Government Increases Pension Fund Tax Exemption Limit to Rs 500,000; Introduces Other Tax Reforms

The government has increased the exemption limit for taxable income contributed to pension funds through an amendment to the income tax regulations, unveiled on Wednesday. The ceiling for income tax exemption on annual contributions to pension funds has been raised from Rs 300,000 to Rs 500,000. Pension funds include schemes managed by the Employee Provident Fund, Citizen Investment Trust, and the Social Security Fund.

Under the new provision, individuals can deduct up to Rs 500,000 from their annual taxable income if this amount is deposited in pension funds. Previously, the maximum deductible amount was Rs 300,000 per annum. The amended income tax regulation states, “Individual income taxpayers can deduct up to Rs 500,000 or one-third of their taxable income, whichever is less when contributing to pension funds.”

This change means that income earners can receive a tax exemption for Rs 41,666 per month if deposited into pension funds, an increase from the previous threshold of Rs 25,000 per month. For instance, an individual earning Rs 1.5 million annually can deposit Rs 500,000 in pension funds and will only be taxed on the remaining Rs 1 million.

According to the current income tax law, the tax rates are as follows: one percent for annual income up to Rs 500,000; 10 percent for income between Rs 500,000 and Rs 700,000; 20 percent for income between Rs 700,000 and Rs 1 million; 30 percent for income between Rs 1 million and Rs 2 million; 36 percent for income between Rs 2 million and Rs 5 million; and 39 percent for income above Rs 5 million.

Additionally, the government has doubled the annual tax exemption amount for medical treatment to Rs 1,500. The new rule also requires traders to submit details of their corporate bank accounts to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) in a specified format.

These provisions will take effect at the beginning of the new fiscal year 2024/25, according to the IRD.