What is the standard deduction on rental income?

The standard deduction on rental income is a flat 30% deduction allowed on the Net Annual Value (NAV) of a let-out property under Section 24(a) of the Income Tax Act. It is deducted from the NAV to arrive at the taxable 'Income from House Property' — regardless of actual expenditure incurred.

How Standard Deduction is Calculated

  1. Gross Annual Value (GAV) = Actual or expected rent, whichever is higher.
  2. Net Annual Value (NAV) = GAV − Municipal Taxes Paid.
  3. Standard Deduction = 30% of NAV.
  4. Taxable Income = NAV − Standard Deduction − Home Loan Interest (Section 24b).

Key Features

  • The 30% standard deduction is available irrespective of actual maintenance or repair costs.
  • Even if you spend nothing on repairs, you get a 30% deduction.
  • The deduction is also available on deemed let-out properties.
  • It is not available on self-occupied properties (as their annual value is NIL).

Example

If NAV of a let-out property is ₹6 lakh: Standard Deduction = 30% × ₹6 lakh = ₹1.8 lakh. If home loan interest is ₹3 lakh, taxable income = ₹6L − ₹1.8L − ₹3L = ₹1.2 lakh.

Combined Tax Relief for Let-Out Properties

  • 30% standard deduction + full home loan interest deduction = significant tax reduction.
  • In many cases, the net income from house property may even be negative (loss), which can be set off against other income.

The standard deduction of 30% on net annual value is a blanket relief that simplifies tax computation for rental properties. Combined with home loan interest deduction, it can significantly reduce — or even eliminate — taxable income from house property.

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