Interest paid on the home loan
As per Sec 24(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 a deduction up to Rs. 150,000/- towards the total interest payable on the home loan towards purchase / construction of house property can be claimed while computing the income from house property. (The deduction amount is Rs 30,000/- in case of loans taken prior to March 1, 1999). The interest payable for the pre-acquisition or pre-construction period would be deductible in five equal annual installments commencing from the year in which the house has been acquired or constructed.

In case of self occupied property, this deduction is allowed only for one such self - occupied property. The interest towards home loan taken for purchase, construction, repairs, renewal or reconstruction of house property is eligible for deduction under section 24(b).

Principal repayment of the home loan
As per Section 80C read with section 80CCE of the Income Tax Act, 1961 the principal repayment up to Rs. 100,000 on your home loan will be allowed as a deduction from the gross total income subject to fulfillment of prescribed conditions.