Standard deduction allows salaried individuals to claim a flat deduction from income towards expenses that would be incurred with relation to his or her employment. There is no proof required in order to claim this deduction. Standard deduction was introduced for the salaried taxpayers under Section 16 of the Income Tax Act in the year 1974, but later abolished with effect from Assessment Year 2006-07. This decision to withdraw standard deduction by former Union Minister of Finance P. Chidambaram was taken on the grounds that there laid an equivalent increase in the basic exemption limit and Section 80C deductions.
For salaried employees who were earning an annual income from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 5 lakhs. An amount equal to Rs. 30,000 or 40% of the income, whichever was lower.
For salaried employees who were earning more than Rs. 5 lakhs. An amount of Rs. 20,000. The simplicity in its calculation, was the main advantage of standard deduction. It didn’t require any disclosures to be made or investment proofs to be submitted, and was given as a straight deduction from the income chargeable under the ‘salary’ head. The removal of the deduction essentially meant that those who were salaried incurred the tax on 'Gross Income', while the self-employed, consultants and freelancers paid tax on their 'Net Income'.