{"id":184835,"date":"2023-09-08T05:42:40","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T05:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/?p=184835"},"modified":"2023-09-08T05:42:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T05:42:40","slug":"living-in-employer-accommodation-read-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indiansapidnews.com\/celebrity\/living-in-employer-accommodation-read-this\/","title":{"rendered":"Living In Employer Accommodation? Read This"},"content":{"rendered":"
Employees who benefit from rent-free accommodation should pay heed to these new regulations, especially if they are in the higher salary brackets.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in a recent notification, modified Rule 3 of the Income-Tax (I-T) Rules, 1961, which deals with rent-free accommodation offered by employers to employees.<\/p>\n These changes follow the amendment to the Finance Act, 2023, for calculating perquisites related to concessional housing.<\/p>\n A perquisite is an emolument or benefit attached to an office or position paid in addition to salary or wages.<\/p>\n These new norms came into effect from September 1, 2023.<\/p>\n Employees who benefit from rent-free accommodation should pay heed to these new regulations, especially if they are in the higher salary brackets.<\/p>\n Says Dipen Mittal, deputy general manager, Taxmann, “The revisions in the computation of perquisite value for rent-free accommodation offer a more accurate reflection of real-world conditions.”<\/p>\n Understanding rent-free accommodation<\/strong><\/p>\n It is a residential arrangement allotted to an employee at zero or minimal rent.<\/p>\n Says Abhinav Jain, manager, CNK RK, “Rent-free accommodation can include a flat, guest house, hotel, service apartment, caravan, mobile home, and more.<\/p>\n “It is valued as a perquisite for calculating the salary according to Rule 3 of the I-T Rules, 1961.”<\/p>\n Says Prateek Goyall, partner, MV Kini, “Though there is no rental cost, this benefit is added to an employee’s income and taxed.”<\/p>\n Key aspects of the new norms<\/strong><\/p>\n Several factors influence the taxable value of rent-free accommodation.<\/p>\n These include the employee’s salary, the property’s location, whether it is furnished, and whether it is owned by the employer or rented.<\/p>\n The perquisite value for residents of large cities is 10 per cent of salary (down from the earlier 15 per cent).<\/p>\n For medium-sized cities, it is 7.5 per cent (reduced from 10 per cent), and for small cities, it is 5 per cent (compared to 7.5 per cent earlier).<\/p>\n The categorisation of cities has been updated.<\/p>\n Cities with a population of over 40 lakh are now considered large cities (up from 25 lakh).<\/p>\n Cities with a population of up to 15 lakh are now small cities. And those with a population exceeding 15 lakh but up to 40 lakh are now classified as medium-sized cities.<\/p>\n The population data used for the classification of cities is now based on the 2011 Census, and not the 2001 Census used previously. An inflation-linked cap has been introduced for cases where the employee is provided the same accommodation for more than a year.<\/p>\n The impact<\/strong><\/p>\n Employees occupying rent-free accommodation could see a drop in their taxable perquisite value.<\/p>\n Says Suresh Surana, founder, RSM India, “The revised rules will benefit taxpayers. The reduced percentages will reduce the perquisite value, and thereby the employee’s taxable income.”<\/p>\n Further, the cost inflation index will ensure that taxpayers are not subjected to excess tax in case of a large increase in their salary.<\/p>\n Says Mittal, “From Assessment Year (AY) 2025-2026 onwards, the perquisite value cannot exceed the value of the previous year adjusted by the cost inflation index.”<\/p>\n In short, this will enable such employees to get a bit more money in their hands.<\/p>\n Adds Jain, “The new norms affect employees who live in cities that have a higher population, both through the reclassification of limits, and through the changes in percentages for valuing the perquisite.”<\/p>\n Key points to note<\/strong><\/p>\n Perquisite valuation of accommodation provided earlier will be done until August 31, 2023, using the old rates. The new rates will apply from September 1, 2023.<\/p>\n Says Mittal, “Both employees and employers must factor in these changes when computing the perquisite value for AY 2024–25.”<\/p>\n Those who receive a House Rent Allowance (HRA) should note that this allowance and rent-free accommodation are mutually exclusive benefits.<\/p>\n Says Archit Gupta, CEO, Clear, “If an employee receives HRA, s\/he is not eligible for rent-free accommodation.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n