the transaction ID provided to you when you submitted the application, enter the captcha, and click on “Check Status”.
The certificate will be displayed on the screen and you will be able to download it in PDF format.

How Long Will It Take to Get an EC?

As mentioned earlier, the process to obtain an EC differs from one place to another. If you apply for an EC in person at a Sub-Registrar’s Office, you will get the certificate within 15 to 30 days. However, if you apply for an EC online, you will get it faster. Online applications usually take 2 to 3 working days to be processed.

How to Download EC for Your Property

As mentioned earlier, if the respective State Government website allows you to track the status of your EC application online, you will be able to download the file once it is generated.

Documents Required to Get an EC

Some of the documents you would need while applying for an EC are:

Property details and its title deed details.
The property sale deed/gift deed/partition deed/release deed if a deed has been executed previously.
The deed number upon registration containing the date and book number along with the signature of the applicant.
Property registration document.
Address proof of the applicant.

Please visit the nearest sub-registrar’s office to know more about the EC in your town/city.

Tax How To Save Tax On Gains From Property Sales

By venpep_dev,June 16, 2022January 20, 2023

Tax How To Save Tax On Gains From Property Sales

If you are planning to sell a property in the near future then you should be aware of the rules on capital gains tax on property. If a property is sold within two years (24 months) of buying it, any profit from the transaction is treated as a short-term capital gain. This amount is added to the annual income of the property owner for that financial year and is taxed as per his/her income tax slab.

However, if you sell a property after holding it for more than two years, then the gain from that transaction is considered as long term capital gain (LTCG) and it is taxed at 20% after indexation (factoring in inflation). Another thing that needs to be mentioned here is that if you sell your house within five years of the end of the financial year in which it was purchased, the tax deduction claimed for the principal repayment, stamp duty and registration under Section 80C are reversed and the amount becomes taxable in the year of sale. Only the deduction claimed on home loan interest payment under Section 24B is left untouched.

So if you have bought a house by taking a home loan and have claimed the benefits under Section 80C, it is advisable to hold that property for at least five years. If you have not claimed the benefit of Section 80C then you should hold the property for at least two years.

It is worth mentioning here is that one can also get exemption from LTCG tax payment on sale of a property. If you use the entire gain from the property sale to buy another house within two years or construct a house within three years then you can get exemption from LTCG tax payment. You can also get exemption from LTCG tax if you have bought a property one year before selling the first one.

As per the provisions of Section 54, the amount of capital gains is required to be invested in the purchase or construction of “one residential property” for availing the capital gains exemption benefit. However, where the amount of capital gain does not exceed Rs 2 crore, the taxpayer may, at his option, purchase or construct two residential houses in India.

If you are not interested in buying any other property then you have another option to get exemption from LTCG tax by investing that money in capital gains tax exemption bonds, which are also known as 54EC bonds. These bonds can only be issued by specified government organisations such as REC Ltd (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation), Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Indian Railways Finance Corporation Ltd (IRFC). Recently, REC, a navratna enterprise of the government, launched REC Capital Gains Tax Exemption Bonds-Series-XVI. Investment in these bonds allows exemption from LTCG tax payment under Section 54EC of the Income Tax Act.

However, to save tax on LTCG, only the gain part needs to be invested in Capital Gain Bonds. For example, if a house property bought for Rs 20 lakh 10 years back is sold for Rs 50 lakh and the indexed cost is Rs 30 lakh, to save the tax on LTCG of Rs 20 lakh, only Rs 20 lakh should be invested in Capital Gain Bonds. To qualify for the tax exemption, the capital gains have to be invested within six months of the transfer of the asset. The quantum of capital gains invested in these bonds would be exempt from LTCG tax, subject to an upper cap of Rs 50 lakh on the investment amount irrespective of the financial year.

