Here is a list of Income-tax and investment tips for 2013 written by By Subhash Lakhotia, Tax Guru : CNBC Awaaz, Tax & Investment Consultant.
1) Income-tax file for one and all
It is time now for every tax payer of the country to make a resolution to have a separate independent Income-tax File for every member in the family. The objective of this is to achieve tax planning and cut down on your income-tax payments. Firstly think of your wife and if she does not have till now a separate independent Income-tax File, then start of having such independent Income-tax File for your wife. The concept of gift and loans in the name of your wife will help you to achieve this. However, do remember that your wife can receive gift from any relative other than her husband, her father in law and her mother in law. However, wife is free to take loan with reasonable interest from anyone including the husband. Similarly adopt the concept of gifting your major children and start having separate independent Income-tax File for your major children.
2) Hindu Undivided Family tax file in your kitty
If you are a Hindu, then it is time now to find out whether you have a separate independent Income-tax File of your Hindu Undivided Family. If still now you have not been instrumental in opening a separate Income-tax File for your Hindu Undivided Family, then right now is the time when you should start such separate Income-tax File in your family so that it helps you in the process of tax planning. The HUF file apart from enjoying the basic income-tax exemption of Rs. 2,00,000 will also continue to enjoy tax deduction in terms of section 80C as well as deduction for interest on housing loans. Also do remember that your HUF file can come into existence whether you have a son or just a daughter and even if you do not have any children, still your HUF file can come into existence right now.
3) Plan for your minor children
If you are having a minor child or a grand child, plan right now the different strategies for the safety and security of your minor child in particular. If you want to have lots of income and wealth in the name of the minor child and would still like no clubbing of the income of the minor child, then it is time now to think of creating a separate independent hundred per cent “Specific Beneficiary Trust” in the name of the minor child based on the principles enunciated by the various courts of India including the Supreme Court of India so that the income of the minor child with special terms and conditions mentioned in the Trust Deed is not clubbed with the income of the parents. It is also possible for you to think of starting a PPF account in the name of the minor child for his or her safety and also do not forget to take out Life Insurance Policies specially in the name of your minor child which will help the process of investment strategy in the years to come for the safety, security of your loving children.
4) Real Estate strategy
In the year 2013 in case you are thinking of buying your sweet home, then at that point of time do consider various vistas of tax and investment planning and then only take a decision to buy the property in the name of a particular member of the family. Generally speaking, it will be worthwhile to buy the property in joint names so as to reap the full fruits of tax and investment planning. Please do note that every co-owner of the property will enjoy a separate deduction of interest on housing loan up to Rs. 1,50,000 per annum and would also enjoy deduction in respect of repayment of the housing loan and plan now for your Real Estate to grow. Simultaneously, do not forget to keep in mind the provisions of the Wealth Tax Law so as to take care of wealth tax liability in respect of Real Estate or plan your wealth tax matter in such a manner that keeping in view the provisions contained in the Wealth-tax Law wealth-tax is not attracted on your Real Estate investment. It would also be a good idea to think of Rental Real Estate investment with the basic aim of getting a fixed secured rental income and lower tax incidence which is made possible through the special tax deduction at the rate of 30 per cent available for repairs etc.
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5) Salaries and Perquisites
We pray to the Almighty God to give you a good rise in your salary package in the year 2013. It may also be possible that you might be thinking of changing your job. In all situations namely when you get a good rise in salary or when you shift your service, then in both these situations do take care with regard to income-tax provisions contained in the Income-tax Law to save tax on your salary and perquisites. Study in greater detail the provisions contained specially in Income-tax Rules to get hold various of tax free allowances and perquisites for you during the year 2013. It is time now for you to even design your salary package and finally keep a strict watch on the comparatively recent new circular of the Central Board of Direct Taxes dealing with various aspects connected with taxation of salary income which will help you to save your taxes. Likewise, while you make contribution in the year 2013 to Provident Fund, please keep a strict watch during the year because the definition of salary for the purposes of Provident Fund is expected to be amended. Hence, your contribution as well as the contribution of your employer during the year 2013 has to be definitely in tune with the new provisions based on the change of the definition of salary.
6) Get ready to face the new GAAR provisions
Whether you like it or not but the fact remains that in the year 2013 the big tax payers in particular and more specifically the corporate tax payers will have to gear themselves to understand the provisions concerning General Anti Avoidance Rules popularly known as GAAR. It is a well known fact that even today the provisions concerning GAAR are contained in the Income-tax Act, 1961 as per the budget proposals made last year namely in the year 2012. But these provisions relating to GAAR will become applicable from 1st April 2013. The tax payers should carefully watch the provisions contained in the Finance Bill 2013 to find out the latest update with reference to GAAR and the tax payers particularly the big tax payers should make a deep study into the provisions concerning GAAR so that they do not face problem at a future point of time. It may also be noted that the purpose of GAAR is to ensure that the tax provisions are not misused by the tax payers and that is the reason that the provision of GAAR requires utmost care and concentration and study of the subject matter. It is even possible that the provisions concerning GAAR may be completely done away with in the statute book. But the final verdict of the Government will be known only when the Finance Bill 2013 is presented. Hence, carefully study the new tax provisions as and when introduced through the Finance Bill 2013.
7) Tax Planning relating to Capital Gain
If in the year 2013 you are going to receive certain amount by way of Capital Gain, then before making your decision to sell your assets, find out in the first place whether the gain arising to you is a Short-term Capital Gain or is it a Long-term Capital Gain because generally speaking, if you hold the asset for more than thirty six months, only then the gain becomes Long-term Capital Gain and is eligible to various concessions and deductions. Reversely, if the gain happens to be a Short-term Capital Gain, then there is no advantage at all in most cases. However, the shares and mutual funds if sold after holding it for more than twelve months, becomes a Long-term Capital Gain and less than that is a Short-term Capital Gain. Therefore, during the year 2013 at any point of time whenever you are contemplating to sell a particular asset, firstly sit down and calculate the period of holding. It is even possible that just postponing your sale to couple of months later or in some cases couple of days later may enable you to get full advantage of Long-term Capital Gain. Hence, do not sell the asset till you calculate the tax impact thereon. Also take care to save your Long-term Capital Gains either by investing in Capital Gain Bonds or in a residential property or finally investing in shares of certain new companies which are micro and small enterprises so that your tax liability with reference to Long-term Capital Gain becomes a big zero.
8) Cash is king, but take care
Cash is king, yes this statement is absolutely true. But during the year 2013, please continue to take care of all your cash transactions keeping in view the tax provisions as contained in the Income-tax Law. Do remember that wrong action of playing with your cash money may result into substantial financial loss to you. Hence, it is time now to remember that in the year 2013 one should be very careful to take care of handling cash in tune with the provisions contained in the Income-tax Act, 1961. Firstly do remember that in your business or profession never make cash payment of an expenditure exceeding Rs. 20,000 on one single day to one party or else take the expenses so incurred by you will be disallowed within the provisions of the Income-tax Law. This limit, however, happens to be Rs.35,000 for payment to transporters etc. Similarly, do take care to see that during the year 2013 you never make cash loan or repay the existing loan by cash of an amount of Rs. 20,000. The provisions contained in the Income-tax Act specifically provides levy of very very harsh penalties for taking cash loan and or repayment of the cash loan in which case the penalty is equal to the amount of loan. Hence, stop blaming right now the tax provisions but just concentrate on complying with the provisions contained in the Income-tax Law relating to cash payment.
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