How to Use the Income Tax Calculator
Step 1: Enter Your Base Salary
Get your annual basic wage from Form 16. Turn on "Advanced Mode" to add extra elements like HRA, special allowance, LTA, and other allowances.
Step 2: Add Your Deductions (Old Regime)
Put your investments into groups that are different from each other:
- Section 80C: PPF, ELSS, LIC, EPF, NSC, and tax-saving FD (up to Rs 1.5 lakh)
- Section 80CCD(1B): Extra NPS payment (up to Rs 50,000)
- Section 80D: Health insurance premium (Rs 25,000 for yourself and Rs 50,000 for your parents)
Step 3: Figure out the HRA Exemption
If you get HRA and pay rent, put in how much rent you pay and whether or not you live in a metro region. The calculator will tell you how much of your HRA you may keep.
Step 4: Look at Both Systems
Look at the side-by-side comparison that demonstrates how taxes would change under the new system. The calculator tells you which plan is best and how much money you would save.
Income tax brackets for the fiscal year 2024-25
India has two tax systems: the old one, which has higher rates but more deductions, and the new one, which has lower rates but fewer deductions.
New Tax System for the Years 2024-25
| Income Slab | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to Rs 3,00,000 | Nothing |
| Rs 3,00,001 to Rs 7,00,000 | 5% |
| Rs 7,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000 | 10% |
| Rs 10,00,001 to Rs 12,00,000 | 15% |
| Rs 12,00,001 to Rs 15,00,000 | 20% |
| Over Rs 15,00,000 | 30% |
The standard deduction is Rs 75,000, and the surcharge is limited to 25%.
Old Tax System (for everyone under 60)
| Income Slab | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to Rs 2,50,000 | Nothing |
| Rs 2,50,001 to Rs 5,00,000 | 5% |
| Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10,00,000 | 20% |
| More than Rs 10,00,000 | 30% |
Standard Deduction: Rs 50,000 | All deductions are allowed
Which Is Better: The Old or the New Tax System?
The decision between the old and new tax systems depends on how much you invest and how much you may deduct:
Choose New Regime If:
You don't have a lot of money in 80C
You don't apply for an HRA waiver
You don't have to pay interest on your mortgage.
You want taxes that are easy to understand and lower.
Your total deductions are less than Rs 3-4 lakh.
Choose Old Regime If:
You get the most out of 80C investments (Rs 1.5L)
You say you don't have to pay rent because you get HRA
You pay interest on your home loan (Section 24)
You have health insurance for everyone in your family (80D)
Your total deductions are higher than Rs 4-5 lakh.
Tip: Use the calculator above to figure out your real income and deductions. It will automatically tell you which tax scheme will save you the most money and by how much.
What is a Section 87A Rebate?
Section 87A grants you a tax relief that might let your tax burden go down to zero.
New Regime
Maximum income: Rs 7,00,000
The most you may get back is: Rs 25,000.
Effect: No tax if taxable income is less than or equal to Rs 7L
Old Regime
Income Limit: Up to Rs 5,00,000
The most you may get back is: Rs 12,500.
Effect: No tax if taxable income is less than Rs 5L
Important Deductions Under the Old System
| Section | Description | Maximum Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 80C | PPF, ELSS, LIC, EPF, NSC, SCSS, tuition fees, and the principal on a home loan | Rs 1,50,000 |
| 80CCD(1B) | Extra NPS payment | Rs 50,000 |
| 80CCD(2) | Employer NPS contribution (available in both regimes) | 14% of salary |
| 80D | Health insurance premium | Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,000,000 |
| 80E | Interest on education loans | No maximum |
| 80TTA | Interest on savings accounts | Rs 10,000 |
| Section 24 | Interest on home loans (for homes you live in) | Rs 2,00,000 |
| HRA | House Rent Allowance exemption | Worked out |
How to figure out your income tax step by step with a real example
Learning how to figure out your income tax will help you uncover methods to save money. Let's figure out Priya's taxes. She is 32 years old and works as a software engineer in Bangalore, where she makes Rs 15 lakh a year with the following pay structure and investments.
