A good citizen should always pay tax. But he should not end up paying unnecessary tax. A smart citizen is one who pays tax but also makes maximum use of provisions available in Tax Laws to minimize it. This can be achieved through scientific Tax planning.

An Indian Citizen can save tax under the following sections:

Section 80C of Income Tax Act 1961

A maximum of Rs. 1,00,000 can be claimed as a deduction from your taxable income provided it is invested in any / all of the following:

Section 80D of Income Tax Act 1961

Deduction upto Rs. 10,000 is allowed in respect of medical insurance premiums paid by cheque by an individual to benefit the assessee and dependent family including spouse, children, and parents. The same benefit is also available to an HUF for its members. For senior citizens, the deduction is raised to Rs. 15,000. However, premiums paid by senior citizens for covering health of their children, dependent or otherwise, are not eligible for the deduction.

Section 80DD of Income Tax Act 1961

The total deductible amount under this section is Rs. 40,000. Sec. 80DD stipulates that a resident individual or a member of HUF having a dependent relative who suffers from a permanent physical disability (including blindness) or mental retardation is entitled to a deduction of Rs. 20,000 in a year for medical treatment, training or rehabilitation.

Payment to LIC’s ‘Jeevan Aadhar’ and UTI’s ‘Special Plan for the Handicapped’ specially designed for such persons is covered by Sec. 80DD. Deduction under section 80DD is statutory in nature and is allowed in full, irrespective of the actual expenditure incurred on medical treatment.

Section 24 of Income Tax Act 1961

Under Section 24, the maximum amount of Rs 1,50,000 paid towards iinterest on your Housing Loan can be deducted from your income.