STANDARD DEDUCTION TO SALARIED PERSONS

In order to provide relief to salaried taxpayer, the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitley, proposed to allow a standard deduction of Rs. 40,000/- in lieu of the present exemption in respect of transport allowance and reimbursement of miscellaneous medical expenses. However, the transport allowance at enhanced rate shall continue to be available to differently-abled persons. Also, other medical reimbursement benefits in case of hospitalisation etc., for all employees shall continue.

Presenting the General Budget 2018-19 in the Parliament here today, the Finance Minister said, “Standard deduction shall significantly benefit the pensioners also, who normally do not enjoy any allowance on account of transport and medical expenses. The revenue cost of this decision is approximately Rs.8,000 crores. The total number of salaried employees and pensioners who will benefit from this decision is around 2.5 crores.”

BUDGET 2018STANDARD DEDUCTION

STANDARD DEDUCTION RS 40000/-

TO SALARIES /RITERED PERSON

BUT EXEMPTION OF TRANSPORT 

ALLOWANCE =19200/-  WITHDRAWN

MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT =15000/- WITHDRAWN

NET BENEFIT =40000-34200=RS 5800

Shri Jaitley said, “The Government had made many positive changes in the personal income-tax rate applicable to individuals in the last three years. Therefore, I do not propose to make any further change in the structure of the income tax rates for individuals. There is a general perception in the society that individual business persons have better income as compared to salaried class.”

The Finance Minister further said, “Apart from reducing paper work and compliance, this will help middle class employees even more in terms of reduction in their tax liability.”

Transportation allowance is presently exempted @ 1600 per month and medical reimbursement is exempted up to 15000 per year so total 1600*12=19200 +15000=34200 is exempted and instead of these two deductions /exemption standard deduction of Rs 40000 has been allowed. so net benefit of just 40000-34200=Rs 5800/-

This deduction is more beneficial to retired persons and persons who are not getting the benefits of medical reimbursement and transport allowance as they will get flat Rs 40000/- deduction.