Can You Save Tax by Transferring Money to Wife's Account?

• If you transfer money to your wife’s account, you will also have to pay taxes on the respective transfer amounts.
• However, there are provisions through which you can save tax by transferring money to your spouse's account.
• You can save tax on transferring money to your wife’s account by giving a loan to them, jointly investing in equities, availing leave travel allowances, and more.
• How much money can a husband give his wife tax free depends on your total income, your investments, and the tax exemptions,

If you transfer money to your wife’s account so they can meet their expenses, you will also have to pay taxes on the respective amount. However, there are certain ways by which you will be able to save tax by transferring money to your spouse's account.In this blog, you will read about the tax implications of such transfers, understand how you can save tax by transferring money to your wife’s account, and how much money can a husband give his wife tax free.

There are various tax benefits that you can avail of to increase your income tax savings. Given below are some ways through which you will be able to save tax from transferring money to your wife’s account:

If You Give Money to Your Wife as Loan

If you transfer money to your wife’s account so she can meet her financial needs or start a business and is to be returned with interest, the amount could be considered as a loan.If you charge your wife a reasonable interest and show it as a source of income, the income earned by her will not be clubbed with yours. This is how much money can a husband give his wife tax free as a loan.

If You Invest in Equities

Under Section 112A, you can claim a tax exemption of up to ₹1 lakh every year on long-term capital gains from equity shares. You can also claim tax exemption on equity-specific units of schemes if the security transaction tax (STT) has been paid.STT is a direct tax charged on the purchase and sale of securities listed on the exchanges in India. This exemption can be claimed by both spouses by investing in shares or schemes jointly.

If You Buy Health Insurance Policy

Under Section 80D, an individual and a Hindu undivided family (HUF) can claim a deduction of up to ₹25,000 for health insurance premiums.If the cost of health insurance is higher than this limit, both you and your wife can purchase the policies in a way that you save taxes to the maximum advantages of Section 80D.

If You Spend on Education of Your Children

The Indian income tax laws allow you to claim a deduction for expenses incurred towards the education of your children in any school, college, or university. A deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh can be claimed under Section 80C for expenses incurred towards the education of two children.If there are more than two children or if the education expenses are more than ₹1.5 lakh, these costs can be divided between both the parents to increase the amount of claim.

If You Avail Leave Travel Allowance

If both you and your wife are employed, you can claim deduction for a total of four journeys that have been undertaken within a tenure of four years, under the LTA (leave travel allowance).Meanwhile, if only either of you is employed, you can benefit from the LTA when two journeys have been undertaken within a tenure of four years. You should know that there is no limit in terms of the deduction for LTA.

If You Avail Home Loan Benefits

Section 80C of the Income Tax Act allows you and an HUF to claim reimbursement of housing loans. Both you and your spouse can claim the deduction for home loan repayments and interest payments if you are joint owners of the property and co-borrowers of the home loan.

You can transfer money to your wife's account to save on taxes but you should do it legally and not with the aim to evade taxes. The Income Tax Act has specific provisions to prevent tax evasion through such transfers. Your wife can also invest the money that you transfer to her, in her name; but remember that any income generated from such investments is subject to taxation.By availing such tax benefits, you and your wife can minimise the tax liability for the family and maximise your income tax savings. Also Read: Beginner's Guide to Income Tax Filing in India: Step-by-Step Process