Income Tax on Awards & Prizes: Lottery, Game Shows, and Puzzle

Awards and their tax implication

When it comes to awards, they are considered to be tax-free if they are approved by the Government of India. The taxability of awards depends on the reason why the award was given, who is giving the award and whether the award was approved by the Central or the State Government.

If the award is given in public interest and is approved by the Government, it would be considered tax-free under Section 10 (17A) of the Income Tax Act. The Indian Government has a list of awards that are completely tax-free in the hands of the awardee. These awards include the following –

• National Awards
• Nobel Prize if it is notified by the Government under Section 10 (17A) of the Income Tax Act
• Awards given by the Government to winners of Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, etc.
• Arjuna Award
• Bharat Ratna Award, etc.

If, however, the award is not approved by the Central or the State Government or it is given by an unapproved authority, it would become taxable in the hands of the awardee under Section 56(2) of the Income Tax Act. The money received under the award would be mentioned under the head ‘income from other sources’ and it would be taxed.

Common examples of taxable awards include the following –

• Wisden Cricketer Award
• ICC Cricket Awards
• Filmfare Awards
• Grammy Awards, etc.

Prizes and their tax implication

Prizes and winnings are always taxable in the hands of the winner. The amount of prize won would be recorded under the head ‘income from other sources’ and it would be subject to tax as per the provisions of Section 56(2). Examples of taxable prizes include the following –

• Winnings from lotteries, crossword puzzles, horse racing, etc.
• Winnings from a game show like Kaun Banega Crorepati, Dance India Dance etc.
• Winnings from sporting events, etc.

The rate of tax

Awards which are not approved by the Government and prizes are taxed at the rate of 30%. Cess would also have to be added to the tax rate which brings the total tax rate to 31.2%. This rate would be independent of the tax slab rate of the individual. This means that even if the individual’s income falls in the 20% slab rate, winnings from awards and prizes would still be taxed @31.2%. If the prize or winning is received in kind, the market value of the item received is taken into consideration. The tax is, then, levied on the market value of the item.

Deductions and exemptions on income from awards and prizes

No deductions or tax-free exemptions would be allowed to be deducted from the winnings if they are taxable. So, the tax-payer cannot claim deductions under Chapter VI A of the Income Tax Act (Section 80C, Section 80D, etc.) on the winnings which are taxable.

TDS incidence

If the amount of the award or the prize is more than INR 10,000, TDS would have to be deducted from the winnings before paying it to the winner according to the provisions of Section 194B.

Example

Anil won a game show on which he received INR 2 lakhs in cash and a car worth INR 10 lakhs. He had income from salary at INR 10 lakhs and income from fixed deposit interest at INR 50,000. He invested INR 1.5 lakhs in Section 80C and INR 20,000 towards his health insurance policy. His tax liability would be calculated as follows –

Tax on winnings

Tax on income

Total tax payable = INR 374,400 + INR 78,500 = INR 452,900

If you win awards or prizes, check whether they are approved by the Government or not. If the award is approved by the Government you don’t have to pay taxes. If, however, the award is not approved, tax would have to be paid. Understand the implication of taxation and how much tax is payable so that you don’t face any penalty from the income tax department.

Rules for Income Tax on Lottery or Game Show Income

The income tax rules for lottery or game show income in India are governed by the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Here are some important rules and guidelines:

• Income from Other Sources: Lottery winnings or game show winnings are considered as "income from other sources" under the Income Tax Act.
• Taxable Amount: The entire amount won from a lottery or game show is taxable. It is included in the individual's total income for the relevant financial year.
• Tax Rate: Lottery or game show income is subject to income tax at the applicable slab rate. The tax rates vary based on the income slab the individual falls into, as per the prevailing income tax rates for the relevant financial year.
• TDS (Tax Deducted at Source): The payer or organizer of the lottery or game show is responsible for deducting TDS at the applicable rate before making the payment to the winner. They are required to deduct tax on the winnings and issue a TDS certificate to the winner.
• TDS Rate: The TDS rate for lottery winnings is 30% of the winning amount (plus applicable surcharge and cess). For game show winnings, the TDS rate is also 30% (plus surcharge and cess) unless the winner provides a valid Permanent Account Number (PAN), in which case the TDS rate is 31.2% (including surcharge and cess).
• Reporting and Filing of Income Tax Return: If the total income, including the lottery or game show winnings, exceeds the taxable income threshold, the individual is required to file an income tax return. The winnings should be reported as "income from other sources" in the income tax return.
• Deductions and Exemptions: No specific deductions or exemptions are allowed against lottery or game show income. The entire amount is subject to tax at the applicable rate.
• Record-keeping: It is important to maintain proper documentation and records of the lottery or game show winnings, including the TDS certificate received from the payer or organizer. These records should be retained for reference during income tax assessments or inquiries.