Category: Investment

There are several charges that go into making the total cost of an apartment. From parking space charges to club membership costs, here is more. We have compiled a list of the general hidden cost of buying a home, flat or apartment. One must be aware that there are several hidden cost of buying a home over and above the advertised price of the property. While the hidden costs may vary from one society to the other, inevitably every property will have several cost factors. In some cases, these costs may…

The government levies a compulsory tax on the transfer of rights in a property, known as ‘stamp duty’. We examine how it is calculated and ways to save money on this tax amount The government levies a tax when there is a transaction of property (i.e., when a property changes hands, from the seller to the buyer). This tax is known as ‘stamp duty’. It is levied on residential and commercial property transactions, as well as freehold or leasehold properties. Stamp duty is levied by states and therefore, the rate varies…

While bequeathing an immovable property through a will, a testator should clearly specify the share of each person to the exclusion of others, in order to avoid disputes Proper succession planning is very important to ensure that the assets owned by you, including any house property, are properly inherited by the people to whom you want these to be passed on to. With respect to property owned in housing societies, it is generally believed that making a nomination will ensure that the property will pass on to the person who is…

Rental properties are presently subject to service tax, under certain conditions. We examine how the proposed Goods and Services Tax and the provisions for tax deduction at source, will impact one’s rental income The rental income from a real estate investment, is taxed under the head ‘Income from House property’ under the income tax laws, which is a direct tax law of the country. Properties that are let-out, are also subject to indirect taxation in the form of service tax, presently. The lessee of the property is also required to deduct…

As the law allows a person to own multiple homes and avail of multiple home loans, we look at the implications on tax exemptions on the home loan for the second house There is no restriction on the number of properties you can own. Similarly, there is no restriction on the number of houses for which you can take home loans and claim tax benefits, either under the tax laws or banking laws. However, the amount of home loan available to you for all the properties taken together, shall depend on various factors…

A gift of a property that is valid and accepted by a donee, cannot be revoked by the donor, except under certain special circumstances. We look at the cases where revocation is possible With many children opting to migrate out of India for employment and the gradual disappearance of the joint family system, parents with limited means may find it difficult to make ends meet, in case their children do not support them. Often, many parents also transfer their properties to their children due to various reasons. After the property is…

While a gift of house property does not involve monetary consideration, it needs to be registered and taxes should be paid in certain cases Gifting is an act, through which a person voluntarily transfers certain rights in an asset to another person, without any consideration. Gifting of house property has a certain income tax and stamp duty implications. Legal requirements for the gift of property As per the Transfer of Property Act, the transfer of a house property under a gift has to be effected by a registered instrument/document, signed by…

Properties can be transferred to someone you love, without any consideration, by way of a gift or through a will. We examine the pros and cons of each method Transfer of property by way of gift If you wish to transfer property, so as to make the donee enjoy the property immediately, this can be done by way of a gift. You can gift a self-acquired property to anyone, as long as you are competent to contract, as per the provisions of the Indian Contract Act. Any person who is of…

What are the taxes applicable on commercial properties that are used for the owner’s business, or if it is let out or sold? We examine the implications, in each case Property has been one of the oldest investment avenues in India, which existed before the advent of various financial products like direct equity and mutual funds. People who invest in commercial properties, do so either for their own use or for the purpose of letting it out. Taxation of let out commercial property Rentals received from any property owned by you,…

If you want to know what is RERA, then this post is for you. This post summarizes basic information about RERA and how exactly it will going to help the Indian citizen. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 is an Act of the Parliament of India which seeks to protect home-buyers as well as help boost investments in the real estate industry. The Act establishes Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in each state for regulation of the real estate sector and also acts as an adjudicating body for speedy dispute redressal. The…