GUIDESMONEY MATTERS
Types of Allowances in Salary in India: Taxable & Non-Taxable
3 MIN • 
LAST EDITED BY SAYAN DAS ON MAY 30, 2025.
LAST EDITED BY SAYAN DAS ON MAY 30, 2025.
GUIDES LAST EDITED BY SAYAN DAS ON MAY 30, 2025.
Allowance is a financial benefit provided by employers to employees over and above their regular salary. While certain allowances are taxable under the head salaries, some allowances are partially taxable, and others are fully non-taxable.
In India, tax rules vary for individuals earning income from salary and those with other types of income. E-Filing Income Tax is a boon for them.
However, they still need to declare their salary income through an online or offline form while filing their returns. Understanding different types of allowance provided by employers to cover various costs can be beneficial, as allowance may be taxable, partially taxable, or fully non-taxable.
An allowance is a financial benefit provided by an employer to an employee in addition to their regular salary. These allowances help cover various expenses incurred during the course of employment.
For instance, Conveyance Allowance is given to employees to offset commuting costs. While some allowances are fully taxable under the head Salaries, others may be partially taxable or entirely tax-exempt, depending on their nature and purpose.
Understanding different types of allowances can help employees optimise their tax planning and financial management.
This blog discusses the different types of allowances that can be included in a salary slip, and how they may be taxed. It also provides tips for effective tax planning by understanding the various components of your salary slip. So, if you're looking to wrap your head around salary allowances like LTA, HRA, and others, dive in!
Employers provide salary allowances to give their employees financial benefits. These allowances can be for things like rent, travel, medical expenses, and overtime work. Allowances are based on an employee's basic pay and may be regulated by the government.
They are taxed under the 'Income from Salaries' header of the Income Tax Act, 1961, but not all allowances are taxed. So, managing your allowances smartly can help you reduce your tax liabilities as there are a few income tax allowances.
Allowances listed on a salary slip can be classed under three broad categories:
Fully-taxable for private and public-sector employees. Tax relief can be claimed under Section 16(ii) and is equivalent to the lowest value of the following: one-fifth of the employee's basic salary, 5,000, or actual entertainment allowance.
Dearness Allowance is Fully taxable percentage of base salary
Fully-taxable pay for overtime work
For high costs of living in a big city
Fully taxable substitute for final allowance
For project-related expenses
Taxable allowance for meals/tiffin expenses
For weddings, funerals, holidays, etc.
Fully taxable special allowance for doctors
Special allowance for educational institution keepers
Compensation for domestic help's salary
House Rent Allowance (HRA) helps employees cover their rent expenses. It is fully taxable for those not living in rented houses.
According to Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act, HRA is partially exempt from tax. The exemption is equal to the lowest of:
Don't lose your sleep trying to do the calculations. Use this HRA calculator to work it out in seconds!
Allowances paid to government employees for rendering services abroad are tax-free.
Sumptuary allowances paid to Supreme and High Court judges are tax-free.
Compensatory allowances paid to Supreme and High Court judges are exempt from taxes under Article 222 (2) of the Indian constitution.
UNO employees in India receive allowances covered by the United Nations (Privilege and Immunities Act).
Let's understand categorise the different allowances in a table for an easy understanding:
| Taxable Allowance | Partly- Taxable Allowance | Tax-exempt Allowances |
| Dearness allowance | HRA | Govt. employees posted abroad |
| Entertainment allowance | Fixed Allowance | Sumptuary Allowance |
| Overtime allowance | Special Allowance | Allowance for UNO employees |
| City compensatory allowance | City compensatory Allowance | |
| Interim allowance | ||
| Project allowance | ||
| Tiffin/ meals allowance | ||
| Cash allowance | ||
| Non-practicing allowance | ||
| Warden allowance | ||
| Servant allowance |
In conclusion, understanding the different types of allowances in your salary slip is crucial for effective tax planning. By managing your allowances smartly, you can reduce your tax liabilities and save money. Remember to check if your allowances are taxable, partly taxable, or tax exempt, and take advantage of any exemptions or deductions available to you.
'Other allowances' include medical and conveyance allowances, among others, not mentioned in the salary slip.
Examples of allowances include:
Below are some of the allowances expemted from income tax:
As per Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, individuals below 60 years of age have a maximum exemption limit of ₹2.50 lakhs, while individuals between 60 and 80 years have a limit of ₹3 lakhs. For individuals aged 80 years and above, the limit is ₹5 lakhs. It is important to note that the higher limits of ₹3 lakhs and ₹5 lakhs are only applicable to residents of India.
Yes, you can negotiate your variable pay. Negotiation happens over the total CTC comprising both fixed pay and variable pay.
If you leave before the end of the year, your variable pay, often a bonus or incentive, may be forfeited, depending on the company's policy and your employment status at the time of payout.
Variable pay is an extra compensation provided by companies to employees as a reward for outstanding performance or meeting specific targets. This payment is typically given on a quarterly, half-yearly, or annual basis and comes in the form of bonuses, incentives, or other financial rewards, over and above their regular salary.
