Form 15H — TDS Exemption for Senior Citizens

Q: What is the difference between Form 15G and Form 15H?

Form 15G requires two conditions (nil tax AND interest below exemption limit). Form 15H (for 60+) requires only one: estimated tax on total income is nil. No income ceiling applies.

Q: Can a senior citizen with pension income submit Form 15H?

Yes, if estimated tax on total income (pension + interest + all income, after all deductions) is nil. A tax computation should confirm eligibility before submission.

Q: Does Form 15H apply to TDS on pension payments?

Form 15H does not cover employer TDS under Section 192. It applies to interest, dividends, EPF withdrawals, and rent payments. Family pension paid by banks may be covered.

Q: How does Section 80TTB help senior citizens avoid TDS?

Section 80TTB allows a ₹50,000 deduction on bank and post office interest income. Combined with the ₹3 lakh exemption limit, senior citizens can earn up to ₹3.5 lakh in interest tax-free.

Q: What if a senior citizen forgets to submit Form 15H at the start of the year?

TDS already deducted cannot be reversed by the bank. It appears in Form 26AS and is claimed as a refund in the income tax return. Submit fresh at the start of April every year.

Complete Guide to Form 15H — How Senior Citizens Can Avoid TDS on Interest and Other Income Under Section 197A(1C)

Form 15H is a self-declaration form available exclusively to resident individuals aged 60 years or above (senior citizens) who wish to receive interest income, dividend, or other specified payments without deduction of Tax at Source (TDS). Under Section 197A(1C) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, a senior citizen can submit Form 15H to a payer requesting that TDS not be deducted, provided the estimated tax on their total income for the year is nil — regardless of the amount of interest income.

Unlike Form 15G (which applies to those below 60), Form 15H does not require the second condition that total interest income must not exceed the basic exemption limit. This makes Form 15H more accessible for senior citizens who may have substantial interest income from fixed deposits and savings, but whose total tax liability after available deductions and the higher exemption limit for senior citizens is nil.

Our Form 15H Advisory Services

Eligibility Assessment

Computation of estimated total income for the financial year — accounting for pension, interest, rental income, and all applicable deductions — to confirm that tax on total income is nil and Form 15H is validly submittable.

Form 15H Preparation

Accurate preparation of Form 15H with correct income estimates, PAN details, and declaration — ready for submission to banks, post offices, NBFCs, and other payers before the first payment of the year.

Multi-Bank Submission Support

Assistance with submitting Form 15H to multiple banks, fixed deposit institutions, and other payers — ensuring each payer receives the form before the first interest credit of the financial year.

Senior Citizen Tax Planning

Tax planning advisory for senior citizens — including optimal utilisation of Section 80TTB (interest deduction up to ₹50,000), 80D (health insurance), and the higher basic exemption limit (₹3 lakh for below 80, ₹5 lakh for super senior citizens above 80).

TDS Refund for Senior Citizens

Where TDS has already been deducted from pension, interest, or other income, assistance with filing the income tax return and claiming a full refund of TDS — including reconciliation with Form 26AS.

ITR Filing for Senior Citizens

Filing of income tax returns for senior citizens — including those with pension income, multiple FDs, property income, and capital gains — with full utilisation of available exemptions and deductions.

Key Facts About Form 15H

Form 15H is available only to resident individuals aged 60 years or above — non-residents and entities cannot submit Form 15H
The only condition is that the estimated tax on total income for the year is nil — there is no requirement that interest income be below the exemption limit
The basic exemption limit for senior citizens (60–80 years) is ₹3 lakh; for super senior citizens (above 80) it is ₹5 lakh
Senior citizens can claim an additional Section 80TTB deduction of ₹50,000 on interest income from banks and post offices — significantly expanding eligibility for Form 15H
Form 15H must be submitted fresh at the beginning of each financial year — it is valid only for the year of submission
Payers must report all Form 15H declarations to the Income Tax Department quarterly — the department tracks all declarations made
Submitting a false Form 15H declaration is an offence under Section 277 of the Income Tax Act, punishable with imprisonment and a fine

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Form 15G and Form 15H?

Form 15G is for resident individuals below 60 years of age and HUFs, and requires two conditions to be met: (1) tax on estimated total income is nil, and (2) total interest income does not exceed the basic exemption limit. Form 15H is for resident individuals aged 60 or above, and requires only one condition: that the tax on estimated total income is nil. The second condition (interest not exceeding exemption limit) does not apply to Form 15H — which makes it more accessible for senior citizens who may have higher interest income but zero tax liability after deductions and the higher exemption limit.

Can a senior citizen with pension income submit Form 15H?

Yes, provided the estimated total tax liability for the year — after accounting for pension income, interest income, any other income, and all eligible deductions including Section 80C, 80D, 80TTB, and the standard deduction on pension — is nil. If the aggregate income from all sources exceeds the taxable threshold and results in a tax liability, Form 15H cannot be validly submitted, and TDS will be applicable. A tax computation should be prepared before submitting Form 15H to confirm eligibility.

Does Form 15H apply to TDS on pension payments?

Form 15H does not apply to TDS on salary or pension payments made by an employer under Section 192 — those are governed by the employee's tax declaration to the employer. However, Form 15H applies to interest income, dividends, EPF withdrawals, rent payments (Section 194I), and other specified payments under Sections 193, 194, 194A, 194D, 194DA, etc. For TDS on pension from a bank (such as family pension paid by a bank), Form 15H can be submitted to the bank if the conditions are met.

How does Section 80TTB help senior citizens avoid TDS?

Section 80TTB allows senior citizens (60 and above) to deduct up to ₹50,000 per year from their gross total income on account of interest earned from banks, cooperative banks, and post offices. This deduction, when combined with the higher basic exemption limit of ₹3 lakh (or ₹5 lakh for super senior citizens), means that a senior citizen can earn up to ₹3.5 lakh in interest income (₹3 lakh exemption + ₹50,000 80TTB deduction) without any tax liability — strengthening the case for a valid Form 15H submission.

What if a senior citizen forgets to submit Form 15H at the start of the year?

If Form 15H is submitted after the bank has already deducted TDS on an interest payment, the bank cannot reverse the TDS already deducted — the form only prevents TDS on future payments from the date of submission. TDS already deducted will appear in Form 26AS and can be claimed as a refund by filing the income tax return for the relevant year. To avoid this situation, it is important to submit Form 15H to all banks and payers at the beginning of April each year, before any interest payments are processed.

Submit Form 15H — No TDS on Your Interest Income

Expert eligibility assessment and Form 15H preparation for senior citizens with pension, FD interest, and investment income.