Tax optimiser: How Shah can cut tax by Rs 42,000

Tax optimiser: How Shah can cut tax by Rs 42,000 via tax-free perks, NPS

Pune-based finance professional Anju Shah has just joined a new company that allows her to structure her compensation package.

Taxspanner estimates that Shah could save over Rs 42,000 in tax if she opts for tax-free allowance and the NPS benefit offered by her company. She also needs to invest in the NPS on her own and buy medical insurance for her family.

Shah should pick LTA, and reimbursement of phone and newspaper bills from among the bouquet of benefits offered to her. Reimbursements of telephone bills (Rs 750 a month), books and periodicals (Rs 500 a month) and LTA (Rs 60,000 a year) will save her roughly Rs 18,000 in tax.

Next, she should opt for the NPS benefit offered by her company under Section 80CCD(2). Up to 10% of the basic salary in the NPS is taxfree. If her company puts Rs 4,132 (10% of basic) in the NPS every month, her tax will be reduced by around Rs 10,300. Another Rs 10,400 can be saved if she invests Rs 50,000 in the NPS on her own.