TAX filing season is here. And you may be grappling with several questions. I will try to answer some of them in this series.

I will be filing my returns for 2007-08. But I have a big problem. My company did not consider house rent in my salary slip for April and May 2007. So I have not got this exemption in form 16. Can I claim it while filing my returns this year? If yes, then how do I calculate it?
- Manu Sharma, Delhi

This is a common problem. Your key question: is the tax shown by your employer in form 16 a binding figure (the final figure) for filing tax return. Or can you make changes to that tax figure. Yes, you can.

This is because YOU are responsible for indicating the right taxable income in your return of income. "What's the point of using a form 16 issued by my employer, then?" you may ask.

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Under the Income Tax Act, it's your employer's duty to correctly calculate your taxable salary and deduct tax from it equally over 12 months. If your employer fails, there will be consequences for him.

However, at the end of the day, form 16 is not a binding document for tax calculation.

For instance, while calculating the salary income, if your employer takes into account a deduction of Rs 125,000 under section 80C (for provident fund, insurance premium, housing loan principal etc) by mistake, then this is a glaring mistake.

Such a mistake cannot be overlooked since the upper limit for deduction under section 80C is only Rs 100,000. You must correct it when you file returns.

Got a question for wealth expert Ameet Patel on tax? Post your tax queries.

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