I just want to know that whethe
r the life insurance policy sum received is eligible for income tax purpose under what circumstances.
As per Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 the amount of sum assured plus any bonus (i.e. the policy proceeds) paid on maturity or surrender of policy or on death of the insured are completely tax free for the receiver subject to certain conditions.
These policy proceeds will be taxable in the hands of the insured in the following situations:
- As per section 10(10D) in case of a life insurance policy issued after 1.4.2003 but on or before 31.3.2012 if the premium payable in any year exceeds 20% of the actual sum assured, then the policy proceeds would be taxable in the hands of the insured. As per section 10(10D) read with explanation to Section 80C(3A), actual sum assured simply means the sum assured which is least in all the policy years and does not include any bonus amount which is to be received over and above the assured amount. This 'actual sum assured' shall also not include any premiums which are to be returned to the policyholder.
- For policies issued on or after 1.4.2012, the above mentioned limit of 20% has been changed to 10%.
- In case the insured suffers from severe disability or disease as specified by the Income Tax Act and rules and his/her policy was issued on or after 1.4.2013, then for them the limit of 10% will be increased to 15%. For this purpose, disability has to be one of those specified in section 80U (like autism, mental retardation) and disease has to be one of those specified in section 80DDB read with Rule 11DD of income tax rules such as blindness.
- In case the premium payable in any year exceeds the prescribed percentage i.e. 10%, 15% or 20% of actual sum assured, as described in the preceding paragraphs, then the whole proceeds from the policy would get taxed in the year of receipt. However, in case of death of the insured, where his nominees receive the policy proceeds the same shall be tax free in the hands of the nominee(s) even if premium paid in any year crossed the prescribed percentage of sum assured.
- As per section 194DA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, any sum received by an insured Indian resident from an insurer under a life insurance policy shall be subject to TDS @ 2% if the said sum is not exempted under section 10(10D). This means that policy proceeds exempted under section 10(10D) will be given to the insured without TDS (Tax Deduction at Source). Further, even if these proceeds are taxable as per section 10(10D) but do not exceed Rs 100,000, then also no TDS is to be deducted by the insurer.
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