

A car lease in CTC helps reduce your tax outgo. Here's how
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.For salaried employees in the new tax regime, the list of meaningful tax-saving components has shrunk. Popular elements such as house rent allowance (HRA) and leave travel allowance (LTA) have lost relevance for those who have shifted to the simplified structure.
One component that has gained prominence is car lease provided by the employer.This significant flexi benefit not only offers employees the convenience of driving a car without owning it and worrying about maintenance, but it can also help save tax.Car leasing allows employees to use a vehicle for a fixed period by paying a monthly rental fee instead of buying a car outright or taking a loan. Ownership remains with the leasing company and at the end of the term, one can either return the car or pay a pre-agreed amount to own it.When this arrangement is routed through your employer, the employer signs a lease agreement with a leasing company and pays the monthly rentals directly to them.
These rentals are part of the cost to company (CTC), meaning they are part of your pre-tax salary and the employer deducts it to pay it to the leasing company on your behalf.The rental amount includes the cost of the car and insurance, and in some cases, maintenance too. If maintenance does not make up the rental amount, it can be added to the CTC as a separate flexi component on which you can claim reimbursements.Car lease tenures are usually structured for three to five years, while some companies offer them as annually renewable contracts.
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