Tax exemption allowed in bonds of IFCI, IDFC, LIC and NBFCs

The deduction will be in addition to the deduction of rupees one lakh allowed under sections 80C, 80CCC and 80CCD of the Act.

The Central Government has specified bonds to be issued by (i) Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI); (ii) Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC); (iii) Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited (IDFC); and (iv) a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) classified as an infrastructure finance company by the Reserve Bank of India; as “Long-term Infrastructure Bond” for the purpose of section 80CCF of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Investment in these bonds up to Rs20,000 will be eligible for deduction from the total income of the assessee. The deduction will be in addition to the deduction of Rs1 lakh allowed under sections 80C, 80CCC and 80CCD of the Act. The tenure of the Bonds shall be a minimum of 10 years with a lock-in period of five years for an investor. It will be mandatory for the subscriber to furnish permanent account number to the issuer for investment in the bonds.