Section 80E of the Income Tax Act

What is Section 80E?

Section 80E of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is a provision that allows individuals to claim a deduction on the interest paid on educational loans. This section is designed to provide financial relief to taxpayers who have taken loans for themselves, their spouses, or their children to pursue higher education. 

The interest component of the educational loan is eligible for deduction, and the principal repayment does not qualify. The deduction is available for loans obtained from recognized financial institutions and charitable organizations, excluding loans from friends or relatives. 

Who Can Avail Tax Deduction under Section 80E of the Income Tax Act, 1961?

The eligibility criteria to get income tax deduction under section 80E of the Income Tax Act, 1961 are:

• Interest Component Deduction: The deduction under Section 80E is applicable only to the interest component of the educational loan. The principal repayment does not qualify for a deduction.

• Eligible Entities: Only individuals are eligible to claim a deduction under Section 80E. Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and companies are not entitled to benefit from this provision.

• Approved Lenders: To qualify for the deduction, the educational loan must be obtained from recognized financial institutions and charitable organizations. Loans obtained from friends or relatives are not eligible for the deduction under Section 80E.

• Purpose of the Loan: The educational loan must be availed for higher education purposes. This includes pursuing any post-secondary course after completing the senior secondary examination or its equivalent. The loan can be taken by the taxpayer, their spouse, or children.

• Maximum Deduction Period: The deduction can be claimed for a maximum of 8 years or until the interest on the loan is fully repaid, whichever is earlier. This ensures that taxpayers can benefit from the deduction throughout the repayment period.

What are the Tax Benefits under Section 80E?

An individual who has taken an education loan for higher education can avail of the tax deduction under Section 80E of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The best part about this deduction is one can avail it even after availing the maximum provided deduction of Rs.1,50,000 under Section 80C.

Note: The tuition fee paid towards the education is also eligible for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. However, the interest paid towards the education loan for higher education gets deducted under Section 80E.

How Can the Education Loan be Taken?

To qualify for a deduction under section 80E, it is necessary to obtain the loan from a bank, financial institution, or an approved charitable organization. Loans acquired from friends or family members to fund higher education are not eligible for this deduction.

What is the Purpose of an Education Loan?

You qualify for the education loan deduction exclusively when the loan is utilized for advancing your higher education, regardless of whether it is pursued in India or abroad. Higher education encompasses all areas of study pursued after successfully completing the senior secondary examination or its equivalent. This encompasses both vocational and regular courses.

Deduction Period

The tax deduction on the interest of the loan that an individual has taken for higher education starts as soon as they start repaying the loan. This benefit is available only for 8 years, starting from the year they have started repaying the loan or until the interest is completely repaid, whichever comes first. This means, if the complete loan is repaid in 6 years, then the tax deduction under Section 80E will be available for 6 years only and not for 8 years. In addition to this, if the loan duration exceeds 8 years, then the interest paid after 8 years will not be eligible for tax deduction under Section 80E.

Amount of Deduction

The allowed deduction is the total interest of the EMI that one pays during one financial year. However, there is no limit on the maximum deduction amount, but an individual has to get a certificate from their bank for the same. This certificate should have separate descriptions of interest and the principal amount of the education loan for that specific financial year. In this way, there will not be any tax benefit for the principal amount; instead, the interest is eligible for the same. 

What are the Documents Required for Claiming Deduction Under Section 80E of the Income Tax?

The documents required for claiming the tax deduction under Section 80E of the Income Tax Act, 1961 are:

An individual needs to get a certificate from the Bank or financial institution or from the charitable institute that is approved and from which the loan is taken. This certificate must have separate portions for the principal amount and interest amount of the education loan that is taken for the financial year.