Tax Credit Vs Tax Deduction, Which is Better?

Tax Credit Vs Tax Deduction, Which is Better?

In this blog, we will learn about a tax credit. What is a tax deduction? And the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction which is a better Tax credit or Tax deduction? So let's have a close look at it.

What is the tax credit?

If put, simple tax credit reduces the amount of tax that you pay. For example, if you qualify for 20000 RS. in tax credits, you will save 20000 Rs. on your tax bills.

Tax credits are the reduction in the amount of income tax you owe to the federal or state government.

Tax credits allow taxpayers can subtract from the total income tax they owe. The tax credit is also known as a rebate.

If one has to pay more tax, the excess tax will be a tax credit against future tax liabilities. 

The amount of tax credits depends on the type of credit you qualify for, filling stats, and your income.

In India, if earned income is outside the country and you paid tax on it in that country, then you can claim a tax credit in India for the tax that you paid in another country. 

In tax credits there are some income limits are also applicable.

The amount of a tax credit depends on the nature of the credit. Certain types of tax credits are given to individuals or businesses in certain locations, classifications, and industries.

Federal and state governments may grant tax credits to promote specific matters that benefit the economy of the country and the areas that are important for the government.

There are three types of tax credits: non-refundable, refundable, and partially refundable.

Refundable tax credits allow taxpayers to receive a refund if the credit they owe exceeds their tax liability.

Nonrefundable credits allow a taxpayer to receive a reduction in their tax liability until it reaches 0.

A partially refundable tax credit reduces your tax bill to zero, and you will be eligible to get a refund on the remaining credit.

Types of tax credits

Income tax credits (ITC): Eligibility of tax credits depends on adjusted gross income, earned income, and investment income. 

Earned Income Tax credits are one of the most large credits for taxpayers. Income and filing status: single, married, jointly, or with children is depends on the ITC. 

If you earn more than the qualification criteria in 2022 from investment income, it is the disqualified income, so you can't qualify for the ITC. 

If you are self-employed, you will qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credits or ITC.

Foreign tax credit(FTA): an Indian resident can claim the benefit of FTA for taxes of foreign sourced income in overseas countries. 

Child tax credits: For the 2022 tax year, you can get child tax credits.

Savers Tax credit: Savers tax credit was formerly known as the retirement savings contributions credit, which is eligible for contributions to retirement plans like qualified retirement accounts and 401(k). Taxpayers who have less income qualify for higher credits. 

Adoption credit: For the 2022 tax year, you can claim credit per child. If you are adopting your spouse's child, you are not eligible for adoption credits. People who adopt children with functional needs can get up to the full adoption credits even if their actual expenses are lesser.

Lifetime Learning: In lifetime learning credit, no workload is needed. 

You can get credits for tuition, activity fees, books, supplies, and pieces of equipment for undergraduates.

Tax credits for green purchases

Electric vehicle credit: For the 2022 tax year, you can get tax credits for buying an electric vehicle. Buy of a vehicle must have been new; used vehicles only count next year. Electric vehicle credit IS also known as clean vehicle credit.

Residential energy tax credit: For the 2022 tax year, you can get up to 30% of the cost of solar energy systems, for example, solar water heaters and solar panels.

What is a tax deduction?

A tax deduction reduces taxable income.

A tax deduction reduces the taxable income through different kinds of investments, for example, mutual funds: life insurance, and fixed deposits.

The tax deduction is a term that helps you to save the taxes. A tax deduction reduces the overall tax liability; the value of tax you can save depends on the type of tax benefits you claim. 

The tax deduction is the term that helps to the lowering of tax income. the government offers tax deductions to encourage taxpayers to contribute to society’s benefits.

To collect tax efficiently and quickly, the income tax department of India has introduced TDS.

  • TDS is tax deducted at source.
  • TDS is an indirect method of collecting taxes by the government.
  • Types of tax deductions are Pretax, post-tax, voluntary, and mandatory.
  • Here are many other types of tax deductions you can get

Tuition fees

Under section 80C, tuition fees paid for your child's education qualify for the tax deduction. You have to pay fees for full-time education. These types of deductions are objectives to encourage education.

Bank Fixed deposits

Investments made in fixed deposits with banks for a period of five or more years are eligible for tax deductions. The interest earned on the fixed deposit is taxable.

Home Loan

If you are buying a home for the very first time, you can claim the tax deduction of Rs. 1,50,000 on home loan interest payments under section 80 EEA., and the buyer should not have an existing house in his name.

Standard Deduction

A standard deduction of Rs. 50,000 applies to salaried individuals under the old taxation regime.

Life Insurance Premiums under section 80C

The deduction applies for a maximum of Rs.1,50,000 when you pay a life insurance policy premium for children, spouses, or yourself.

National Saving Certificate(NSC)

You can get up to Rs. 1,50,000 on investment in NSC, but the interest earned is taxable.

Charitable donations

You can get a tax deduction every year before 31st December on charitable donations under the 80G section.

Education loan

You can claim a tax deduction on the interest paid on your education loan under the 80E section. You can avail of this deduction for 8 years starting from the year you start paying the loan.

Senior Citizen saving scheme

Under the 80C section, SCSS is for senior citizens. Banks offer this scheme, although the interest earned from this scheme is taxable.

Medical insurance and health check-ups

Under section 80D, If one has made payment for medical checkups for himself, children, or spouse, he can claim an income tax deduction for it. Tax deduction depends upon if the person is a senior citizen or not.

Treatment for specified diseases

Under section 80DDB, you can get up to 40,000Rs or a deduction of the amount you paid for the treatment of the diseases.

What is the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?

A tax credit directly decreases taxes. But, deductions lower the taxable income and rate, which is necessary to compute the tax. Therefore, credit is preferable to a deduction of the same amount.

Tax credits and tax deductions are the ways to lighten the tax burden.

Tax credits and tax deductions seem similar, but they have some differences.

Tax credits and tax deduction both decreases the tax amount you pay in different ways.

The tax credit is a dollar-to-dollar reduction of the money you owe, and a tax deduction decreases the taxable income you pay.

Tax credits decrease the actual amount of tax an individual owes to the government. While tax deduction decreases the income on applied tax.

Tax credits are straightforward and more valuable. A tax deduction depends on your tax rate.

Tax credits are applicable after the tax deductions are applicable, and tax deduction comes before tax credits.

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Which is better, tax credits or tax deductions?

Tax credits reduce taxes dollar for dollar, while tax deduction reduces the amount of income you pay taxes on.

Tax credits directly decrease taxes, while tax deductions indirectly lower tax bills by lowering the taxable income

Tax credits lower tax bills more than a tax deduction of the same amount.

That’s why tax credits are preferable to tax deductions to save money.

We hope you have cleared the confusion between tax credits and tax deductions. And got a clear idea of which is better for you and how you can claim for the same.

FAQs related to Tax credit vs Tax deduction

1. How many times can you claim tax credits?

There is no limit on time or number of years you can claim the tax credits.

2. What is the limit of standard deduction?

The limit for standard deduction is 50,000 or a net salary amount, whichever is lower.

3. Which is a better tax credit or tax deduction, and why?

Tax credits are better than a tax deductions. Because Tax credit lower tax bills more than a tax deduction of the same amount. Because Tax credits reduce taxes, Rs for the Rs, while tax deduction reduces the amount of income you pay taxes on.

4. Can you claim both tax credits and a tax deduction?  

If you meet the qualifications, you can claim tax credits and deductions.

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