ITR filing: How to calculate relief for salary arrears and claim it

Published by: Vivek Dubey

Salaried employees may receive taxable arrears or advances, such as salary arrears, advance salary, family pension arrears, commuted pension or compensation on termination of employment.

Relief under Section 89(1) of the income tax act can be claimed while filing an ITR to reduce the impact of additional tax liability arising from the receipt of salary arrears. This relief can be claimed if the tax payable is higher after receiving such arrears.

In case there is no additional tax liability, relief is not allowed, experts say.

How to claim relief

To claim relief under Section 89(1), taxpayers must submit form number 10E online before filing a tax return. This form requires the taxpayer to mention the particulars of income received in a particular financial year, including arrears or advances.

To understand the calculation of relief from salary arrears under Section 89(1), here's an example:

Suppose, Mr X (non-senior citizen) has a net taxable income of Rs 12,00,000 in the financial year (FY22-23) and received salary arrears of Rs 3,00,000 from the financial year (FY13-14), and his net taxable income in FY13-14 was Rs 8,00,000 (including arrears).

Tax liability for FY22-23

Calculate salary inclusive of arrears. Total taxable income: Rs 12,00,000 + Rs 3,00,000 = Rs 15,00,000 Income tax: Rs 2,62,500 Cess: Rs 10,500 Total tax liability = Rs 2,73,000

Step-1:

Tax liability for FY22-23

Calculate salary without arrears Total income: Rs 12,00,000 Income tax: Rs 1,72,500 Cess: Rs 6,900 Total tax liability = Rs 1,79,400

Step-2:

Tax liability for FY22-23

Difference between Tax at Step-1 and Tax at Step-2 Rs 2,73,000 - Rs 1,79,400 = Rs 93,600

Step-3: 

Tax liability for FY22-23

Calculate salary inclusive of arrears Total income: Rs 8,00,000 Income tax: Rs 90,000
 Education cess: Rs 2,700 Total tax liability: Rs 92,700

Step-4: 

Tax liability for FY22-23

Calculate the salary without arrears Total income: Rs 5,00,000 Income tax: Rs 30,000 Education cess: Rs 900 Total tax liability: Rs 30,900

Step-5: 

Tax liability for FY22-23

Difference between tax at Step-4 and tax at Step-5 Rs 92,700 - Rs 30,900 = Rs 61,800

Step-6: 

Tax liability for FY22-23

Relief under Section 89(1): Step-3 minus Step-6
 Rs 93,600 - Rs 61,800 = Rs 31,800

Step-7: 

Tax liability for FY22-23

Tax payable: Tax at Step-1 minus Relief under Section 89(1) Rs 2,73,000 - Rs 31,800 = Rs 2,41,200

Step-8: 

Note: The total income is taxable income after claiming all the exemptions and deductions.

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