What is Section 80G and how does it help save income tax under the old tax regime? However, there are certain limits on and conditions attached to availing these deductions
Tarun Kumar Madaan
Chartered accountant
Section 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961, allows taxpayers to save tax by donating money to eligible charitable institutions. By donating to eligible institutions and organisations, taxpayers can claim deductions ranging from 50% to 100% of the amount donated. However, there are certain limits on and conditions attached to availing these deductions. Let us examine in detail how Section 80G can help in tax saving and its various nuances.
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1. Who can claim a deduction under Section 80G?
All taxpayers, whether resident or non-resident, who have donated money to prescribed funds, institutions, or associations are eligible to claim a deduction from gross total income before levy of tax, under Section 80G of the Income-tax Act. However, it is important to note that this deduction can only be claimed by taxpayers who have opted for the old tax regime. Taxpayers under the new tax regime cannot avail of this deduction benefit.Also read | Despite no investment you can still get Section 80C income tax deduction if you invested in NSC
2. How much deduction can be claimed under Section 80G?
The deduction under this provision is allowed as follows:(a) 100% deduction without any maximum limit
(b) 50% deduction without any maximum limit
(c) 100% deduction subject to a maximum limit
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(d) 50% deduction subject to a maximum limitWhile claiming the deduction, the first step is to check the category to which the fund/charitable institution belongs. This will help to determine the deduction percentage (100% or 50%) and whether there is a maximum or qualifying limit.
Donations to certain institutions are eligible for 100% or 50% deduction without any qualifying limit. However, in some instances, you must first determine the maximum qualifying limit which is eligible for deduction. If the total amount donated to those specified funds or institutes exceeds 10% of your adjusted gross total income (GTI), any excess amount beyond the 10% limit will not be eligible for deduction.
The adjusted gross total income shall be computed after reducing the following from your gross total income:
(a) Amount deductible under Section 80C to 80U (Except Section 80G)
(b) Share of profit in Association of Persons (AOP) eligible for rebate under Section 86
(c) Long-term capital gains
(d) Short-term capital gain arising from securities specified under Section 111A
(e) Any income referred to in Sections 115A, 115AB, 115AC, 115ACA, 115AD and 115D
Here is an example. Let's assume your gross total income for the year is Rs. 10 lakh. You have made donations of Rs. 90,000 to NGOs (organisations specified in the Income-tax Act or approved by the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Income Tax), which are eligible for a 50% deduction subject to a qualifying limit of 10%. Additionally, you have claimed deductions of Rs. 1,50,000 under Section 80C and earned short-term capital gains of Rs. 1 lakh from the sale of equity shares.
To calculate the maximum amount allowable under Section 80G, you must first compute your adjusted gross total income. This is your gross total income (GTI) reduced by deductions under Section 80C and short-term capital gains under Section 111A, which in this case is (10 lakh - 1.5 lakh - 1 lakh) = Rs. 7,50,000
Next, you need to calculate the qualifying limit for your donations under Section 80G, which is 10% of your adjusted gross total income. In this case, the qualifying limit is Rs. 75,000 (i.e., 10% of Rs. 7.5 lakh).
The maximum amount allowable under Section 80G shall be 50% of the lower of: a) the amount donated (i.e. Rs 90,000) or b) the qualifying limit, i.e. Rs. 75,000. In this case, the lower amount is the qualifying limit of Rs. 75,000. Therefore, the maximum deduction allowable under Section 80G is 50% of Rs. 75,000, which comes out to be Rs. 37,500.
Hence, you can claim a deduction of Rs. 37,500 under Section 80G for the donations made to eligible NGOs.
3. What should be the mode of donation to claim the deduction?
You can claim a deduction for donations made in the form of cash or cheque or online transfers. However, cash donations exceeding Rs. 2,000 are not eligible for deduction. Also, it is important to note that donations made in kind are not eligible for deduction under this provision.4. Proof to claim a deduction
To claim a tax deduction, a person must donate money to a fund or institution that meets the specified conditions. If the donation is made to an NGO under the approval category, i.e., Section 80G(2)(a)(iv), it must also fulfil the conditions prescribed under Section 80G(5).One of these conditions is that the recipient (donee) must file a donation statement with the income tax department and provide the donor with a Form 10BE certificate specifying the amount donated during the financial year.
Form 10BE serves as evidence to support the deduction claim while filing the Income Tax Return (ITR). The deduction will only be allowed if the fund or institution duly reports the donation details to the income tax department.
Below is a list of specified funds under the Income-tax Act as on 18.3.2025.
5. Donations to these funds is eligible for 100% deduction without limit
(i) National Defence Fund(ii) PM National Relief Fund
(iii) PM Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES FUND)
(iv) National Children's Fund
(v) CM Relief Fund or the Lieutenant Governor's Relief Fund
(vi) Zila Saksharta Samiti
(vii) Army Central Welfare Fund
(viii) Indian Naval Benevolent Fund
(ix) Air Force Central Welfare Fund
(x) Andhra Pradesh CM Cyclone Relief Fund
(xi) National Sports Fund
(xii) National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities
(xiii) Swachh Bharat Kosh (not being in pursuance of CSR)
(xiv) Clean Ganga Fund (not being in pursuance of CSR) - Only to the resident assessee
(xv) National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse
(xvi) National Illness Assistance Fund
(xvii) National Blood Transfusion Council or State Blood Transfusion Council
(xviii) Fund set up by a State Government for the medical relief to the poor
(xix) National Cultural Fund
(xx) Fund for Technology Development and Application
(xxi) National Foundation for Communal Harmony
(xxii) PM Armenia Earthquake Relief Fund
(xxiii) Africa (Public Contributions - India) Fund
(xxiv) CM Earthquake Relief Fund, Maharashtra
(xxv) An university or educational institution of National eminence approved by the tax authorities
(xxvi) Fund set up by the State Government of Gujarat exclusively for providing relief to the victims of earthquake in Gujarat.
6. Donations to these funds is eligible for 50% deduction without the maximum limit
(i) PM Drought Relief Fund7. Donations to these funds is eligible for 100% deduction subject to the maximum limit
(i) Family Planning Association of India/Red Cross Society of India(ii) Government or any approved local authority, institution or association to be utilised for the purpose of promoting family planning.
(iii) Indian Olympic Association or to any other notified association or institution established in India for the development of infrastructure for sports and games in India or the sponsorship of sports and games in India . However, deduction for donations to these institutions is allowed only to a company and not to individuals.
8. Donation to these funds is eligible for 50% deduction subject to the maximum limit
(i) Notified temple, mosque, gurudwara, church or other place (for repairs or renovation)(ii) Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra
(iii) Government or any local authority to be utilised for any charitable purpose other than the purpose of promoting family planning
(iv) Any corporation specified in Section 10(26BB) for promoting interest of minority community
(v) Any authority constituted in India either for the purpose of dealing with and satisfying the need for housing accommodation or for the purpose of planning, development or improvement of cities, towns, villages or both.
(vi) Any other fund or institution approved by the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Income Tax and fulfilling the conditions specified in Section 80G(5).
Do note that the list of institutions eligible to receive donations under Section 80G is updated periodically by the income tax department. Before donating, one must confirm whether the institution is on the approved list or not when making the donation.
(This article is authored by Tarun Kumar Madaan, Chartered Accountant and Lead - Business Advisory at Coherent Advisors)
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This story originally appeared on: India Times - Author:Faqs of Insurances
