Deduction in respect of interest on deposits in savings account (Section 80TTA):
Section 80TTA has been introduced from this Financial Year [2012-13] and it allows to an Individual or HUF from his gross total income if it includes any income by way of interest on deposits (not being time deposits) in a savings account a deduction amounting to :
(i) in a case where the amount of such income does not exceed in the aggregate ten thousand rupees (Rs 10,000/-), the whole of such amount; and
(ii) in any other case, ten thousand rupees (Rs 10,000/-).
If such savings account is maintained in a
(a) banking company to which the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949), applies (including any bank or banking institution referred to in section 51 of that Act);
(b) co-operative society engaged in carrying on the business of banking (including a cooperative land mortgage bank or a co-operative land development bank); or
(c) Post Office as defined in clause (k) of section 2 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 (6 of 1898),
For this section, “time deposits” means the deposits repayable on expiry of fixed periods
Analysis/Conclusion
The insertion of this new section has been a relief to individual or Hindu undivided family as interest on saving bank account was always a taxable income with no corresponding tax benefits. It would also help in avoiding inclusion of small savings bank interest in the taxable income, which was required to be done after deletion of section 80L.