Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) is granted by the employers to the
employees as part of the remuneration to provide for travel expenses
incurred during the year. Leave Travel Allowance also covers such
expenses of the spouse, children as well as dependent parents and
siblings. However, there is a restriction. The allowance is restricted
to two children born on or after October 1, 1998. There is no
restriction on the number of children born before this date.
Expenses that Leave Travel Allowance covers
Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) only covers travel expenses incurred on
travelling with your family within the country; i.e. exemption can
only be claimed if it is within the country under Section 10(5) of the
Income Tax Act. Some other expenses which cannot be included are
expenses on hotel rooms, sightseeing, food, etc. Another condition is
that you must make sure to opt for the shortest possible route, only
then can you claim expenses. There is also a restriction on the fare
component. Tax exemption can only be claimed for economy class air
fare, first class AC rail fare or first/deluxe class bus fare. However
in the absence of public transport, you can hire a taxi or rent a car
and claim for expenses equivalent to first class AC rail fare.
Can the entire amount be claimed as an exemption?
Yes, provided that the entire amount has been spent according to the
tax rules specified under LTA laws.
Can you claim Leave Travel Allowance every year?
While you can claim LTA every year for which you will be taxed, LTA
exemption can only be claimed twice in a block of four calendar years.
Does claiming LTA in alternate years mean that the two year
entitlement gets added together?
It does. If you are entitled to an LTA of Rs.10,000 per year and do
not utilize it for the the first year it is carried forward to the
next year. In the second year you can claim the entire amount
(Rs.20,000) as tax exempt provided you spend it according to the
specification in LTA tax laws as detailed above.
Carry over concession for Leave Travel Allowance
Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) comes with a carry forward feature. You
can carry forward your Leave Travel Allowance in the situation that it
has not been used. It can be brought forward and claimed in the first
year of the next block.
No travel proof required for Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
Supreme Court announces that there is no need to submit proof of
travel in order to claim Leave Travel Allowance. Employers while
assessing the travel allowance claims, do not need to collect proof of
travel to submit to the tax authorities. Though it is not mandatory
for employers to demand proof, they still have the right to demand
documentary proof depending on its policy. The announcement by the
Supreme Court has only moved the responsibility from the employer to
the employee, the assessing officer can still ask for the employee to
provide details of travel.
Can both spouses claim Leave Travel Allowance?
If the husband and wife are benefiting from Leave Travel Allowance
benefit in their respective offices, then they both have the option of
claiming Leave Travel Allowance exemption from their employers. They
can also get the benefit of four journeys in just one block. There is
no need to make sure that they do not travel twice in the same year.
Also, as long as they adhere to the definition of family members, it
does not matter whether they choose to take the same family members or
different ones. Family in this case consists of spouse, children,
siblings and parents who are dependent on you. In the case of kids who
are born on or after October 1, 1998, the exemption will be restricted
to only two surviving children. The only exception for this is if
after the birth of the first child, the second conception results in
multiple births (twins or triplets).
If both spouses travel together, can they both claim Leave Travel
Allowance simultaneously?
No, both spouses cannot claim Leave Travel Allowance simultaneously.
Leave Travel Allowance cannot be claimed twice for the same journey.
By Parthiv Mehta
employees as part of the remuneration to provide for travel expenses
incurred during the year. Leave Travel Allowance also covers such
expenses of the spouse, children as well as dependent parents and
siblings. However, there is a restriction. The allowance is restricted
to two children born on or after October 1, 1998. There is no
restriction on the number of children born before this date.
Expenses that Leave Travel Allowance covers
Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) only covers travel expenses incurred on
travelling with your family within the country; i.e. exemption can
only be claimed if it is within the country under Section 10(5) of the
Income Tax Act. Some other expenses which cannot be included are
expenses on hotel rooms, sightseeing, food, etc. Another condition is
that you must make sure to opt for the shortest possible route, only
then can you claim expenses. There is also a restriction on the fare
component. Tax exemption can only be claimed for economy class air
fare, first class AC rail fare or first/deluxe class bus fare. However
in the absence of public transport, you can hire a taxi or rent a car
and claim for expenses equivalent to first class AC rail fare.
Can the entire amount be claimed as an exemption?
Yes, provided that the entire amount has been spent according to the
tax rules specified under LTA laws.
Can you claim Leave Travel Allowance every year?
While you can claim LTA every year for which you will be taxed, LTA
exemption can only be claimed twice in a block of four calendar years.
Does claiming LTA in alternate years mean that the two year
entitlement gets added together?
It does. If you are entitled to an LTA of Rs.10,000 per year and do
not utilize it for the the first year it is carried forward to the
next year. In the second year you can claim the entire amount
(Rs.20,000) as tax exempt provided you spend it according to the
specification in LTA tax laws as detailed above.
Carry over concession for Leave Travel Allowance
Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) comes with a carry forward feature. You
can carry forward your Leave Travel Allowance in the situation that it
has not been used. It can be brought forward and claimed in the first
year of the next block.
No travel proof required for Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
Supreme Court announces that there is no need to submit proof of
travel in order to claim Leave Travel Allowance. Employers while
assessing the travel allowance claims, do not need to collect proof of
travel to submit to the tax authorities. Though it is not mandatory
for employers to demand proof, they still have the right to demand
documentary proof depending on its policy. The announcement by the
Supreme Court has only moved the responsibility from the employer to
the employee, the assessing officer can still ask for the employee to
provide details of travel.
Can both spouses claim Leave Travel Allowance?
If the husband and wife are benefiting from Leave Travel Allowance
benefit in their respective offices, then they both have the option of
claiming Leave Travel Allowance exemption from their employers. They
can also get the benefit of four journeys in just one block. There is
no need to make sure that they do not travel twice in the same year.
Also, as long as they adhere to the definition of family members, it
does not matter whether they choose to take the same family members or
different ones. Family in this case consists of spouse, children,
siblings and parents who are dependent on you. In the case of kids who
are born on or after October 1, 1998, the exemption will be restricted
to only two surviving children. The only exception for this is if
after the birth of the first child, the second conception results in
multiple births (twins or triplets).
If both spouses travel together, can they both claim Leave Travel
Allowance simultaneously?
No, both spouses cannot claim Leave Travel Allowance simultaneously.
Leave Travel Allowance cannot be claimed twice for the same journey.
By Parthiv Mehta
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