CBDT Notifies Rule For Determination Of Value Of Perquisite In Respect Of Residential Accommodation Provided By Employer

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has introduced an amendment to the Income Tax Rules, 1962, relating to the valuation of perquisites for residential accommodation provided by employers. The amendment, effective from September 1, 2023, brings changes to the categorization and limits of cities and populations, along with revised perquisite rates based on the 2011 census.

The official notification from the CBDT highlights that Finance Act, 2023 brought in an amendment for the purposes of calculation of “perquisite” with regard to the value of rent-free or concessional accommodation provided to an employee, by his employer. Accordingly, CBDT has modified Rule 3 of the Income-tax Rules, 1961 to provide for the same.

The categorization and the limits of cities and population have now been based on the 2011 census as against the 2001 census earlier. The revised limits of population are 40 lakh in place of 25 lakh and 15 lakh in place of 10 lakh. The earlier perquisite rates of 15%, 10% and 7.5% of the salary have now been reduced to 10%, 7.5% and 5% of the salary respectively in the amended Rule. This is summarized as under:

The Rule has also been further rationalized so as to compute a fair tax implication of the same accommodation being occupied by an employee for more than one previous year.

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