Financial year FY 2018-19 started and the new budget brought some changes to income tax laws for this year. We must be aware of these changes and should plan our taxes and investments accordingly. There are some relief points and some pains in this Budget. Let’s see the top 10 changes Budget 2018 made & all of these changes are applicable from April 1, 2018.

1. Transport Allowance & Medical Reimbursement not Tax Exempted

The Transport Allowance & Medical Reimbursement are no longer tax free. Currently the transport allowance was tax free up to Rs 19,200/- and medical reimbursement up to Rs 15,000/- so free from submitting above bills to the employers.

2. Standard Deduction of Rs. 40,000/- for salaried persons

A standard deduction of Rs. 40,000/- for salaried tax payers as well as for pensioners too. This deduction can be availed without submission of any proofs.

If point #1 is considered and subtracted from this deduction then there would be additional Rs. 5,800/- tax exemption for the salaried persons.

3. Cess hiked to 4% and named as Health and Education Cess

From FY 2018-19 the existing Cess of 3% (Education, Secondary and Higher Education Cess) has been increased to 4% and named as Health and Education Cess.

4. Reintroduction of LTCG on stocks and equity based mutual funds

Budget 2018 has reintroduced long term capital gains (LTCG) tax of 10%+Cess (i.e. 10.4%) on gains made of sale of equity or equity oriented mutual funds. To qualify for long term capital gains the stocks/mutual fund should have been held for at least 1 year. Capital gains up to Rs. 100K are tax free.

5. Dividend distribution tax on Equity mutual funds

The dividends from equity mutual funds would attract dividend distribution tax of 10%. However the dividend received would be tax free in hands of investor. This will affect schemes that were distributing dividends as a strategy.

6. Increased tax exemption upto Rs. 50,000/- on interest income for senior citizens

As per New section 80TTB, senior citizens would be able to claim interest income up to Rs 50,000/- as tax exempted income.

7. Tax deduction for Single Premium Health Insurance Premium

If you buy single premium health/medical insurance policy covering multiple years say for 5 Years then the  the tax exemption u/s 80D would be available proportionately for all the years.

8. Long Term Capital Gains Bond only eligible for capital gains from property

The long term capital gains tax exemption by investing in long term capital gains bond from specified companies (NHAI, REC or PFC) u/s 54EC would only be available for capital gains from sale of property including land, residential or commercial building.

9. Tax exemption on NPS for the Self-Employed

Till now, employees contributing to the National Pension System (NPS) were allowed to withdraw up to 40% of the total corpus without any tax at the time of maturity or closure of the account. The same benefit has now been extended to self-employed subscribers.

10. Senior citizens get Rs 20,000/- additional deduction on health premiums

Senior citizens will get a deduction for health insurance premium under section 80D of Rs 50,000/- up from Rs 30,000/- last year. There is also a hike in the deduction limits for medical costs on specified critical illnesses from Rs 60,000/- – Rs 80,000/- for senior citizens and Rs 100,000/- for very senior citizens who are 80 years and above.

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