Home loans: Additional Rs 50,000 tax benefit for first-time home buyers starts

Home loans: First time home buyers from Friday will get additional tax benefit for purchase of residential properties of value up to Rs 50 lakh. The Finance Bill 2016, which is likely to be approved by Parliament during the second half of the Budget session, provides for up to Rs 50,000 tax benefit on loan up to Rs 35 lakh taken for residential house.

The government's proposals coming into force from Friday is aimed at promoting its ‘housing for all’ scheme and bolster the real estate sector which is facing a huge slowdown for last three-four years. "In furtherance of the goal of the Government of providing 'housing for all', it is proposed to incentivize first-home buyers availing home loans, by providing additional deduction in respect of interest on loan taken for residential house property from any financial institution up to Rs 50,000,

This incentive is proposed to be extended to a house property of a value less than Rs 50 lakh in respect of which a loan of an amount not exceeding Rs 35 lakh has been sanctioned during the period from the April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. "It is also proposed to extend the benefit of deduction till the repayment of Loan against Property continues

The proposed deduction is over and above the limit of Rs 2 lakh provided for a self-occupied property under section 24 of the Act. The tax incentive will encourage first-time home buyers and increase the demand significantly.

After the Finance Bill is passed by Parliament, the amendments in this regard in the Income Tax Act will take effect from April 1, 2017 and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2017-18 and subsequent assessment years.

With a view to incentivize affordable housing sector as a part of larger objective of 'Housing for All', the Bill also propose to amend the Act so as to provide for 100 per cent deduction of the profits of an assessed developing and building affordable housing projects if the project is approved before the March 31, 2019.

[Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/photos/budget-gallery/231529/home-loans-additional-rs-50000-tax-benefit-for-first-time-home-buyers-starts-april-1/6/S]