How To Claim Tax Benefits for Tier 1 And Tier 2

If you’re keen on finding out how to claim the National Pension Scheme (NPS) tax benefits on your Tier I and Tier II accounts, this article is for you. NPS is a great tax-saving and long-term investment tool. One of the prime advantages of retirement planning through NPS is that along with saving for your post-retirement years; you also get to enjoy tax benefits. Let’s take a close look at the NPS tax saving advantages.

NPS is a government-sponsored scheme with the dual benefits of retirement planning and tax saving. It is managed by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The primary objective of the NPS scheme is to aid investors in building a sizeable retirement corpus. Any citizen of India between 18 and 60 years of age can invest in NPS.

There are two types of NPS accounts - Tier I and Tier II. While NPS Tier I is well-suited for retirement planning, Tier II NPS accounts act as a voluntary savings account. Tier I NPS investment is a long-term one and the amount cannot be withdrawn until retirement. This is not the case with Tier II NPS accounts.

Now that we have seen the difference between Tier I and Tier II NPS accounts, it’s time to explore the different NPS scheme tax benefits. Under Section 80CCD (1) of the Income-Tax Act, NPS offers a tax exemption of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh. In case a company provides an NPS facility, the employer’s contribution to NPS offers a tax rebate of up to 10% of the salary (basic plus DA) under Section 80CCD(2).

For salaried individuals who have claimed tax exemption of Rs. 1.5 lakh under Section 80C, NPS offers scope for additional tax savings. Both salaried and self-employed NPS account holders with an investment of up to Rs. 50,000 qualify for an additional tax exemption under Section 80CCD (1B) of the Income-Tax Act. However, this additional deduction under Section 80CCD (1B) applies only to Tier I NPS account holders. Unlike a Tier I NPS account, Tier II NPS accounts do not qualify for a tax rebate under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

When it comes to NPS tax benefits, another point to remember is that the deduction under Section 80CCD (1) is available to both salaried individuals and non-salaried individuals. However, for salaried professionals, the maximum deduction allowed under Section 80CCD (1) is 10% of the salary for that year. On the other hand, for non-salaried individuals, it is 20% of their total gross income for that year.

With this information of the NPS Income Tax benefit in your kitty, we are sure you will be able to grow your wealth and save on tax at the same time!

Read more on the benefits of the NPS Scheme here.

Click here to open your NPS Account now.

*Terms and conditions apply. The information provided in this article is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances.