Home loan provisional certificate: all you need to know

As per Section 24 of the Income Tax Act of 1961, the amount paid by a homebuyer as interest towards their home loan can be claimed as a tax deduction. The maximum tax deduction available under this section is ₹2 lakhs per financial year. Moreover, one can claim an additional deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakhs under Section 80C for the repayment of the home loan principal component.

However, one can avail of this benefit only if they submit the required documents to the Income Tax Department. A home loan provisional certificate is necessary for claiming income tax deductions. This article covers everything a homebuyer should know about a housing loan provisional certificate, right from what it is, its use, and how one can obtain it.

What is a home loan provisional certificate?

A home loan provisional certificate is a document that contains information on one’s home loan account. Also known as a provisional home loan interest certificate, it carries details such as:

• Borrower’s name, address, and contact details.
• Home loan account number.
• The total home loan amount borrowed by the homebuyer.
• The applicable home loan interest rate.
• Monthly EMI amount.
• The home loan amount that is paid by the borrower until the statement date.
• The home loan amount that is yet to be repaid.
• And the detailed break-up of the interest amount and the principal amount paid by the borrower in a given financial year.

What is the use of a home loan provisional certificate?

As mentioned above, a homebuyer who has taken a home loan to buy a new house can claim income tax deductions under sections 24 and 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. These deductions are available against the repayment of the interest and principal components of a home loan. However, one has to submit the necessary proof to the government to claim these deductions.

One can submit a home loan provisional interest certificate as proof that they have paid their home loan interest and principal at the time of Income Tax Return (ITR) filing to claim tax deductions under Sections 24 and 80C of the Income Tax Act.

The home loan certificate serves as proof of repayment and can also be beneficial for homebuyers who are still repaying their home loan. This document comprises information about the borrower’s outstanding home loan balance, the number of pending EMIs, and the loan tenure.

Homebuyers can manage their finances and plan their upcoming expenses with these details. For example, one can use the certificate to decide when their home loan will be fully paid off. This will, in turn, allow them to plan all their other future financial goals and investments.

How to obtain a housing loan provisional certificate?

A housing loan provisional certificate is issued by the lender from which a homebuyer has taken a home loan. One can obtain this provisional interest certificate online or offline. Below are the steps to get a home loan certificate through both methods:

• Online
  One can easily obtain a home loan provisional certificate online from the comfort of their home or office. Most banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) enable their customers to access their provisional home loan interest certificates online. All they have to do is visit their lender’s website and log in to their account using their unique ID and Password. They can access and download their home loan certificate and other relevant documents there.
• Offline
  If one wishes to obtain their home loan certificate offline, they can visit their lender’s office or nearest branch and apply for a provisional interest certificate. For this, they may be asked to provide their home loan account number and other details such as PAN card, date of birth, etc. Their housing loan provisional certificate will be sent to them at their registered residential address.

Conclusion

A home loan makes it easier for homebuyers to purchase their dream properties without any hassles. One can also avail of certain tax benefits under Sections 80C and 24 of the Income Tax Act by availing of a home loan and repaying it on time. However, they must submit a home loan provisional certificate to avail of these tax deductions.

One can obtain a home loan certificate in a few simple steps. Almost all reputed lenders allow homebuyers to get their provisional home loan interest certificates online from the comfort of their homes or office.

Disclaimer- This article is based on the information publicly available for general use. We do not claim any responsibility regarding the genuineness of the same. The information provided herein does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. We expressly disclaim any liability, which may arise due to any decision taken by any person/s basis the article hereof. Readers should obtain separate advice with respect to any particular information provided herein.