The face value of each Section 54EC bond is Rs 10,000 and a minimum investment of two bonds valuing Rs 20,000 need to be made. You can invest a maximum of Rs 50 lakh in 54EC bonds in a financial year. However, in case of jointly-held assets like real estate, each owner has a separate limit of up to Rs 50 lakh for investing in these bonds.

In simple words, if you and your spouse sell a house and made a long-term capital gain of, say, Rs 1 crore that was held jointly by the two of you, then each of you can invest Rs 50 lakh in these bonds and claim a capital gains exemption up to that amount.

Lock-in, Interest Rate and Ratings

These bonds come with a lock-in period of five years from the date of allotment and are non-transferable. You cannot even sell these bonds on stock exchanges, because they aren’t listed. Premature redemption is not permitted under any circumstances. However, in case of death of the investor, if there is a joint holder, the bonds can be transferred to the second or third holder. In the absence of joint holders, bonds can be transferred in the name of the nominee.

Since these bonds are meant for a specific purpose (reinvesting capital gains), they are automatically redeemed after their tenure of five years. You don’t even need to surrender your bond certificate. Interest or redemption proceeds are automatically credited in the registered bank account of the investor

All 54EC bonds carry the highest rating, a AAA rating. Given that these bonds are backed by the government, there are almost no risks of defaults. For instance: REC (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation) has been assigned the highest credit rating for long-term borrowing by domestic credit agencies India Ratings, CRISIL, ICRA and CARE. On an international basis, REC has been given long-term borrowing ratings from Fitch and Moody’s that are on a par with sovereign ratings for India. CRISIL has assigned a CRISIL AAA/Stable (pronounced as CRISIL triple A rating with stable outlook) rating to the REC capital gains bonds. Instruments with this rating are considered to have the highest degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations. REC bonds offer an interest rate of 5% per annum, payable annually, on 30th June each year, until the date of redemption. It may be noted that the interest earned on these bonds is taxable but no TDS is deducted on interest.

The amount of capital gains can be kept in the Capital Gain Accounts in accordance with the Capital Gain Accounts Scheme, 1988 (CGAS), if the re-investment in the house property (under section 54) or in capital bonds (section 54EC) is not made till the date of filing the tax return. Also, if the taxpayer has already invested some of the portion of the proceeds/gains in the specified asset, he would be only required to transfer the balance portion in the CGAS in order to claim tax exemption on the entire amount.

So which option is more beneficial?

It depends on various factors such as whether the taxpayer wants to invest in new residential property or wants liquidity in the medium term (the term of bonds issued under section 54EC on or after 1 April 2018, is 5 years) and also other aspects such as appreciation in the value of the new residential property or the interest rates on bonds, need to be factored.

Capital Gains Account scheme would suit those who wish to purchase or construct another housing property with the capital gains realised from the transfer, within the specified period.Capital Gains Bonds would suit those who do not wish to use the capital gains realised from the transfer for purchasing housing property or other long term capital assets.

Reference:https://advisor.moneylife.in/blog/tax/article/how-to-save-tax-on-gains-from-property-sales/4056.html

Real Estate Remains Preferred Asset Class For Investors

By venpep_dev,April 30, 2022January 20, 2023

REAL ESTATE REMAINS PREFERRED ASSET CLASS FOR INVESTORS

The real estate consumer remains positive with regard the economic scenario and income stability for the coming six months; according to ‘Concerned yet positive – The Indian Real Estate Consumer (April – May 2020)’ a report jointly released by Housing.com and National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO). Real estate (35%) is still perceived as the preferred mode of investment, followed by gold (28%); Fixed Deposits (22%), Stocks (16%); and homebuyers are likely to slowly return to the market in the coming six months.

Price-points of residential realty have remained muted for the past few years, but are still a key deterrent, with the perception of being still unaffordable. This was the response from nearly half of the potential homebuyers surveyed, who are currently staying in rented accommodation.

