Investments declaration guide - Form 12BB

Form 12BB is essential for any salaried individual for the tax deduction for investments and expenses. While you plan your investments, investing in stable options like fixed deposits or market-linked avenues like mutual funds, it is equally important to know about Form 12BB and submit it to your employer. Form 12BB reveals the investments and expenses you have made or incurred to claim tax exemptions through your employer. Usually, you need to submit Form 12BB in January or February, along with proof of your investment. Based on this information, your employer will compute TDS on your salary.

Before you submit Form 12BB for FY 2020-21, here’s all you need to know.

What is Form 12BB

Form 12BB is a document that employees in India use to declare their investments and expenses that are eligible for tax deductions. It is a statement of claims by an employee for deduction of tax under Section 192 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Form 12BB is typically used by employees to provide details of investments or expenses that they have incurred and wish to claim as tax deductions while calculating their income tax liability.

Form 12BB must be submitted by the employee to their employer, who will use the information provided in the form to calculate the tax to be deducted from the employee's salary. The form includes details such as the employee's name and PAN number, their salary, and the amount of tax they wish to claim as deductions.

Form 12BB is mandatory for all salaried individuals who wish to claim tax deductions on investments or expenses made during the financial year. It is an important document for both employees and employers as it helps ensure that the correct amount of tax is deducted from an employee's salary.

What is the purpose of Form 12BB

The claims you have made for various tax benefits are listed on Form 12BB. According to Income Tax regulations, you are required to submit this form to your employer if you are a salaried employee in order to receive the tax refund. The Form 12BB must be sent in at the conclusion of the fiscal year.

What deductions can you claim via Form 12BB

Here are the deductions you can claim through Form 12BB.

1. HRA (House Rent Allowance)

To claim HRA, add the name and address of your landlord along with copies of your rent receipts. If your total rent crosses Rs. 1 lakh, submit the PAN number of your landlord.

2. LTA (Leave Travel Allowance)/ LTC (Leave Travel Concession)

Add the amount and proof of expenses you have incurred for travel to claim LTA and LTC.

3. Interest payable on home loan

As per Section 24 of the IT Act, you can claim tax benefit for the interest on your home loan by submitting the interest certificate from your lender. Enter the interest amount you have paid along with your lender’s name, address and PAN in Form 12BB to do so.

4. All tax deductions (such as sections 80C, 80D, 80DD, 80G, 80GGA, 80GGC, 80TTA, 80U)

To enjoy tax exemptions for all investments made under Chapter VI A of the IT Act, you will need to fill out Form 12BB with the details and proof of your investments and expenditure.

5. What information is required to be filled in Form 12BB?

Form 12BB is a document that employees in India are required to submit to their employers to claim tax deductions and exemptions. Here is the information that needs to be filled in Form 12BB:

1. Name, address, and PAN number of the employee
2.  Name and address of the employer
3. Financial year for which the declaration is being made
4. Details of the tax deductions and exemptions claimed by the employee, including:

a. House Rent Allowance (HRA) - Rent paid, name, and address of the landlord
b. Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) - Details of travel expenses incurred
c. Deductions under Chapter VI-A of the Income Tax Act - Investments made in various tax-saving schemes like Life Insurance Premium, Public Provident Fund, Equity Linked Saving Scheme, National Pension System, etc.
d. Interest on home loan - Interest paid on a home loan during the financial year
e. Other exemptions and deductions under the Income Tax Act

The employee must provide supporting documents to prove the expenses or investments made, as applicable. The employer will use this information to calculate the employee's tax liability and deduct TDS (tax deducted at source) accordingly.

Where to invest to claim tax deductions in Form 12BB

You can claim deductions under Section 80C for the life insurance premium you have paid, for any investments done in ELSS, NPS, PPF or a tax-saving deposit, as well as for the education fees paid for your children.

Section 80CCC covers any premium you have paid for an annuity plan, while Section 80CCD covers any additional contribution you have made for NPS.

Section 80D and Section 80E cover medical insurance premiums and interest paid on an education loan, respectively. Include information regarding donations you have made to charity (which need to be recognised as charitable organisations) under Section 80G and add information related to the interest earned from a savings account under Section 80TTA.

When choosing investments, make sure you weigh the benefits of avenues that offer tax savings and those that help you grow your wealth.

Should you invest in tax-saving fixed deposits

When making investments to save tax, you may come across company fixed deposits that may not offer tax savings but enable you to grow your savings efficiently. One such example is Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposit, where you can look for lucrative interest rates, which are way above the usual tax-saving FD interest rates.

Bajaj Finance FD is an ideal investment option for you, no matter what else you have in your investment portfolio. It helps you grow your principal without the risk of market fluctuations, so you can benefit from stability and assured returns.

Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposit is one of the safest investment options that help you grow your savings. As the only Indian NBFC with an international rating of ‘BBB-’ by S&P Global, Bajaj Finance also carries the rating of FAAA/ Stable from CRISIL and MAAA (Stable) from ICRA investment is risk-free.

In addition to these high safety standards, you also get the flexibility to save monthly with deposits starting at Rs. 5,000 per month with the Systematic Deposit Plan.

Now that you see how choosing the Bajaj Finance FD strengthens your financial future, plan your investments and request a call from an executive today!

Remember that you can still enjoy the deduction of up to Rs. 1.50 lakh under Section 80C by choosing Equity Linked Savings Schemes, PPF or NPS and filling in the required details in Form 12BB.

When do I have to submit Form 12BB?

The Form 12BB, is submitted at the end of fiscal year, usually in January or February, along with documentation of your investment. Your company will compute TDS on your salary based on this information.

Do I need to submit Form 12BB to the Income Tax Department?

Form 12BB is submitted to your employer and not the Income Tax Department, based on which your company will compute the TDS on your salary.