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Guide on section 29 of Income Tax Act - Deductions related to employee welfare

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Last Updated: 01-04-2026

29.1 Deduction related to employee’s welfare

Section 29(1)

In the case of an assessee being an employer,

following sums shall be allowed as deduction in computing income chargeable u/s 26: –

 

Any sum paid by way of contribution towards

 

(a) a recognised provident fund or an approved superannuation fund, subject to–

(i) such limits, as may be prescribed, for recognising the provident fund or approving the superannuation fund; and

(ii) such conditions, as the Board may specify, for cases where the contributions are not made annually either as fixed amounts, or annual contributions fixed on some definite basis by reference to the income chargeable under the head “Salaries” or the contributions or to the number of members of the fund;

 

 

(b) a pension scheme referred to in section 124, for an employee

up to 14% of the salary of the employee in the tax year,

where such salary includes dearness allowance, if the terms of employment so provide, but excludes all other allowances and perquisites;

 

(c) an approved gratuity fund created by the assessee for the exclusive benefit of his employees under an irrevocable trust;

 

(d) irrespective of anything contained in sub-section (2),

any provision made for the purpose of

making contribution towards approved gratuity fund or

payment of any gratuity that has become payable during the tax year;

 

[i][(e) Employee’s Contribution credited to relevant fund on or before due date of ITR

amount of contribution received from an employee to which the provisions of section 2(49)(o) apply,

if it is credited by the assessee to the account of the employee in the relevant fund or funds,

on or before the due date of filing of return of income u/s 263(1) for the tax year.]

 

29.1.1 No deduction for provision of gratuity which is not payable in tax year

Section 29(2)

Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1)(d),

(a) no deduction shall be allowed for any provision made for the payment of gratuity to the employees on their retirement or termination for any reason; and

(b) in case deduction has been allowed for any provision made under sub-section (1)(d), then no deduction shall be allowed on actual payment made from such provision.

 

29.1.2 No deduction towards setting up of formation of fund

Section 29(3)

No deduction shall be allowed in respect of any sum paid by the assessee as an employer

towards setting up or formation of, or as contribution to,

any fund, trust, company, AOP, BOI, society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or other institution for any purpose,

except where such sum is so paid, for the purposes and to the extent provided by or under sub-section (1)(a) or (b) or (c), or as required by or under any other law in force.

 

[i] Clause substituted by Section 39 of FA, 2026 wef 01-04-2026.