Claimed HRA in ITR below Rs 1 lakh to evade PAN submission? You can get an Income Tax Notice

financialexpress.com:

Salaried employees living on rent are allowed to claim deductions against the House Rent Allowance (HRA) provided by employers. For rent paid up to Rs 1 lakh, salaried employees are not required to submit their landlords’ Permanent Account Numbers (PANs). However, claiming a fake HRA deduction by showing below Rs 1 lakh rent to evade PAN submission can trigger a notice from the Income Tax Department.

According to Neeraj Agarwala, partner, Nangia Andersen India, individuals at times make incorrect HRA and home loan deduction claims in their income tax returns. Claiming both deductions wrongly can trigger a notice by the Income Tax Department.

Agarwala writes in an article that the purpose of such notice is to grant the tax department an opportunity to examine the case as to whether the taxpayer has made a legit claim or not.

An Income Tax notice can be triggered if a salaried employee has not submitted relevant details to his/her employer but makes an HRA claim in ITR.

Further, a tax notice can be triggered if you are claiming both HRA and home loan deductions while your house and your workplace are in the same city

Agarwala writes that there has been a misuse of this provision by certain individuals, who falsely claim HRA deductions under Rs 1 lakh to evade PAN submission. In such cases, the tax department is more likely to send a notice in order to curb this practice.

Also Read: 7 types of Income Tax Notice ITR filers may receive for AY 2023-24

You will be okay if your house and workplace are located in different cities and you are claiming both HRA and home loan deductions. Further, you would be okay if you have submitted relevant details to your employer and there are no mismatches in your ITR.

In case, you are