Going forward, NAREDCO believes, real estate will be ‘positive’ for both end-users and investors in the post-COVID-19 world. Those living in rental homes have realized the importance of being in their own homes while NRIs facing challenging times in their present domiciles are looking at creating a safe haven ‘back home’ in India. Demand for additional space for home offices is on the rise, with need for more efficient layouts. The importance of common amenities, business centers and more open spaces will be an inherent part of the new demand criteria in the post COVID-19 world.

Should You Invest In Real Estate Now

By venpep_dev,April 30, 2022January 20, 2023

SHOULD YOU INVEST IN REAL ESTATE NOW

The current market identifies the sector to be a secured form of investment. Ravi Kant, Founder & Director, Elegance Enterprises, Real Estate Consultants

This question is hovering over the minds of several people who want to make the investment now but are skeptical. This fact maybe true but given the current conditions, real estate investment on a long-term does have a silver lining as it is still considered one of the safest and secured forms of investments. The growth in the equity markets across the globe has favoured several investors as it guarantees short-term gains. In addition, most people have never considered buying property due to the higher rates of interest on home loans as it was a fairly cheaper option to rent. What we see now is a change in the mindset as many believe that ownerships provide an unmatched level of security. The economy is in a volatile and unpredictable condition and can affect your investments, unlike real estate which does not react in the same way. With the country’s GDP facing a sharp downward slide and the economic stability losing the grip, investment in Real Estate seems to be favorable and profitable in this pandemonium that life appears to be in. Most importantly, unlike paper money, real estate is an asset that one can possess a tangible value and this further encourages its reliability and return on investment. The link between the GDP growth and demand for real estate adds to the potential for capital appreciation and significant benefits to diversify such as the development of Residential, Commercial and Industrial spaces. As GDP growth drives the increase of real estate prices, it is considered a hedge against inflation, since the value of homes and rental properties typically increase during times of inflation. Also, with only a few new launches of Real Estate Projects happening now, we expect the same for the rest of the year. Because of few new project launches, the unsold inventory will pick up momentum and in the mid to long term the prices will either come back to normal or appreciate in some markets. Therefore real estate becomes a secure investment.

Things to consider before investing

Potential investors and home buyers need to analyze and understand why it is important to purchase property now? The answers to these questions can raise a couple factors – Are they looking for financial security or just to upgrade their current housing. For some, it would be an alternate option to the stock markets because of the slump in the economy caused by the pandemic. The other factors to consider is the financial position of individuals and what is required to buy property such as processing loans, month-on-month EMIs, insurances as well as property tax is something that one needs to bear without facing any strain on life savings. Also with the crisis, several people are on the brink of losing their jobs. It would be critical for such decisions to be made if they are from a two-income family.

Who is going to invest now?

At this time, there isn’t going to be a large demograph pumping in money into this sector but the category of buyers looking at a potential investment is going to be consistent. Reports have shown that buyers have not stopped but slowed down. However, recent analysis have shown that major cities like Bangalore have seen a surge in onsite visits and quick decision making caused by the price brackets falling in favour of investors.

Many potential buyers have been in a ‘Wait and See’ posture even before the pandemic and would see the current time as a perfect opportunity to make their investment. With several offers & interest on Bank loans being slashed which is also at a 15 year low, many investors will come forward.

The price of the rupee is another factor that needs to be taken into account as several NRIs living abroad will also keep a watchful eye and make their investments now as the Rupee is depreciated against the dollar making their investments more financially applicable. The same goes for mutual fund investors who will not see strong return from the stock market in a while. Therefore, it will result in shift of interest towards real estate investments.

Why It’s Absolutely Okay To Buy A Home As An Investment?

By venpep_dev,April 30, 2022January 20, 2023

WHY IT’S ABSOLUTELY OKAY TO BUY A HOME AS AN INVESTMENT?

