Section 80U of Income Tax Act

On this Page: What is Section 80U?  | Who can Claim deductions under 80U? | Documents Required to Claim Tax Benefits Under Section 80U | Frequently Asked Questions about Section 80U

What is Section 80U?

 Section 80U of the Income Tax Act of India, 1961 provides a tax deduction to individual taxpayers who are suffering from a disability. To claim a deduction under Section 80U, the individual should be certified as a person with a disability by the medical authority. For people with disabilities, a maximum tax deduction of up to ₹75,000 is allowed and for people with severe disabilities, the deduction limit is ₹1,25,000. Here is a look at the details about Section 80U income tax deduction.

Who Can Claim Deductions Under Section 80U?

Only an Indian resident individual who is a certified person with a disability by respective medical authorities becomes eligible for the tax benefits of Section 80U. According to the Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1955 a person with a disability is someone who has at least 40% disability certified by the medical authority.

Section 80U also defines what a severe disability is. A condition where the disability is 80% or above classifies as a severe disability. It also includes multiple disabilities, autism and cerebral palsy. People with impairment of at least 40% in the below ailments are considered as disabled:

• Blindness

• Low vision

• Mental retardation

• Mental illness

• Leprosy-cured

• Hearing impairment

• Locomotor disability

Documents Required to Claim Tax Benefits Under Section 80U

Apart from the certificate of disability by recognised medical authorities in Form 10-IA, no other documentation is required to claim the tax benefits available under Section 80U of the Income Tax Act of India, 1961. You do not have to submit any bills or details of treatment done to claim the tax deduction.

The certificate of disability should be submitted together with the Income Tax Returns according to Section 139 for the relevant AY. If the certificate has expired, you would still be able to claim the deduction in the year of the expiry date. However, you will need a fresh certificate from the next year to claim tax benefits under 80U.