Missed the HR deadline? No problem.
Every January, employers ask for investment proofs. If you missed submitting your health insurance receipt, payroll cut higher TDS and your Form 16 (the salary-and-tax certificate from your employer) shows no Section 80D deduction.
You have not lost the money. 80D is your right to claim, not your employer's to grant — you can add it yourself while filing your Income Tax Return.
Quick reminder of the number: 80D allows ₹25,000 (below 60) or ₹50,000 (senior citizen involved) for health insurance premiums (Source: Section 80D, Income Tax Act).
How to claim it yourself: step by step
- Keep your proof ready: the premium receipt from the insurer, clearly showing it is health insurance.
- Check the payment mode: the premium must have been paid digitally or by cheque — cash premiums do not qualify.
- File under the Old Regime: 80D works only if you opt for the old regime.
- Open the deductions schedule: on incometax.gov.in, go to Schedule VI-A, find Section 80D, and enter the premium amount.
- Review the new tax figure: your liability drops, usually creating a refund.
What happens next
Because your employer taxed you as if you had no 80D, claiming it now lowers your final liability. This typically produces a refund, which the department credits to your bank account after processing.
| Form 16 80D | What you do | Likely result |
|---|---|---|
| Shows ₹0 | Claim it in ITR | Refund of excess TDS |
What you should do
- Do not assume Form 16 is the final word — it only reflects what HR knew.
- Re-check every health policy renewed during the year, including parents' cover.
- Match the amount to your premium receipts before entering it.
Common mistake
Believing you cannot claim what Form 16 omitted. Many people overpay tax for years on this myth. The ITR, not Form 16, is your final declaration.
How LastMinute ITR helps
If Form 16 lacks your 80D, it is easy to forget. LastMinute ITR asks directly whether you bought health insurance this year, regardless of Form 16, slots it into your deductions, and checks old vs new regime so the claim actually helps. You then file and e-verify on incometax.gov.in.