In case a couple plans to buy a home by taking a joint home loan then there are added

advantages that they can avail from the loan. While a joint loan permits the total loan amount to
be higher by combining the repaying power of the both the applicants, it also provides tax rebate
on taxable income of both. Both the individuals can now claim tax rebate on the principal (Under
Section 80C) and the interest (Under Section 24) that is repaid by them.

Here are some of the direct implications of a joint home loan:


1. As per the Income Tax Act provisions, in case of joint loans, all the co-borrowers can
avail tax benefits. The maximum stipulated limit of Rs. 150,000 is applicable individually
to both the borrowers (which imply that the total deduction possible will be limited
to Rs. 300,000).
2. In order to avail the tax benefits through this provision the co-borrower of the loan also
has to be the co-owner of the property.
3. The share in tax exemption that each co-borrower gets is in proportion to the share in the
home loan availed by the co-borrower.
4. Where the husband and wife as co-borrowers are paying a total of Rs. 240,000 as
interest and Rs. 100,000 as principal element of the home loan, each of them is entitled to
a tax exemption of Rs. 120,000 on the interest part subject to a maximum of Rs. 150,000,
and Rs. 50,000 each for the principal element irrespective of their overall tax returns for
the year.
5. In cases where one co-owner is not earning then the earning partner has to enter into a
legal agreement with the former to state that the entire burden of the home loan is being
borne by the earning member. This will make the earning member to take full advantage
of all tax exemptions available on the home loan. This agreement can be signed
on Rs. 100 stamp paper.
6. Each borrower has to obtain the statement of payment made to the financier individually
and submit the same separately in order to avail the tax exemptions.
As is evident from the above implications the tax benefits can be doubled by availing a joint
home loan when buying house. There is no upper limit for tax exemption on the interest amount
paid except that each co-borrower can claim rebate of up to Rs. 150,000 only in any financial
years. In certain cases where there are more number of co-borrowers such as other family
members in a home loan the actual tax rebate availed towards payment of the interest element
can be further increased.

There are certain restrictions on joint loan applications such as sisters, friends and unmarried
couples cannot apply or benefit from this scheme. A maximum of 4 to 6 joint applicants are
eligible for tax rebate under this clause.

Thus, availing a joint home loan is certainly a lucrative financial option to buy a house as well as
save maximum possible on income taxes.