Hi, Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many people are not in a position to travel with family and, therefore, are unable to claim to Leave Travel Allowance (LTA). With a view to let such persons claim LTA tax exemption and at the same time give a boost to GST (Goods and Service Tax) collection, the government announced a scheme on the 12th October 2020 for the Central government employees and, on the 29th October 2020 for all other employees, under which LTA can be claimed if you spend on the purchase of goods or services attracting GST.
Let us understand how this scheme works.
What is the tax provision for claiming a tax exemption for LTA?
The tax laws allow an exemption for any money received by an employee for traveling to any place within India, either himself alone or along with his eligible family members, on holidays or otherwise or during employment or on retirement. An employee can avail tax benefit of LTA for two journeys during a predefined block period of 4 calendar years. The current block is of 2018-2021. You are allowed to carry forward unveiled LTA to the first journey to be undertaken in the following block. It is not necessary for you to avail the LTA benefit in two parts. You can exhaust it in one journey in the block.
How can an employee claim LTA even without traveling?
Under the scheme announced, the Central government employees are allowed to get cash in lieu of their entitlement for leave and LTA both whereas other employees can claim LTA only, on satisfaction of certain conditions.
For claiming the cash in lieu of leave entitlement, you have to spend an amount equal to the amount of leave entitlement on purchase of goods or services. For claiming the LTA exemption, both the categories of employees have to spend at least three times of the value of the their LTA entitlement. For claiming both the benefits, you have to buy goods and services from a seller who is registered under GST, and GST @ 12% or higher is payable on such goods or services. The money has to be paid through digital mode only so in case you pay cash or through cheque, you will not be able to claim the benefit. Moreover you have to submit the original copy of the tax paid invoice to the employer. In case full amount is not spent, you will get the benefit proportionately.
In case LTA is part of your salary, the employer will pay your LTA not claimed, treating the money as taxable element after deducting tax at your slab rate.
Who can claim this benefit?
This substitutive benefit is available only to those employees who are entitled to LTA. Though you are entitled to opt for the old scheme or the new scheme of taxation with lower rates while filing your ITR, but if you have opted for the new scheme of taxation, you will not be able to claim this benefit unless your employer lets you revere your option.
Should you go for it?
Since spending on purchase of goods or services of three times in value with a minimum 12% of GST, you will effectively pay at least 36% of the value of LTA exemption as GST for saving tax payable on your LTA entitlement. Your tax rates may vary between 5.20% and 42.74%. So, think whether it is worth it to pay 36% just to save the tax applicable for you in case you are entitled to get cash in lieu of LTA benefits. For both categories of employees, there is a limit of fare of Rs 36,000 per person.
Let us understand this with an example. In case you have four members in your family, the maximum LTA exemption in your hands would be Rs 1,44,000 (36,000*4). For claiming an exemption for this amount of eligible LTA, you will have to spend 3 times of this amount i.e. 4,32,000 for buying goods or services attracting a minimum of 12% GST. So, you will have to pay minimum Rs 51,840 out of your pocket as GST. Just compare the income tax saving which will accrue to you against the GST outgo in case you opt for it.
The current block of four years will expire next year on 31st December 2021, i.e. one year away, by which time, in all probability the severity of Covid-19 may subside and you may in fact be able to travel. As explained, you are allowed to carry forward the unclaimed LTA to one journey in the next block, you still have time to claim it till 31st December 2022. Even if you are not able to claim it during the current block, you can carry forward the unclaimed LTA but to be claimed in the first journey in the next block of 2023-2026.
This option works well for those who have anyway been planning to buy such eligible goods or services as for them the amount of income tax saving will work as discount on the product/service to be bought.
So, in my opinion, you need not rush up to avail this benefit unless you really need to buy those goods or services, which are eligible for this substitution.
From India, Gurgaon
49Let us understand how this scheme works.
What is the tax provision for claiming a tax exemption for LTA?
The tax laws allow an exemption for any money received by an employee for traveling to any place within India, either himself alone or along with his eligible family members, on holidays or otherwise or during employment or on retirement. An employee can avail tax benefit of LTA for two journeys during a predefined block period of 4 calendar years. The current block is of 2018-2021. You are allowed to carry forward unveiled LTA to the first journey to be undertaken in the following block. It is not necessary for you to avail the LTA benefit in two parts. You can exhaust it in one journey in the block.
How can an employee claim LTA even without traveling?
Under the scheme announced, the Central government employees are allowed to get cash in lieu of their entitlement for leave and LTA both whereas other employees can claim LTA only, on satisfaction of certain conditions.
For claiming the cash in lieu of leave entitlement, you have to spend an amount equal to the amount of leave entitlement on purchase of goods or services. For claiming the LTA exemption, both the categories of employees have to spend at least three times of the value of the their LTA entitlement. For claiming both the benefits, you have to buy goods and services from a seller who is registered under GST, and GST @ 12% or higher is payable on such goods or services. The money has to be paid through digital mode only so in case you pay cash or through cheque, you will not be able to claim the benefit. Moreover you have to submit the original copy of the tax paid invoice to the employer. In case full amount is not spent, you will get the benefit proportionately.
In case LTA is part of your salary, the employer will pay your LTA not claimed, treating the money as taxable element after deducting tax at your slab rate.
Who can claim this benefit?
This substitutive benefit is available only to those employees who are entitled to LTA. Though you are entitled to opt for the old scheme or the new scheme of taxation with lower rates while filing your ITR, but if you have opted for the new scheme of taxation, you will not be able to claim this benefit unless your employer lets you revere your option.
Should you go for it?
Since spending on purchase of goods or services of three times in value with a minimum 12% of GST, you will effectively pay at least 36% of the value of LTA exemption as GST for saving tax payable on your LTA entitlement. Your tax rates may vary between 5.20% and 42.74%. So, think whether it is worth it to pay 36% just to save the tax applicable for you in case you are entitled to get cash in lieu of LTA benefits. For both categories of employees, there is a limit of fare of Rs 36,000 per person.
Let us understand this with an example. In case you have four members in your family, the maximum LTA exemption in your hands would be Rs 1,44,000 (36,000*4). For claiming an exemption for this amount of eligible LTA, you will have to spend 3 times of this amount i.e. 4,32,000 for buying goods or services attracting a minimum of 12% GST. So, you will have to pay minimum Rs 51,840 out of your pocket as GST. Just compare the income tax saving which will accrue to you against the GST outgo in case you opt for it.
The current block of four years will expire next year on 31st December 2021, i.e. one year away, by which time, in all probability the severity of Covid-19 may subside and you may in fact be able to travel. As explained, you are allowed to carry forward the unclaimed LTA to one journey in the next block, you still have time to claim it till 31st December 2022. Even if you are not able to claim it during the current block, you can carry forward the unclaimed LTA but to be claimed in the first journey in the next block of 2023-2026.
This option works well for those who have anyway been planning to buy such eligible goods or services as for them the amount of income tax saving will work as discount on the product/service to be bought.
So, in my opinion, you need not rush up to avail this benefit unless you really need to buy those goods or services, which are eligible for this substitution.
From India, Gurgaon
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