chat Chat

Planning to save taxes: Watch out for these pitfalls

With the tax-saving season on full swing, taxpayers are scouting possible ways to reduce their tax liability.

An annual exercise that gains momentum in the last quarter of the financial year, tax-saving must be done with utmost care as any wrong move can have a long-lasting impact on your financial well-being. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for in this essential activity.

1. Waiting until the last month of a fiscal to invest

It’s an irony that tax-saving gains precedence in the last quarter of a financial year. Also, some taxpayers leave it till the end of March to plan taxes. This delay can lead to rash decisions which can hurt in the long run. So, you must not wait until the last month of a financial year to find ways to save taxes. It will not help you reap the benefits of the various avenues to the fullest and create a diversified portfolio, essential for long-term wealth creation.

2. Putting money in the wrong instrument

In a bid to save taxes, taxpayers often end up putting money in wrong instruments that don’t align to their financial goals. This not only delivers poor outcomes in the long run, but also leads to a recurring liability for several years to come.

It is therefore important to understand the basic objectives of any financial instrument and see if it helps you attain your goals, while bringing down tax-liability in the process. At the same time, it’s essential to make sure that it doesn’t bind you in a commitment, which you might not be able to fulfil in the future.

3. Not looking beyond section 80C

Section 80C is perhaps one the most popular sections outlining avenues where you can put your money to lower your tax liability. The maximum deduction allowed under this section is ₹ 1.5 lakh in a fiscal.

Often taxpayers limit themselves to this section, thereby failing to take advantage of tax deductions outlined in other sections. The table given below outlines the other sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961 under which you can claim deductions to save taxes:

Section Description
80D Payment of medical insurance premium for self, spouse, children and parents
80DD Expenditure incurred on health of a disabled dependent
80E Payment of interest on an education loan
80EE Payment of interest on home loan
80G Donation made towards certain funds, temple
80GGA Donations made to specified institutes
80GGC Donation to a political party
80TTB Interest on deposits with banks, post office, etc.

Source: Economic Times

So, it’s not essential that you have to exhaust the maximum limit under section 80C while planning to save taxes. You can look out towards these sections too to lower tax liability.

With the deadline for making investments in tax-saving instruments nearing, it’s essential for you to make prudent decisions. If you can’t do it alone, it’s advisable to seek professional help. Also, make sure you make the right declarations while filing returns to avoid penalties and complications later.


Disclaimer: Articles published on the website are merely indicative and suggestive in nature and do not amount to solicitation. The contents do not guarantee the desired returns and/or results. Reader is advised to exercise discretion and consult independent advisors for achieving desired result. Visitors to this blog/ website w.r.t products & services offered by RBL Bank Limited herein, shall ensure that the comments / feedback posted shall be restricted to the contents published herein and shall not contain such language that may be un-parliamentary or against any religion, caste, section of society, political view etc. While our endeavor is to publish the comments that are submitted, however, all comments/feedback shall be subject to internal review by RBL Bank Limited. We do not guarantee that the comments that are submitted will be published.

Tags


A newsletter from RBL Bank

Stay Informed on the most impactful business and financial news with analysis from our team

Archives: