Updated on: Apr 15th, 2024
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6 min read
Some salaried taxpayers have to file ITR-2. This FY, the department is asking for in-depth details of the salary components from the individuals filing the ITR-2 form.
An individual taxpayer who has income more than Rs 50 Lakhs (total income from salary, house property, other sources etc.) has to file their income tax return in ITR-2 form.
Let’s understand the breakup of the salary components required in filing the ITR-2 form for FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25):
For the AY 2024-25, the ITR-2 form requires a taxpayer to provide the break-up or the components of the salary.
The various components of the salary for which information is required are mentioned below:
a. Salary as per provision of section 17(1): Basic components of salary including all allowances provided to employees, e.g., Basic salary, house rent allowance, leave travel allowance, gratuity etc. Each allowance under ‘salary’ has to be specified and filled in separately. Employers provide various allowances which are eligible for tax exemption in the hands of employees.
For example:
Mr A earns income from salary. His salary consists of the below components. Notice that some portion of the allowance received is exempt from tax. These allowances and their exempt portion will now be reported separately in ITR.
Allowances | Component of salary package | Exemptions allowed under section 10 |
House rent allowance | 1,50,000 | 1,20,000 |
Leave travel allowance | 60,000 | 50,000 |
Gratuity | 4,00,000 | 3,50,000 |
Leave encashment | 80,000 | 80,000 |
Information about the various exempt allowances provided to an employee can be found in Part B of Form 16, as depicted below :
Once you upload your Form 16 on the Cleartax portal, your ITR-2 will be automatically filled with the required information.
b. The value of perquisites u/s 17(2) provided to employees, e.g., accommodation, car, interest-free or concessional loans, stock options etc.
Employer provides perquisites in the nature of any benefit or amenity to employees either free of cost or at a concessional rate. The value of every benefit falling under ‘perquisite’ has to be specified and filled in separately.
If you are using Cleartax, you need not worry about filling out ITR-2. We automatically file your ITR-2 with the information given in your Form-16. All you have to do is upload Form 16 on Cleartax and file your ITR.
For example:
Mr B earns income from salary. His salary package includes the following ‘perquisites’ components:
Perquisites | Component of salary package | Amount recovered from employee | Value under section 17 |
Accommodation | 1,80,000 | 20,000 | 1,60,000 |
Car | 60,000 | 10,000 | 50,000 |
Gas, electricity, water | 30,000 | – | 30,000 |
Interest-free or concessional loan | 20,000 | 5,000 | 15,000 |
Gifts, vouchers etc. | 5,000 | – | 5,000 |
The details of the perquisites can be found in Form 12BA, which is a supplement to Form 16, as shown below:
Thus, an employee can gather the basic information on the components of salary from the annexure and Form 12BA to Form 16. However, in case an employee is unable to find the information required in ITR-2 from Form 16, then the employee may need to gather the required data from their payslips etc.
c. Profit in lieu of Salary u/s 17(3): The amount due to/received by employees u/s 17(3) as profits in lieu of salary e.g., compensation on account of termination of employment, amount received under keyman insurance policy etc.
‘Profits in lieu of salary’ are amounts received by an employee in addition to or in lieu of salary and have to be specified and filled in separately.
For example:
Mr B receives the below payments from his employer:
Profits in lieu of salary | Value under section 17 |
Compensation received on modification of terms of employment | 1,00,000 |
Sum received under a keyman insurance policy | 50,000 |
The amount received before joining employment | 50,000 |
The details of profits in lieu of salary can be found in Form 12BA, which is a supplement to Form 16, as shown above.
In case a taxpayer is employed with more than one employer in a financial year, then the aforementioned details are required to be provided for each such employment.
The table below provides the broad components of salary and the source of information:
Components of salary | Source of information |
Salary, including all allowances | Annexure to Form 16 |
Perquisites | Form 12BA (Statement showing particulars of perquisites and profit in lieu of salary) |
Profits in lieu of salary | Form 12BA (Statement showing particulars of perquisites and profit in lieu of salary) |
The form ITR-2 seeks details of various components of salary, allowances, perquisites, profits in lieu of salary etc, as discussed above. Further, the form ITR-2 also requires details of allowances claimed exempt (under section 10) out of the allowances provided in the gross salary.
The intention behind the detailed requirements of the ITR-2 form is apparently to cross-verify the claims for exemption under section 10 made by the employees as against the allowances received as components of the salary.
In addition to the above, the detailed information about the salary components would facilitate the Income Tax Department to cross-verify income reported by an employee with the TDS certificate i.e. Form 16 issued by the employer.
The table below lists the details required in ITR-2 under each component of salary:
Components of salary | Details required in ITR-2 |
Salary, including all allowances | Basic salary; Dearness allowance; Conveyance allowance; House rent allowance; Leave travel allowance; Children education allowance; Other allowance; Employer’s contribution to pension scheme; Deemed income in respect of contribution to Employee provident fund; Annuity or pension; Commuted value of pension; Gratuity; Fees or commission; Advance of salary; Leave encashment; Others. |
Perquisites | Provision of – Accommodation; Cars/ other automotive; Sweeper, gardener, watchman, or personal attendant; Gas, electricity, water; Interest-free or concessional loans; Holiday expenses; Free or concessional travel; Free meals; Free education; Gifts, vouchers etc.; Credit card expenses; Club expenses; Use of movable assets by employees; Transfer of assets to employee; Value of any other benefit/amenity/service/privilege; Stock options (non-qualified options); Tax paid by employer on non-monetary perquisite; Other benefits or amenities. |
Profits in lieu of salary | Compensation due/received by an assessee from his employer or former employer in connection with the termination of his employment or modifications thereto; Any payment due/received by an assessee from his employer or former employer or from a provident or other fund, sum received under keyman insurance policy including bonus thereto; Any amount due/received by an assessee from any person before joining or after cessation of employment with that person; Any other sum received. |
Above details need to be reflected in ITR-2 in Schedule S - Salary. Format is as follows
What is Form 16 – Basics, Part A & Part B of Form 16, FAQs
Allowances and deductions available to a salaried person & documents they need to submit to avail them
How to file your tax return if you have two Form 16 Part As?