Priya's Salary and Investment Information
Salary:
Deductions:
Old Regime Calculation
HRA Exemption Calculation:
Gross Total Income:
Apply Deductions:
Taxable Income:
Apply Tax Slabs:
New Regime Calculation
Taxable Income:
Tax Calculation:
Result: Priya saves Rs 5,720 with the new regime
Even with big deductions, the reduced rates make the new system better. But if Priya puts more money into 80C investments or needs to pay interest on a home loan, the old regime could win.
Things to Avoid When Figuring Out Your Income Tax
Choosing the Wrong Tax System
Always find out how much tax you will owe under both regimes before making a choice. The optimal regime for you will depend on your own needs. A lot of taxpayers go to the new regime without looking at the previous one.
Not claiming all the deductions you're allowed to
The extra Rs 50,000 NPS deduction under 80CCD(1B), the interest on education loans under 80E (which has no upper limit), and the donations under 80G. A lot of people miss these deductions, but they can really cut your tax burden.
Wrong HRA Calculation
Not using the three-part formula correctly or forgetting that a landlord PAN is required when the annual rent is more than Rs 1 lakh. Some people wrongly try to claim HRA under the new rules, even though it's not available.
Getting the Financial Year and the Assessment Year Mixed Up
The income for the fiscal year 2024-25 is looked at in the fiscal year 2025-26. Your return is not legitimate if you file for the wrong assessment year.
Not Checking Form 26AS
Your income reporting might not match if you don't look over Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement (AIS), and the Tax Information Statement (TIS) before you file.
Tax Planning Tips to Help You Save the Most Money
Get Started Early with Investments
Instead of placing all your money into ELSS funds in March, start investing in 80C in April with monthly SIPs. This enables you to generate bigger profits by averaging the cost of the rupee.
Make the salary structure work better
Talk to HR to make the most of tax-saving parts. If you pay a lot of rent, ask for a higher HRA. If you acquire meal cards or food coupons worth up to Rs 50 per meal, you should look into LTA for tax-free travel inside India.
Get the most out of your NPS benefits
Don't simply think about the necessary employer contribution when you think about NPS. With the extra Rs 50,000 deduction under 80CCD(1B), people in the highest tax bracket can save up to Rs 15,600 more in taxes.
Look over your regime every year
Each year, look over your regime decision and see whether it needs to alter. Changes in jobs, new home loans, marriage, or having kids all impact the best way to choose a regime. Every year, use the comparison tool on this calculator.
What is income tax, and who in India has to pay it?
The Indian government directly taxes the money that people, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), corporations, companies, and other entities make in a financial year. The Income Tax Act of 1961 is the law that says how taxes should be paid in India. It is the job of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to collect them.
Anyone living in India whose total income is more than the basic exemption limit must pay income tax. This limit is Rs 2.5 lakh for people under 60 years old in the old system, Rs 3 lakh for people between 60 and 80 years old, and Rs 5 lakh for people beyond 80 years old in the new system. The new tax system gives everyone a basic exemption of Rs 3 lakh, no matter how old they are.
Five Heads of Income
- Salary income: wages, bonuses, allowances, and other benefits
- House Property Income: Money made from renting out property you own
- Business or Professional Income: Money you make from your job or business
- Capital Gains: Money made from selling things like property, stocks, and mutual funds
- Revenue from Other Sources: This includes interest, dividends, and other types of revenue.
Questions that are often asked
Which tax system is best for people who work for a salary in India?
Which regime is best depends on how much you can deduct. If your total deductions under Section 80C, 80D, HRA, and home loan interest are more than Rs 3.75 lakh for income over Rs 15 lakh, the old regime usually saves you more tax. The new system will not require anyone to pay taxes from FY 2025-26 if they have less than Rs 12 lakh in income or fewer deductions. This is because of the higher Section 87A rebate.
