I have a regular savings account which is also my salary account. I have opted for the sweep-in facility on my account to invest the surplus money in my savings account. The bank credits the interest earned on the sweep-in to my savings account. How is the interest income taxed, and will there be any TDS implications?
A sweep-in facility creates a fixed deposit (FD) account linked to your savings account. The excess funds lying in your savings account get transferred to the FD account. In case the funds in your savings account are insufficient to meet the payment obligations, a reverse sweep transfers the necessary funds into the savings account. The balance in the FD account earns interest. A higher balance makes high interest. However, if you have frequent withdrawals, the sweep-in does not benefit you much.
The interest earned gets taxed as per your income slab rate. In case the FD interest exceeds Rs 40,000 annually from the bank, a TDS of 7.5% applies for the FY 2020-21. The limit is Rs 50,000 for senior citizens. Also, senior citizens are entitled to a tax deduction up to Rs 50,000 from their aggregate interest income from banks.
Also Read: Tax Query: Can I claim tax deduction on stamp duty for purchasing a flat?
I received cash gifts on the occasion of my marriage and related ceremonies of about Rs 1 lakh. Can I deposit the amount in my bank account? Is any disclosure required for income tax purposes?
The gifts received on the occasion of marriage are tax exempt. The gifts need not be just only on the day of the wedding. They can be on the different ceremonies that take place on the occasion of marriage which include religious functions as per the religious customs of an individual. Also, gifts can be from your relatives and friends.
You should maintain a list of details of the gifts received. You can deposit the amount in your bank account, preferably as soon as the wedding is over. While filing your income-tax return, you need to disclose the gifts as a tax-exempt receipt.
For any clarifications/feedback on the topic, please contact the writer at sweta.dugar@cleartax.in
I am a Chartered Accountant by profession. I specialise in personal taxes and corporate income tax matters. I am an avid reader and track developments in financial markets, economy and other market developments.