Leave travel allowance (lta) - documents

Tax queries 5263 views 2 replies

IUnknown

24 Points Posted on 12 February 2012

Hello,

I am a native of Trivandrum, Kerala and I have annual two weeks paid vacation and Rs.15, 000 LTA with carry forward option. It is getting accumulated for the last couple of years. Parents have an ambition of visiting various temples in Kerala (Guruvayoor, Thaliyil ), Karnataka (Uduppi, Mookambika etc), Tamil Nadu (Thanchavoor Nava Graha temples, Palani, Madurai), Andhra Pradesh (Puttaparthi) and Maharashtra (Shirdi Sai Baba). I like to visit couple of tourist spots like Goa in between, and visiting friends and relatives in and around Mumbai. I think I can have both dreams fulfilled with a single trip. During the onward journey we can have coastal belt and on return we can visit TN temples and some others. Rail and Air will not suite our purpose, only road option is left. My questions are …

Can I claim LTA for this religious trip? Shirdi seems to be the most distant place from Trivandrum in compare with other destinations. Can I get LTA claim to Shirdi from Trivandrum (Approx. 1500 KM)?
Can we go in private vehicle/rented Innova and claim equivalent first class rail fare? If not, taxi (Innova A/C) bill is okay for proof of travel? Kerala Govt. approved rate seems to be around Rs. 8 – 9 for a single KM (one way journey), but they are charging as Rs. 12-13. Taxi bills will contain this rated amount and some driver daily allowances. Is that acceptable to LTA claim or the government approved rates?
Whether fuel fills from transit route are accepted as proof of travel for trip in private vehicle/ rented Innova?
What are the documents I need to keep for the tax claim? How long I need to keep that for IT verification?
Seems Taxi bills may be much higher than equivalent first class rail fare, in that case whether the IT department accepts the taxi bills?

Thanks & Regards

Dileep G

Replies (2)

yuvraj kalambe

accounts

92 Points Posted on 12 February 2012

A) LTA can only be claimed for the short distance between two places. So if you are planning to travel from Goa to Mumbai then you will be allowed exemption on tickets from Goa to Mumbai and back. You will not be allowed to produce tickets that are via some other place like Mumbai to Hyderabad and then from Hyderabad to Goa and so forth.

B) . If you travel by car and it is owned by a central government organisation like ITDC, the state government or the local body, then LTA is permitted. If you could not get public transport and resorted to private transport like renting a car, get a bill issued by the rental company. If the bill is not accepted by your employer, you can always file an income tax return, claim an exemption and get a refund.

NOTE : AS PER MY ONLY SHORTEST ROUT OF TRAIN TICKET IS ONLY EXEMPTION FOR IT PLS CHECK ONCE FROM OTHER(RENTAL CAR AND BUS TICKETS ARE NOT ALLOWED FOR EXEMPTION)

C) In order to claim tax exemption of the amount you receive as LTA, you have to give proof of travel, that too while on leave.

D) Only travel bills can be used exemption, so a hotel/losging boarding , fooding and sight seeing bills bill can’t be produced for claiming exemption even though you might have stayed in the hotel during your leave.