How is income from a house or a property taxed?

There is nothing like owning a house or a property and it is considered a symbol of wealth. But what would happen if one owns more than a single property. Would that person be taxed for this? In India low cost housing is a prime agenda of the Government and if one were to own a second home and lock it up for investment purposes it would be detrimental to the cause. In order to discourage this practice and encourage one to give the second home on rent the Government taxes one’s second home if it is not given on rent.

How is property classified?

A property is considered to be self occupied if one resides in it. One has to stay or live on the property and this is defined as self occupied property. If one owns more than one property the second property is known as a let out property. What would happen if the second property is not given on rent or is left vacant? According to tax rules this kind of a property is deemed to be let out.

What is meant by income from property?

Unlike other heads of income an income from property is a notional value called annual value. If property is deemed to be let out one would not know the exact rental value he would obtain as the property is not actually given on rent. This is basically the amount one would earn if he gives the property on rent. The annual value may be a value higher than the rent actually received if one were to give his property on rent. Consequently if one does not give his second house or property on rent the market rent would be considered as the annual value for the purpose of taxation.

So how does one compute the annual value of a house property which is let out?

The inherent value of a property to earn an income is called annual value. This amount is taxed in the hands of the owner.
The gross annual value is the highest of the following :

The difference between (c) and (d) is known as annual value commonly known as gross annual value. One then subtracts the amounts known as municipal taxes in order to calculate the net annual value of the property.

How does one compute the annual value of a house property which is deemed to be let out?

What happens if one owns two or more properties? These properties which may not be given on rent are known as deemed to be let out properties. The property one resides in is known as the self occupied property and the other properties are deemed to be let out under the present income tax laws. The gross annual value is calculated in the same way as the let out property. Since rent is actually not received as these properties are not given on rent the standard rent calculated as per municipal laws are considered. If one pays municipal tax these amounts are deducted in order to compute net annual value. One needs to note that in case he owns more than a single property the others being deemed to be let out properties he needs to select the property having the highest gross annual value as the self occupied property. This would help one in optimum tax planning.

How does one compute the annual value of a self occupied house property?

If one resides on the property throughout the financial year, this property is considered as a self occupied property. The net annual value of the property is zero for a self occupied property.

What are the deductions one can obtain from the income from house property?

One gets Income tax deductions on the annual value of the house property while calculating income from house property under Section 24.One gets two types of deductions under Section 24.

Standard deductions under Section 24 (a) under Income from house property

One can obtain a standard deduction of 30% on the annual value under “income from house property” under Section 24(a) irrespective of the amount of expenditure one incurs during the financial year. This does not apply to self occupied houses as the net annual value is 0.This law applies specifically for a let out property or one which is deemed to be let out.

Income on borrowed capital under Section 24 (b)

Interest on the borrowed property when the house property is self occupied

There is a famous saying “ Home is the nicest word there is“. Investing in a second home as well as studying tax charged on it is a must in order to save on tax. Remember for every benefit one receives a tax is charged.