Claiming hra while filing itr

Yes, if you have vald rent receipt and preferably Landlords PAN, work is easy for you, You can calculate the eligible HRA exemption amount thru forumla and deduct it from salary under section 10 only for the period for which you actually paid rent. Take the minimum of :

• Actual HRA received
• 50% / 40%(metro / non-metro) of basic salary. Basic Salary for the purpose of HRA Calculation is Basic pay + Dearness Allowance  + Commission based on fixed percentage on turnover and excludes all other allowances and perquisites.
• Rent paid minus 10% of basic salary.
• Number of months one has paid rent for.

Thanks Udgam.

How does a valid rent receipt look like? The HRA that I want to claim is less than rs 8300 pm, so I guess I don't need landlord's PAN, but the rent receipts that I have submitted earlier were just a declaration my the landlord printed on a simple paper with the landlord's sign? Do I need the rent receipts in any other format?

See that kind of receipt can be made by anyone so when queried you should be able to prove its authenticity, if you can mamage a rent book from stationary shop, get and and fill it get it signed and keep it with yourself.