HRA and Percquisites

This query is : Resolved

Querist : Anonymous

Querist : Anonymous (Querist)

19 July 2011 I have been came across where the company providing rent free accomodation to its employee and HRA.
Since the employee are presenting the rent paid receipt and fullfiling the conditionon of 13A on paper only.
My query is whether HRA will be exempt under section 13A or not?

CA Navin Jain

CA Navin Jain (Expert)
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19 July 2011 one employee can not get the benefit of the both together,

Querist : Anonymous

Querist : Anonymous (Querist)

19 July 2011 Thanks for replying.

Please provide any reference to support that.Becoz i have to convince the company.

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Querist : Anonymous

Querist : Anonymous (Querist)

20 July 2011 One employee can get the benefit of HRA and above perquisites together.Can any one provide any reference to support that

Asha Kanta Sharma

Asha Kanta Sharma

(Expert)
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28 July 2024 In situations where a company provides rent-free accommodation to its employees and also pays House Rent Allowance (HRA), there are specific rules governing whether HRA can be exempt under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

### Key Points Regarding HRA and Rent-Free Accommodation:

1. **HRA Exemption and Rent-Free Accommodation:**
- **HRA Exemption (Section 10(13A)):** HRA exemption is provided under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act for rent paid by an employee. The exemption is subject to the employee actually paying rent for the accommodation they occupy.
- **Rent-Free Accommodation:** When a company provides rent-free accommodation, this is treated as a perquisite under Section 17(2) of the Income Tax Act. This accommodation is valued as a perquisite and included in the employee's taxable salary.

2. **Claiming HRA and Perquisites Together:**
- **Ineligible for HRA Exemption:** If an employee is provided rent-free accommodation by the employer, they cannot claim HRA exemption for any rent paid for another accommodation, because the provided accommodation is considered as a perquisite and is already valued and taxed under Section 17(2). The employee cannot claim HRA exemption if they are not actually paying rent for their accommodation.

3. **Documentation and Compliance:**
- **Rent Receipts:** If the company provides rent-free accommodation, any HRA exemption claimed using rent receipts would be invalid because it would be considered that the employee is not incurring rent expenses due to the rent-free accommodation provided by the employer.
- **Actual Rent Payment:** To claim HRA exemption, the employee must actually pay rent and not be provided rent-free accommodation. In case the employee is paying rent for a different accommodation while also having a rent-free accommodation, it would be a matter of determining the legitimacy of both claims, which typically would not be allowed.

### Reference for the Rules:

1. **Income Tax Act, 1961:**
- **Section 10(13A):** Details the conditions under which HRA is exempt from tax, requiring actual payment of rent.
- **Section 17(2):** Defines perquisites, including the provision of rent-free accommodation by the employer, and mandates that it be added to the employee's taxable income.

2. **CBDT Circulars and Case Laws:**
- The Income Tax Department has issued various circulars and instructions that reinforce the principle that HRA exemption cannot be claimed for rent paid when the employee is already receiving rent-free accommodation as a perquisite.

3. **Judicial Precedents:**
- Courts and tribunals have consistently upheld that HRA exemption cannot be claimed if the employee is provided accommodation by the employer.

### Example Scenario:

- **Company Provides Rent-Free Accommodation:** The value of this accommodation is added to the employee’s salary as a perquisite.
- **HRA Claim:** The employee cannot claim HRA exemption for any rent paid for another house because the rent-free accommodation is already considered as a perquisite.

### Summary:

- **HRA Exemption Invalid:** HRA exemption cannot be claimed if the employee is provided rent-free accommodation as a perquisite by the employer.
- **Perquisite Inclusion:** The value of the rent-free accommodation is included in the employee's taxable salary.

**References for further details:**

- **Income Tax Act, 1961, Sections 10(13A) and 17(2).**
- **CBDT Circulars and Guidelines** (consult with a tax professional or review recent CBDT circulars for specific updates).

If you need to convince the company, you can refer to the provisions of the Income Tax Act and highlight that HRA exemption cannot be claimed if rent-free accommodation is provided by the employer, as this is already treated as a taxable perquisite.