How Does the HRA Exemption Work?
House Rent Allowance (HRA) is a common component of an employee's salary in India. It is provided by employers to help employees meet their rental accommodation expenses. Under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act, a portion of this HRA is exempt from tax.
The 3-Condition Rule
The Income Tax Department states that your tax-exempt HRA will be the lowest of the following three amounts:
- The actual HRA amount received from your employer.
- The actual rent you paid minus 10% of your Basic Salary + Dearness Allowance (DA).
- 50% of your Basic Salary + DA if you live in a Metro city (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, or Chennai), OR 40% of your Basic Salary + DA if you live in any other city.
Note: Under the New Tax Regime, HRA exemption is not allowed. This calculation is only applicable if you opt for the Old Tax Regime during ITR filing.