Did you know that deceased people can also be taxed?
As ironic as it sounds, the income tax returns for a deceased person has to be filed, if he/she has taxable income. His legal heir/representative needs to file the return on his behalf for the income earned till the date of death. The legal heir has to register himself at the income tax website for filing the return on behalf of the deceased. In this article, we will discuss how to file the income tax return for the deceased by a legal heir..
Did you know that deceased people can also be taxed? As ironic as it sounds, the income tax returns for a deceased person has to be filed, if he/she has taxable income. His legal heir/representative needs to file the return on his behalf for the income earned till the date of death. The legal heir has to register himself at the income tax website for filing the return on behalf of the deceased. In this article, we will discuss how to file the income tax return for the deceased by a legal heir.
The legal heir has to register at the income tax website as a legal heir. For this, we should know who the legal heir is and the procedure to register as a legal heir on the government income tax website.
Registration as a legal heir is mandatory for e-filing of return on behalf of the deceased person. The PAN of both the deceased person and legal heir should be registered in the e-filing portal. However, if the deceased person PAN is not registered, then the legal heir can register on behalf of the deceased. Following are the steps for the registration of Legal heir:
Note: The legal heir should mandatorily provide the ‘Reason for Registration’ as a representative assessee.
After completing the above process, Legal Heir request is sent to the e-filing Administrator. The e-filing administrator will verify the request and approve /reject as applicable. Once the request is approved, one can use all services for the Legal heir and for the deceased.
Once the request for registration as legal heir is approved, you can file return as legal heir on behalf of deceased. ITR can be filled in the normal way and in the standard procedure which is followed by an individual person while filling his own return.
Thus, the return would be e-verified using various methods followed, such as Aadhaar OTP, net banking, etc., or it can be verified by the legal heir who can sign the ITR Acknowledgement and a copy of the same can be sent to Central Processing Centre (Bengaluru).
As a legal heir, you have to file the return on behalf of the deceased for income till the date of death. Calculate the income of the deceased from the start of the year till the date of death, and thereby the tax payable on it in the same manner as if the deceased is alive. If you don’t know the exact income, then you should refer Bank Statements, investments and other relevant documents necessary for income tax calculation.
Any income earned after the date of death from the assets inherited from the deceased is taxable in the hands of the legal heir. Legal heir should include this income inherited from the deceased in his own income while filing own income tax return.
Noor who has a rental income of Rs 30,000 per month and interest income of Rs 10,000 per month dies on 20th Sep 2021. Her legal heir needs to file the return on behalf of Noor for the period 1st April 2021 to 20th Sep 2021.
Income from House Property Rental Income (From 1st April 2021 to 20th Sep 2021)
Income from other Sources Interest Income (From 1st April 2021 to 20th Sep 2021)
Income from House Property Rental Income (From 20th Sep 2021 to 31st March 2022)
Income from other Sources Interest Income (From 20th Sep 2021 to 31st March 2022)
Property taxes can be claimed in the return of the deceased if he paid for them or of the legal heir if the legal heir paid them. Standard deduction of 30% is allowed to both on the rental income.
The legal heir is responsible for paying taxes liable on the Income tax return of the deceased. However, he is not personally liable for the taxes due. The liability of the legal heir is limited to the extent to which the assets he inherited are capable of meeting the liability.
For instance, if a person receives Rs 8 lakhs as his share from his father’s property and his father tax liability is Rs 9.5 lakhs, then he cannot be made liable to pay more than Rs 8 lakhs. The liability of the legal heir shall be limited to the value of the assets inherited.
The legal heir is responsible for the tax payable, and also for the other sum i.e. penalty, fine or interest which the deceased would have been liable had he not died. It means that the penalty proceedings for a default by the deceased can also be initiated against the legal heir. However, his liability would be limited to the extent of the assets inherited from the deceased.