In the list of secure investments, investing in a residential property is a prominent one. Indeed, residential properties leverage more demand as it comes with multiple options nowadays. Owning a home not only gives a shelter but also a sense of accomplishment to cherish life under one’s own roof. On the other hand, if you plan to rent out or sell a residential property, you will get an appreciated income for sure. Take a look at this blog to know why buying a home may be the best investment in your life.

Investment in modern home: What does it really bring for you?

Solid investment for life: Owning a home with strategic investment reaps lifetime benefits for you and your family. As time flies, the value of home gets potential appreciation based on the conditions of the real estate market.

A secured future: Settle when you find something that makes you feel happy and comfortable in your life. This is because having own house relieves the stress and ensures a hassle-free experience.

Instant source of income with ROI: Simply, you can rent / lease out your property, earn money and reinvest in a property.

Pride of ownership: The common dream of every human is to pursue a degree, earn a good income, get married, buy a home and settle in life. Obviously, purchasing a new home gives the buyer a sense of pride throughout life.

Assured stability in life: People who have a home on their own can enjoy the stability in life since they live there for an extended period of time without bothering others.

Chance to live a flexible lifestyle: Whether you are single or married with / without kids, you may like to explore different lifestyle at different times. It is impossible to make such major lifestyle changes when you live in a rental house as there would be so many restrictions. So, owning a home in a desired location lets you live your dream life with your loved ones.

How To Choose A Home For Investment? When you start to look for the best home for you, make sure that the neighbourhood is surrounded by a safe community, has impressive amenities, plans for development and is in proximity to everything, as it will enhance the value of appreciation over time.

The Bottom Line Hope now you have understood how an investment in house upgrades your lifestyle while uplifting the wealth over time. According to real estate statistics, it is expected that the value of the residential property will increase in the forthcoming years.

Do you want a house for living or investment? Sreevatsa Real Estates Pvt. Ltd. presents the best investment residential properties in the Coimbatore city that meets your dream life. Invest smart and live smarter!

Will Tax Benefits On Home Loan Be Helpful For Buying Your Dream Home?

By venpep_dev,April 30, 2022January 20, 2023

WILL TAX BENEFITS ON HOME LOAN BE HELPFUL FOR BUYING YOUR DREAM HOME?

In today’s real estate market, banks have started playing a crucial role in laying out loans to property buyers. Generally, every individual has the dream of owning a home to kick start a modern lifestyle or earn a steady income from it. However, not all investors can readily invest in the properties they want. In such a circumstance, investors can choose the right home loan which offers plenty of benefits provided by standard banks. Go through this blog to know more about tax benefits on a home loan that is applicable in our country.

Tax benefits on home loan: What does it really mean?

A home loan is one of the prominent tax-saving instruments that includes both the principal and interest amount repayments. To avoid financial chaos while investing in a property, the government announces various tax benefits under the Income Tax Act of 1961. Homebuyers can avail tax benefits under Income Tax section 80C and section 24B. Even if you are capable of owning a home with your savings, it is still better to avail a home loan, mainly to save on taxes.

Tax deduction on principal repayment: Under the Income Tax Section 80C, the maximum amount that can be claimed per financial year is up to Rs.1.5 lakh on the principal repayment. Know that you can avail this tax deduction only after the construction of the building is completed.

Tax deduction on home loan for homes under construction: If you are planning to make an investment in an ‘under-construction’ property by taking a home loan, you can avail deduction under the Income Tax Act. A homebuyer can have the deduction on interest from the year of owning the home or after the construction is completed.

Tax deduction for stamp duty & registration charges: Apart from deduction in principal repayment, you can also avail deduction for stamp duty and registration charges under section 80C. Note that this tax benefit can be claimed only when the expenses are made

Tax deduction on processing fee: Did you know you can have a tax deduction on the processing fee of a home loan? Yes, under the Income Tax Act – Section 2(28a), the deduction on interest payable for the home loan obtained includes processing fee covered as a service fee.

Tax deduction for first time homebuyers: If you are a first-time homebuyer, you have added tax benefit on claiming home loan. Most banks offer a specific deduction on the home loan every year until the tenure gets over.

