Home loan is a blessing in disguise as it will help us achieve our desire of owning a home and help us save tax along with it. The maximum tax benefit for repayment of principle which can be availed under 80C is Rs 1.5 lakh. The tax exemption on the interest paid on home loans is now capped at Rs 2 lakh.

Do you know that there is the higher advantage of owning multiple homes and availing loan for the same? Yes, individuals can claim a tax deduction for interest component part in case of the second home also.

Download Automatic All in One Income Tax Preparation Excel Based Software for Central Govt and State Govt employees for the F.Y.2016-17 & A.Y.2017-18 [ This Excel Utility can prepare at a time your Individual Salary Sheet + Inbuilt Individual  Salary Structure for both of Central & State Employees + Automatic H.R.A. Exemption Calculation + Automatic Form 16 Part A&B and Form 16 part B for F.Y.2016-17 as per the Finance Bill 2016-17]


First time home loan borrowers:-
In the Union Budget 2016, a new section 80E was introduced to benefit first time home loan borrowers. The government proposed an additional deduction of Rs 50,000 on interest payment of home loan EMI.

Note that this benefit is over and above the earlier limit which was 1.5 (principle)+ 2 lakh (interest) =3.5 lakh.

First-time borrowers can avail additional Rs 50,000 on the interest component. So, total and maximum tax benefits one can avail is Rs 4 lakh per year

Conditions for first-time buyers:-
Individuals who are applying for the first time should note that they should not own another house owned by him.

Individuals will be eligible only if the loan availed is less that Rs 35 lacs and the  property value are less than Rs 50 lakhs.

While, the loan should have to be approved between 1st April 2016 and 31st March 2017.

Claiming tax benefit under 80C:-
Home loan borrowers should know that the principle deduction includes all other deductions such as PPF, NSC etc., under section 80C which is capped at Rs 1.5 lakh.

Say, for example, if an individual is claiming the benefit of Rs 1 lakh for repayment of the loan then he will be left with Rs 50,000 to claim for exemptions on PPF, NSC etc., altogether.

Tax benefits for co-borrower:-
Individuals who are a co-owner and co-borrower of the house can also claim for tax benefits.

Note that if you are a co-applicant to the loan, but, the house is not in joint name, you cannot claim tax benefit. If a home loan borrower is paying the principal amount of Rs 4 lakh, he can avail tax benefit only up to Rs 1.5 lakh under Sec 80C.

In the case of a joint home loan, co-borrower can also claim for Rs 1.5 lakh under sec 80C, together they can get Rs 3 lakhs. So it is always a better idea to jointly go for a home loan and ownership of the house.




HRA Exemption U/s 10(13A):-

HRA can be claimed if you are living in a rented home despite having your own house, you can avail the HRA benefit along with section 80C and section 24.
Tax benefits under the section can be claimed only when an individual is receiving house rent allowance as a part of his salary. Individuals who have borrowed the amount from friends and relatives for home loan purpose can avail tax benefits. Note that, individuals will not be eligible for tax benefit on the principal amount, it is only applicable for interest component.

Other tax benefits:-



Along with principal and interest component, other expenses such as stamp duty, registration fee expenses can be claimed for tax benefits under Sec 80C. Also, processing fees charged for availing home loan can also be claimed for tax benefit.