No proof required for LTA & Conveyance allowance claims

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has said that employers are not under any statutory obligation to collect supporting evidence and furnish it to tax authorities while assessing Conveyance and Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) of their employees. Currently, claims without supporting bills are taxed.

The verdict came as a result of a plea from companies including L&T and ITI.

Quoting Times of India,

In its defense, the revenue department had argued that assessee companies were under statutory obligation under Income Tax Act, 1961, and relevant rules, to collect documentary proof to show that their employee(s) had actually utilized the amount paid towards the leave travel concession and conveyance allowance.

Rejecting the plea, the court in its order said: “The beneficiary of exemption under Section 10(5) (of the Income Tax Act) is an individual employee. There is no circular of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) requiring the employer under Section 192 to collect and examine the supporting evidence to the declaration to be submitted by an employee(s).”

So, until the tax authorities come up with a circular/amendment to clear this out (which I guess they might), claim all your LTA and Conveyance allowances without showing any bills.

More details here.