The rules that are applicable for HRA claims are listed as follows-
Your allotted HRA cannot exceed more than 50% of your basic salary.
As a salaried employee, you cannot claim for the full rental amount you are paying. Your exemption will be based on the least of the below mentioned options:
The actual amount allotted by the employer as the HRA.
Actual rent paid less 10% of the basic salary.
50% of the basic salary, if the employee is staying in a metro city (40% for a non-metro city).
You can also avail tax benefits of HRA along with a home loan.
In case you stay with your parents, you are eligible to pay rent to your parents and collect a receipt for HRA claim. However, similar rules don't allow you to pay rent to your spouse and claim a tax exemption.
If the annual rent of your accommodation exceeds Rs.1,00,000, then presenting the landlord's PAN card is mandatory. Also, in case the landlord does not have a PAN card, he/she can provide a self-declaration.
Another important rule is that in case your landlord is an NRI, you must deduct 30% tax from the rent amount that needs to be declared.
A major benefit of the house rent allowance is that it serves as a medium to reduce the taxable income, which therefore leads to a reduction in the tax that you have to pay.