How to calculate income tax relief under section 89(1)?

 What is Section 89(1)

It is a relief provided by the income tax department in relation to amount received in advance or in arrears in the form of salary which is related to any other financial year.

Basically, when any person receive salary in arrears or in advance in any particular year then there might be chances that their income will falls in the higher slab and taxed at the higher rate, which would have not been the case if the same salary is receive in their respective year.

Therefore, to avoid such higher tax due to timing difference, income tax department has provided relief under section 89(1)

Steps to calculate the relief u/s 89(1)

Step 1 Calculate the tax payable on total income including arrears of relevant previous year in which salary should have been received. (A)

Step 2 Calculate the tax payable on total income excluding arrears of relevant previous year in which salary should have been received. (B)

Step 3 Calculate difference between A-B=(C)

Step 4 Calculate tax payable on Current year salary in which arrears of salary is received including arrears. (D)

Step 4 Calculate tax payable on Current year salary in which arrears of salary is received excluding arrears. (E)

Step 5 Calculate difference between D-E=(G)

Step 6 Benefit u/s 89(1) is G-C

Example

Mr. X is a government employee, his current year i.e., FY 2020-21 salary is INR 14,50,000/- Per annum and also receives arrears of salary for FY 2017-18 of INR 50,000. And his actual total income of FY 2017-18 is INR 6,50,000.

Now Mr. X is eligible to avail relief u/s 89(1) for the extra tax burden due to arrears of his salary, here below is the detailed calculation.

Step 1: Calculate the tax payable on total income including arrears of relevant previous year in which salary should have been received. 7,00,000/- (650000+50000), total tax on 7,00,000 is 66,950/-

Step 2: Calculate the tax payable on total income excluding arrears of relevant previous year in which salary should have been received. (B) 6,50,000, total tax on 6,50,000 is 56,650/-

Step 3: Calculate difference between A-B=(C), 10,300/- (66,950-56,650)

Step 4: Calculate tax payable on Current year salary in which arrears of salary is received including arrears. (D) 15,00,000 (14,50,000+50,000), Tax on 15,00,000/- is 2,73,000

 

Step 4: Calculate tax payable on Current year salary in which arrears of salary is received excluding arrears. (E) 14,50,000, Tax on 14,50,000 is 2,57,400

Step 5: Calculate difference between D-E=(G) (2,73,000-2,57,400= 15,600

Step 6: Benefit u/s 89(1) is G-C (15,600-10,300) = INR 5,300