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Your salary consists of many components. This article explains what each component means. It also discusses the income tax applicability of each component.
[The article has been inspired by a query from reader Dinesh Kumar]
There are many components in a salary structure that form your salary – some components are monthly, whereas some are yearly.
(Note: This article talks about the most common components of your salary. It doesn’t talk about the Cost To Company or CTC salary. To know more about your CTC salary and its calculation, please read “Cost To Company or CTC salary: Understanding and Calculation”)
Let’s understand some of the more popular components of your salary.
Basic
As the name suggests, this forms the very basis of your salary. This is the core of your salary, and many other components may be calculated based on this amount.
Basic usually depends on your grade within the company’s salary structure.
Many deductions are also dependent on the basic – for example, your contribution (and the matching component by your employer) to provident fund is 12% of your basic.
(To know more about provident fund and voluntary provident fund, please read “Provident Fund (PF) and Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF)”)
Basic is paid out every month, and is a taxable component of your salary.
Dearness Allowance (DA)
The Dearness Allowance is paid out to compensate for increase in the general cost of living due to inflation.
DA is paid out every month. It is a taxable component of your salary.
Incentive / Bonus
Incentives or bonuses are paid out depending on your performance (and, at times, depending on the company’s / division’s performance as well). This is to reward employees for their better performance.
Incentive is usually paid out monthly. A bonus can be paid out monthly or can be paid out once a year.
Incentive and bonus are fully taxable.
Conveyance Allowance
Conveyance allowance is paid out to meet your expenses on commute related transportation.
Conveyance allowance is paid out every month.
Conveyance allowance upto Rs. 800 per month (Rs. 9,600 per year) is tax-free. Any amount over it is taxable.
House Rent Allowance (HRA)
House Rent Allowance (HRA) is paid out to meet full or part of your expenditure on renting a house.
HRA may be expressed as a percentage of your basic.
House Rent Allowance is paid out every month.
HRA can be tax-free, subject to certain conditions. For more on taxation of HRA, please read “Income Tax (IT) treatment of House Rent Allowance (HRA)”.
Medical Allowance (Reimbursements)
Medical allowance is paid out to help you with the amount that you spend on medical treatment and medicines.
Medical allowance can be paid out monthly or yearly.
Medical allowance is a fully taxable component of your salary.
However, if you receive reimbursement of your medical expenses against submission of bills, such medical reimbursement is tax-free upto Rs. 15,000 per year.
Leave Travel Allowance / Concession (LTA / LTC)
LTA is paid to encourage you to take periodic vacations and travel with your family.
Leave Travel Allowance is usually paid out once a year.
LTA / LTC can be tax-free, provided certain conditions are met. For more on taxation of LTA / LTC, please read “Income tax treatment of leave travel allowance / concession (LTA / LTC)”.
Vehicle Allowance
This is an allowance given to you so that you can maintain a vehicle.
It is usually paid out monthly, and is taxable.
Telephone / Mobile Allowance
This is an allowance given to you so that you can maintain a telephone (landline or a cell phone).
It is usually paid out monthly, and is taxable.
Special Allowance
Special Allowance can be given out to pay money that doesn’t fit into any other head!
Such allowances are paid out monthly, and are taxable.
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Hi Sandip,
Thanks! Would write an article about it soon. Thanks for the idea!
very nice article…I looking forward for CTC related stuff…
thanks…..
pl let me know the last date to file it returns for salaried classed for fy 2008-2009
I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.
Hi,
The last date is usually 31st July, unless otherwise notified by the IT department.
Hello,
I am salary person & i have home loan also.
my questaion is where i seen home loan interest & which itr form i am eligible for it?
regards
For the people working with private companies with no PF,gratuity,medical facility,LTC etc,how to save the taxes?and also the company is giving form 16 ,not 16 A.
Hi Ashok,
Anyone can save tax through section 80C. To know about all the investment avenues available through section 80C, please read “Saving Income Tax – Understanding Section 80C Deductions“. Also, companies always give From 16 to their employees. Form 16A is given by banks, etc for TDS done by them.Hi Jatin,
You would need to file ITR2. Home loan interest needs to be entered under the head “income from house property”. (Schedule HP, field g)
SIR, UR ARTICLES ARE VERY USEFUL
MY QEUSTION IS WHAT U TOLD ABOUT HRA IN THE ARTICLE, WILL IT BE APPLICABLE FOR AY 2010-2011 OR IT IS ACC TO THE AY 2009-2010..??
PL TELL SIR
complex post. upright one decimal where I quarrel with it. I am emailing you in detail.
Hi Raghavendra,
There has been no change in rules about HRA – so, this article is applicable to both the years.
We are salary consultants to some companies. The maximum performance incentives payable to any employee is laid down in the employment letter or in the increment letter. The performance incentives are payable on a half-yearly or on a yearly basis. A majority of the employees are paid performance incentives in the range of 70-95%. Whether performance incentives are taxable on due basis or on actual receipt basis? How can one decide whether performance incentive is due to any employee or not? what is the general procedure followed by big listed companies?
Hi CA Vogety,
I look at finance from individuals’ side (from the viewpoint of employees) – I am not qualified to give you advise about how a company should tax incentives.
Sorry!
Hi,
Good article and very well written. I believe the above holds good for current financial year i.e. 2009-10 i.e. assessment year 2010-11. However, I feel it would be better if this info gets mentioned anywhere in the article.
Regards,
Vinayak Bhat
Sir,i am a govt servent. I want to know that in N.P.S. govt. contribution add in Gross Salary or not. thankyou.
That was a highly informative post. I really appreciate the way you have explained various components of salary structure.
infomation that you will provide is very good and pls provide the information in future.
What all expenses can be claimed as reimbursements under the head of Professional Development Allowance in CTC?