Before understanding the age criteria, it is very important to know that the tax benefits offered under the Income-tax Law to a senior citizen/very senior citizen are available only to resident senior citizen and resident very senior citizens. In other words, these benefits are not available to a non-resident even though he may be of higher age. The age and other criteria to qualify as a very senior citizen under the Income-tax Law are as follows :
Criteria for very senior citizen
Must be of the age of 80 years or above at any time during the respective year.
Must be resident
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(1) Mr. Raja (resident in India) attained the age of 80 years during the financial year 2016-17. Will he qualify as very senior citizen under the Income-tax Law for the financial year 2016-17?
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Yes, since Mr. Raja is a resident and he attained the age of 80 years during the year 2016-17, he will be treated as a very senior citizen under the Income-tax Law for the financial year 2016-17.
(2) Mr.Rajat (non-resident in India) attained the age of 80 years during the financial year 2016-17. Will he qualify as very senior citizen under the Income-tax Law for the financial year 2016-17?
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Mr.Rajat is a non-resident, the benefits of very senior citizen under the Income-tax Law are available to a resident only and, hence, Mr.Rajat will not be treated as very senior citizen under the Income-tax Law for the financial year 2016-17.
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