Salary Arrears Tax Relief: Claim Your Tax Back



Quick Summary
Receiving salary arrears, which are pending dues paid in a lump sum, can unexpectedly push you into a higher tax bracket. Fortunately, Section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act allows you to claim tax relief on such payments. The calculation involves comparing your current year's tax liability with and without the arrears, and doing the same for the past financial year the arrears relate to. To claim this relief, you must mandatorily file Form 10E online before submitting your Income Tax Return (ITR).

Salary Arrears refers to the pending salary or dues received in a lump sum for past financial years.

It usually happen due to delayed increments, promotions, DA revision etc.

Tax Impact of Arrears

Receiving arrears may increase your income in the current year, pushing you into a higher tax slab and increasing your tax liability.

How To Reduce This Burden?

To reduce this burden, Section 89(1) reliefs can be claimed on any of the following received during a particular year:

  • Salary received in arrears or in advance
  • Premature withdrawal from Provident Fund
  • Gratuity
  • Commuted value of pension
  • Arrears of family pension
  • Compensation on termination of employment

What is Section 89(1) Relief?

Section 89(1) provides tax relief when salary is received in arrears or in advance.

It help to ensure that you are not pushed into a higher tax slab due to arrear.

How To Calculate Tax Relief u/s 89(1) on Salary Arrears?

The calculation involves three steps:

A. Compute tax for the current year with and without arrears.

[Tax on total income including arrears - Tax on total income excluding arrears]

B. Compute tax for past years with and without the relevant arrears.

[Tax on total income for the year to which the arrears relate, including arrears - Tax on total income for the year to which the arrears relate, excluding arrears]

C. The difference between A and B in tax is the relief u/s 89(1).

Filing Form 10E

Form 10E must be filed online before claming relief u/s 89(1).

It is mandatory to file Form 10E on the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal before filing the ITR.

If not filed, relief u/s 89 may be disallowed and a notice can be issued.

How to file Form 10E?

  • Log in to the e-filing portal and log in with your credentials.
  • Click on e-File > Income Tax Forms > File Income Tax Forms.
  • Select Form 10E under “Persons not dependent on any source of income” or relevant category.
  • Select the relevant Assessment Year.
  • Select the applicable items regarding the particulars of income - arrear salary/ family income, advance salary, gratuity, or pension.
  • Fill in the required details.
  • Verify and submit Form 10E online.

Click Here To Know - Standard Deduction on Salary: Latest Updates for FY 2024-25

Points to Remember

Mandatory Filing: Without filing Form 10E, your claim for relief u/s 89(1) may be disallowed.

Documentation: Keep records of salary slips, arrear statements, and previous years tax returns.


Salary arrears refer to pending salary or dues that are received in a lump sum for past financial years, often due to delayed increments, promotions, or DA revisions.

Receiving arrears can increase your income in the current financial year, potentially pushing you into a higher tax slab and increasing your overall tax liability.

Section 89(1) provides tax relief specifically for situations where salary is received in arrears or in advance, helping to prevent you from being unfairly placed in a higher tax bracket due to the lump sum payment.

The calculation involves comparing the tax on your total income including arrears versus excluding them for the current year, and then comparing the tax for the past year(s) the arrears relate to, with and without the arrears. The difference between these two comparisons is your relief amount.

Yes, it is mandatory to file Form 10E online through the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal before you file your Income Tax Return (ITR) to claim relief under Section 89(1).

If Form 10E is not filed, your claim for relief under Section 89(1) may be disallowed, and you could receive a notice from the Income Tax Department.




About the Author

Finance Professional

I write about Income Tax, GST, TDS, RBI updates, government schemes, and personal finance in India. My focus is on simplifying complex tax and compliance topics into easy-to-understand guides that help readers stay updated with the latest financial rules, investment options, and regulatory changes.


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