We hope you have a clear idea about the tax benefits on the home loan that you can reap while buying a home. According to real estate market, 2020 looks like the right year for homebuyers to invest in residential properties with affordable property prices, more tax benefits, low-interest rates on home loan and best EMI offers. Why miss out this favourable opportunity? Make a smart investment in the residential apartments offered by Sreevatsa Real Estate Pvt. Ltd, Coimbatore to receive the fortune for life.

Secrets To Earn High Income From Your Rental Property

By venpep_dev,April 30, 2022January 20, 2023

Secrets To Earn High Income From Your Rental Property

In today’s business-centric world, real estate is one of the long-term investment options that could reap the best possible returns over time. According to recent studies, residential properties are in high demand as their value multiples over time and generates passive income year-round.

Keeping this in mind, the investors have started to invest money in leading residential assets that could bring out high ROI. It is very challenging to search for the home that yields more rental income as it requires specific strategies to maximize rental income. Here are the best ways to earn more money from your rental property.

Determine the demand of the location

Once you have planned to invest in a rental apartment, you should decide the location where you want to invest. The quality of the area determines who your tenants will be and how much rental income you will earn from it.

For instance, if the property is located near an IT hub or an educational institution, you can expect working professionals / students to look for rental properties. Hence, it is recommended to look out for surroundings like public transport availability, schools, colleges, hospitals, shopping malls, and other factors that would be irresistible for the tenants.

Explore the quality of the property: If you have the plan of earning good rental income, then you should prefer a residential project that is built to offer a contemporary lifestyle. Sreevatsa Real Estates Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore offers modern apartments with world-class amenities such as children’s play area, RO water, 24*7 security, and much more in a perfect location.

Analyze the property tax: Do you think analyzing the property tax of the property impacts rental income? Yes! Generally, the property tax rate will be high in the area that has easy connectivity. Ensure that you are choosing the house to be rented out in a city that has the scope of development in future.

Value added service: The rental income of residential property varies in accordance with the services provided along with it. For instance, a tenant may want a home with car parking or maintenance service. So, look for a property that can offer some add-on services for the occupants and go flexible with their needs.

Manage the property on your own: Once you become the owner of an apartment, you should take the responsibilities to increase the income. It would be best if you look after the property so that it remains popular among the house-hunters. Make sure that the property undergoes periodic maintenance and deal with the essential repairs regularly. This dramatically helps to increase the rent of the home when you have new tenants.

The Bottom Line Hope now you have a good idea about picking the right house that could bring out more passive income like never before. However, real estate investors need to be up-to-date in the ever-changing sector to gain good returns. Looking for an income-generating property in Coimbatore? Then opt for the residential apartments offered by Sreevatsa Real Estates Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore.

Home Loan Rates Lowest In 15-Years

By venpep_dev,April 30, 2022January 20, 2023

Home Loan Rates Lowest In 15-Years

The RBI’s announcement is good news for homebuyers as interest rates will come down to around 7%. For existing borrowers, SBI’s interest rates on home loan up to Rs 30 lakh will automatically come down to 7% from the existing 7.4%. For women borrowers, the rates would be further lowered by 5bps. HDFC has already brought down its rates to 7.50%. To improve the transmission of rates, the RBI had forced banks to link their interest rates on priority sector loans – including home loan to an external benchmark rate (EBR). Most of the banks chose repo rate as their EBR. Housing finance companies and those banks that have not linked their home loan rates to the repo will also be driven by competition to follow suit.

Borrowers having repo-linked loans can expect their EMIs to fall from July 1 as these loans are reset once in every quarter. However, those who have MCLR-linked home and auto loans, they may not get immediate relief. Even if some banks announce a reduction in MCLR, loan EMIs may not fall immediately as MCLR-linked rates are reset once or twice in a year.

1. Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman, Signature Global and Chairman, ASSOCHAM – National Council on Real estate, Housing & Urban Development expressed, “Now the situation for homebuyers might improve further as home loan interest rates are expected to come down further. Affordable housing will benefit the most as the buyers of this segment are very particular about the EMIs. With historically low EMIs, people will go out to buy and thus increase the demand.”

2. Manoj Gaur, MD, Gaurs Group and Chairman, Affordable Housing Committee, CREDAI (National) added, “The move for sure which should help the real estate borrower in the long run if passed on and implemented by all banks and financial institutions. But, we are seeing that the benefit is not being passed on and the effect on actual lending rate is little or almost negligible. So, till the time RBI makes it mandatory for banks to reduce lending rate at the same time, these reductions will have negligible effect on real estate market which is reeling under COVID-19 situation.” Source: realtyplusmag.com

Planning To Buy A Residential Property? Know Why Coimbatore Is The Best Place To Invest Right Now!

By venpep_dev,April 30, 2022January 20, 2023

Planning to buy a residential property? Know why Coimbatore is the best place to invest right now!

At present, investing in residential property is emerging as a significant achievement in people’s lives. The term ‘Residential Investment” refers to the process of buying a new house for your own living or renting out to earn income. Investing in the right residential property at a perfect location brings a plethora of perks for the investors now and in the future. According to real estate statistics, owning an apartment in the developing areas increases the value over time.

Coimbatore, the second largest metropolitan city of Tamil Nadu, is in a top position in the ranking for the best places for real estate investment. The city offers residential property with low budget investment right now that can yield huge benefits later. Are you interested in knowing why the best time to invest in Coimbatore is NOW?

The scope of investing in the apartments of Coimbatore

Coimbatore, also referred to as ‘Manchester of South India’, is being developed as a smart city by the Government of India. The city is growing at a fast pace in terms of economy, infrastructure, job opportunities and living standards. With the IT and ITES sector established in the prime location of the city, the professionals are settling down here from various parts of the country. The scope of development in the city increases the demand for residential properties and elevates the market value.

What makes Coimbatore the right place to live?

Salubrious Climate: The city’s location on the banks of the Noyyal River and the Western Ghats gives a pleasant climatic condition throughout the year which makes living a great experience.

Educational Hub: With 70+ engineering, arts and science and medical colleges, Coimbatore acts as the educational hub for major areas around. In addition to this, there are popular academic centres and research institutes.

IT Parks: The IT and ITES sectors have been springing up in areas like Saravanampatti, Kalapatti and Avinashi Road of Coimbatore. Some major software companies that have their offices set up here are Amazon, HCL, Bosch, Wipro, CTS, etc.

Healthcare Centres: Coimbatore is well known for its growing medical tourism and renowned hospitals that offer quality healthcare at a reasonable cost for all.

Entertainment Spots: There are incredible number of tourist attractions in and around the city. Some of the significant highlights are malls, amusement parks, falls, Isha Yoga Centre and much more, which attracts potential number of visitors from across the country and all over the globe.

Connectivity: Well-connected road, rail, and airways via three national highways, train services and an International Airport are the highlights of the Coimbatore city.

Safety & Security: Being a semi-metro, Coimbatore never fails to ensure protection of its people.

What are the top localities in Coimbatore for residential investment?

As per the search terms of the home buyers, more than 10 localities are listed as top destinations to buy a residential property in Coimbatore. Among various areas, Saravanampatti and Avinashi road stand out with its infrastructural development. Investing now in the residential properties developed in and around these spots can benefit you with high capital appreciation in the next 5 to 7 years.

10 Dos And Don’ts To Ensure Your Claim Of HRA Tax Exemption Against Rent Paid Is Not Rejected

By venpep_dev,April 29, 2022January 20, 2023

10 dos and don’ts to ensure your claim of HRA tax exemption against rent paid is not rejected

What you must remember while claiming tax exemption of HRA or while filing income tax returns.