What is the process for figuring out income tax in India?
To figure out your income tax, first find out your Gross Total Income. Then, subtract whatever deductions you are entitled for (80C, 80D, HRA exemption, etc.) to get your Taxable Income. Use the tax slab rates on this income, plus 4% for health and education, and add a surcharge if the income is more than Rs 50 lakh. Finally, if you qualify, take out the Section 87A rebate.
What is the Section 87A rebate for the fiscal year 2024-25?
For the fiscal year 2024-25, the new Section 87A refund is Rs 25,000 for taxable income up to Rs 7 lakh. This means that income up to Rs 7 lakh is virtually tax-free. The earlier system gave a Rs 12,500 rebate for income up to Rs 5 lakh. The new regime rebate goes up to Rs 60,000 for income up to Rs 12 lakh starting in FY 2025-26.
Is it possible to get an HRA exemption under the new tax system?
No, the new tax system does not allow for HRA exemptions. The new rules only let you take the normal deduction of Rs 75,000 and the employer NPS contribution under Section 80CCD(2). You can only get HRA, 80C, 80D, and house loan interest deductions under the old tax system.
What is the standard deduction for the fiscal year 2024-25?
Under the old tax system, the standard deduction was Rs 50,000. Under the new tax system for FY 2024-25, it would be Rs 75,000. The new Budget 2024 raised this from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. All salaried workers and retirees can take the standard deduction without having to show any proof.
How do you figure out how much HRA you don't have to pay?
The minimum of three amounts is the HRA exemption: (1) the actual HRA received, (2) 50% of Basic + DA for metro cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata) or 40% for non-metros, and (3) the actual rent paid less 10% of Basic + DA. Only the smallest amount of these three is not taxed.
What kinds of deductions can you make under Section 80C?
Section 80C lets you deduct up to Rs 1.5 lakh for things like PPF, EPF, ELSS mutual funds, NSC, a 5-year tax-saving FD, life insurance premiums, Sukanya Samriddhi, SCSS, home loan principal, and your kids' tuition. You can only get this deduction if you are still using the previous tax system.
Is it possible for me to switch between the old and new tax systems?
People who work for a salary can change regimes every year when they file their ITR. People who make money from their business or profession must fill out Form 10-IEA and can only switch once in their lives. Starting in AY 2024-25, the new regime will be the default. If you want the old regime, you have to choose it.
What do the terms "surcharge" and "health and education cess" mean?
If you make more than Rs 50 lakh, you have to pay a surcharge of 10% (Rs 50L-1Cr), 15% (Rs 1-2Cr), 25% (Rs 2-5Cr), or 37% (beyond Rs 5Cr for the old system, capped at 25% for the new regime). Health and Education Cess is 4% of (tax + surcharge) and applies to both systems.
What changes in Budget 2024 for income tax?
In the new regime, the standard deduction went up from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, the family pension deduction went up from Rs 25,000 to Rs 25,000, and the employer NPS contribution maximum went up to 14% of pay for everyone. The 5% tax level has been raised from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 7 lakh.
What is the best tax system for a salary of Rs. 15 lakh?
If you have investments worth more than Rs 3-4 lakh in 80C, 80D, HRA, and home loan interest combined, the previous system is usually better for a salary of Rs 15 lakh. The new system with its reduced rates and Rs 75,000 standard deduction may be better for you if your deductions are small. You can use our calculator to see how both regimes compare with your unique deductions.
Related Calculators
Important Disclaimer
This calculator gives estimates based on the rules in the Income Tax Act for the years 2024-25 and 2025-26. Depending on your situation, other sources of income, and specific rules, your actual tax liability may be different. Please use the official Income Tax Department website (incometax.gov.in) or talk to a certified tax professional to file your taxes. The calculations are not tax advice.
Last updated: January 4, 2026