Children Education Allowance Explained

The Income Tax Department has introduced various tax benefit schemes to promote the education and literacy benefit for the citizens. The schemes reduce the amount of taxable income and help in reducing the amount of tax payable. The Indian government has allowed tax exemption on the tuition fee paid. For some of the salaries, individuals payment of education fees is part of the salary structure.

The government pays educational expenses of the government employees from the Children education allowance. The Central Pay Commission, established to provide rules for salaries and other payments to government employees, decides such benefits.

What is a children’s education allowance?

Employees get Children Education Allowance to bear the educational expenses of their child. The education allowance for the children covers the costs related to the school and hostel. The Children Education Allowance was introduced on 1st September 2008.

Education allowance as per section 10(14) of the income-tax act, 1961

The Income Tax Act, 1961 Section 10(14) provides a special allowance to the salaried individual to cover educational and hostel expenses.

Types of fee reimbursable under section 10(14)

Types of fees that are eligible for reimbursement:

• Tuition Fee
• Admission Fee
• Practical Fee
• Special Fee Charged for electronics like music or any other subject.
• The Fee paid to use any appliance or for any aid
• Library Fee
• Any other fee charges

All the charges mentioned above shall be levied by the school directly to the student.

Other than the reimbursements mentioned above, the following other allowances can also get claimed:

• Set of textbook and notebook for the current year.
• Two sets of uniforms of the school
• A pair of shoes

Eligibility requirement for school or institution

To benefit from Children Education Allowance, a child has to study in the institution or school recognised by the Central Government, State Government, or any other UT Government. The educational authority can also recognise the educational institute with jurisdiction over the institute.

The condition also applies to the children who study in the lower and upper kindergarten.

Eligibility requirement for children

There is no minimum age prescribed to claim the benefit of children’s education allowance for the nursery children. Such age is also not prescribed for the physically or specially challenged child.

The maximum age for a normal child to claim the benefit of child education allowance is 20 years, and the maximum age for a specially-abled child is 22 years.

Educational allowances for the central government employees

The children education allowance gets paid to the employees of the central government. This allowance also includes the employees of the central government from Nepal and Bhutan and those employees whose children are studying abroad. But for receiving the benefit of the Children Education Allowance, there is a need for a certificate by the Indian Mission in a specific country that recognises the educational institute.

Tax deduction on tuition fees under section 80c

A tax deduction other than the Children’s Education Fee can get claimed on the tuition fee paid by the parents. The deduction can get claimed for any of the fees paid at the time of admission or at any other time to the registered school or college, or university. Under the Income Tax Act‘s Section 80C, a tax deduction can get claimed for full-time education. This Tax Deduction can get claimed by both salaried and self-employed individuals.

Eligibility for tuition fee tax deduction

The tax deduction can get claimed only by the individual who satisfies the condition for eligibility. The condition for eligibility for tax deduction are as follows:

• Individual Assesses Only: The tax deduction can only get claimed by individual assesses and not by Hindu Undivided Families or Corporates.
• Limit: The maximum limit permissible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is Rs. 1.5 Lakhs. An assessee can claim the tax deduction only for two children. When both parents are taxpayers, the tax deduction can be for 4 children.
• Child Education Only: The tax benefit can only get claimed towards educating the child. The fees for educating anyone else cannot get included in tax deductions.
• Full-Time Courses Only: Tax deduction can be claimed only on the tuition fees paid for the full-time course. The courses can be at school or for graduation or post-graduation.
• Affiliated Institution: The child should be studying in the school, college, or university affiliated with the necessary educational body.

Educational expenses that cannot get claimed under tax deduction

• A tax deduction cannot be available for any other fees other than tuition fees.
• A tax deduction cannot get claimed for any fees paid to avail of the part-time course.
• A tax deduction cannot get claimed for school fees paid for the spouse or another person other than the child.
• A tax deduction cannot get claimed if the fees are paid to any foreign institutes, even for the child’s education.

How to claim the tax benefit on tuition fees paid for children

To claim the tax benefit on the tuition fees, the following steps should get followed:

• Submit the receipt issued by the institution for the payment made.
• Show the tuition fee paid in the form 12BB before submitting the proof at the end of the financial year.
• Any individual who is not salaried can claim a deduction under schedule VI-A by showing the fees paid under Section 80C while filling the income tax return.

Conclusion

Implementation of Children Education Allowance got introduced to promote children’s education and improve literacy rate. It is so far achieved by the education allowance provided by the government. It has reduced the expenses of the child’s parents, which has encouraged them in educating their child without any burden. An increase in literacy rate can get seen in India after implementing the tax deduction policy. A tax deduction has played an essential role in saving money for a child’s education.

The children’s education allowance conditions are provided in the Income Tax Act, 1961. If an employee is from a government recognised company, then a Children Education Allowance is claimed under the Income Tax Act, 1961, Section 10(14) and a tuition fee tax deduction under Income Tax Act, 1961, Section 80C. Children’s education allowance can only get received for a child. It cannot get claimed for a spouse or other person other than a child.