Learner
1881 Points
Joined December 2012
Hi Friends
Everytime i put a question on CA Club Forums there is a riot 
I always get two conflicting opinions and i am left wondering what to do.
Section 87A language doesnt seem to restrict rebate on lottery income as it talks about only total income and lottery income is also a part of total income. 87A is about providing rebate from income tax calculated and the income tax calculated can be the sum total of lottery income and slab income.
However, if we go into the spirit behind introducing section 87A when P Chidambaram introduced in Budget few years back. He talked about 10% inflation and providing relief to the first income tax slab assesses which was then rs. 200000, so he gave rebate of 2000 (200000 * 10%) to compensate them for the inflation.
His intention while introducing the section 87A was slab income but in framing of section 87A it talks only about total income and makes no mention of excluding casual incomes like lottery, hence the confusion.
If you go by the letter of section 87A, Mr. X should get tax rebate of Rs. 2000 but if anyone heard P Chidambaram Budget speech that day, you know thats not perhaps he intended.
Regards
Shivani
shivaniadream @ gmail.com