In April 2017, an income tax tribunal ruling on rent receipts grabbed many eyeballs. This is because it rejected the HRA exemption claimed by a salaried individual for the rent paid to her mother.The tribunal rejected the claim on the grounds that there is no proof to substantiate that payment of rent has actually happened apart from rent receipt which could have been easily obtained by the taxpayer from her mother without paying the rent.Here are some list of documents and dos and don’ts which you must remember while claiming tax exemption of HRA from your employer or while filing income tax returns (ITR).

In April 2017, an income tax tribunal ruling on rent receipts grabbed many eyeballs. This is because it rejected the HRA exemption claimed by a salaried individual for the rent paid to her mother.

The tribunal rejected the claim on the grounds that there is no proof to substantiate that payment of rent has actually happened apart from rent receipt which could have been easily obtained by the taxpayer from her mother without paying the rent.

Here are some list of documents and dos and don’ts which you must remember while claiming tax exemption of HRA from your employer or while filing income tax returns (ITR).

1. You have must have a valid rent agreement. The rent agreement must mention all the relevant details such as amount of monthly rent, time period of rent agreement, any utility bills to be paid by you etc. Archit Gupta, CEO & Founder of Cleartax.com says, “Make sure that there is a signed agreement between you and the landlord even if they are your parents. The agreement must mention the premises rented by you, other charges such as utility or property tax if payable by you. “

2.In case of a shared accommodation, then along with the above mentioned details in the rent agreement, it should also mention number of tenants co-sharing the flat, ratio in which rent and how utility bills are to be divided.

3.Make your rent payments preferably via banking channels instead of cash. Using banking channels helps to provide an electronic trail of money for the transactions occurred.

4.You must ask for receipt for the rent paid every month irrespective of the channel used for making payments. Pinky Khanna, Director, People Advisory Services, EY India says, “It is mandatory to furnish rent receipts to the employer for claiming HRA exemption for the monthly rent paid more than Rs. 3000 per month. “

5.In addition to rent receipts, if your payment exceeds Rs. 1 lakh annually, then it is mandatory for you to provide the PAN of your landlord to your employer to avail the full benefit of HRA exemption. It helps you to lower your TDS deduction.

6.In case PAN is not available, then your landlord must be willing to give you a declaration to this effect. Confirm this before taking house on rent so that you are able to avail the benefit of HRA exemption from your employer. Along with the declaration, you also need to obtain ‘Form 60’ duly filled by your landlord, in case PAN is not available. You need to submit these to your employer.

7.’If you do not provide PAN of your landlord then, you cannot claim tax exemption for HRA from your employer while withholding TDS on salary. While Income Tax Act does not restrict the employee from claiming tax exemption for HRA while filing returns but there will be mismatch in the salary income reported in the Form 26AS by your employer vis-a-vis that reported by you in your return. This may prompt the department to send a communication seeking response regarding the mis-match’, says Khanna.

8.There might be circumstances where an individual pays higher rent than what is actually mentioned on the rent agreement and difference is paid in cash. If that happens, tax exemption will be calculated only on the basis of rent receipt furnished by employee mentioning the amount paid. Any amount paid over and above the rent receipt shall not be considered for the purpose of exemption by employer, warns Khanna.

9.Gupta further adds that that you must physically reside in the house mentioned by you while claiming HRA exemption. In case your parents are landlord, make sure that they include the rental income too while filing their returns.

10.Remember to deduct tax at source (TDS) @ 5%, from the rent paid to your landlord if you are paying rent above Rs. 50,000 per month. Interest at 1% per month is levied in case you forgot to deduct it and 1.5% per month where TDS is deducted but not deposited. It would also attract the penalty of Rs 200 per day for the period of delay, says Khanna.

You can claim tax exemption up to 100% of the actual HRA received provided all the conditions to claim relief have been satisfied by you.

Author: Preeti Motiani – ET Online