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Free Income Tax Calculator India 2026

Calculate your income tax under both Old and New regime for FY 2025-26. Enter your salary, deductions, and HRA — get the exact tax difference in seconds and know which regime saves you more.

🧮 Income Tax Calculator — FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)
Basic Information
Total salary / income before any deductions
Tax slabs differ by age under old regime
Old Regime Deductions
Annual HRA component in your salary slip
Used for HRA exemption calculation
Zero if you don't pay rent or own a home
PPF, ELSS, LIC, NSC, home loan principal (max ₹1.5L)
Self + family (max ₹25,000; ₹50,000 for senior citizens)
Additional NPS deduction over 80C limit (max ₹50,000)
Interest on home loan for self-occupied property (max ₹2L)
Donations (80G), savings interest (80TTA max ₹10,000), etc.
New Regime — Additional Info
Allowed under new regime too — max 14% of basic for govt employees, 10% for others

How to Use This Calculator

1
Enter your annual gross income

Type your total salary or income before any deductions — this is your CTC minus variable pay, or total annual receipts if self-employed.

2
Select your age group

Age determines which tax slabs apply under the old regime. Senior citizens (60–79) and super senior citizens (80+) get higher basic exemption limits.

3
Fill in your deductions for the old regime

Enter HRA details, 80C investments (PPF, ELSS, LIC), health insurance premium, NPS contributions, home loan interest, and any other eligible deductions. Leave blank if not applicable — the calculator treats empty fields as zero.

4
Click Calculate Tax

Instantly see your tax liability under both regimes side by side. The winner is highlighted in green. You can see the exact savings amount and choose the regime for your ITR or TDS declaration.

💡 Tip: If your old regime tax is even ₹1 less than new regime, go with old regime. The difference compounds over a full year — ₹5,000 saved in tax is ₹5,000 you can invest in an SIP or add to your emergency fund.
📋 In This Page
  1. Income tax slabs FY 2025-26 (old vs new regime)
  2. Standard deduction & 87A rebate explained
  3. How HRA exemption is calculated
  4. Which deductions are allowed in which regime
  5. Who benefits from old vs new regime
  6. 5 common income tax mistakes to avoid
  7. Frequently asked questions

Income Tax Slabs FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)

India has two parallel tax regimes — old and new. Each has different slab rates and a different set of deductions you can claim. Here are the official slabs for FY 2025-26:

New Regime Tax Slabs (Default from FY 2023-24 onwards)

Income SlabTax RateTax on Slab (Example ₹15L income)
Up to ₹4,00,000Nil₹0
₹4,00,001 – ₹8,00,0005%₹20,000
₹8,00,001 – ₹12,00,00010%₹40,000
₹12,00,001 – ₹16,00,00015%₹45,000
₹16,00,001 – ₹20,00,00020%
₹20,00,001 – ₹24,00,00025%
Above ₹24,00,00030%

Plus 4% health and education cess on total tax. Individuals with taxable income up to ₹12 lakh get a full 87A rebate — net tax payable is zero.

Old Regime Tax Slabs (Below 60 Years)

Income SlabTax Rate
Up to ₹2,50,000Nil
₹2,50,001 – ₹5,00,0005%
₹5,00,001 – ₹10,00,00020%
Above ₹10,00,00030%

Senior citizens (60–79 years) get basic exemption up to ₹3,00,000. Super senior citizens (80+) get exemption up to ₹5,00,000. The 87A rebate under old regime applies if taxable income is up to ₹5,00,000 — resulting in zero net tax.

⚠️ New regime is now the default. If you don't explicitly opt for the old regime when filing your ITR or informing your employer for TDS, you are automatically placed in the new regime. Salaried employees must declare their choice at the beginning of the financial year to their employer's payroll department.

Standard Deduction & Section 87A Rebate — FY 2025-26

Two of the most impactful tax benefits apply automatically — no paperwork needed — and together they can reduce your tax bill by tens of thousands of rupees.

Standard Deduction: ₹75,000 for Salaried Individuals

The standard deduction was increased from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000 in Budget 2024, effective from FY 2024-25. It applies under both the old and new regime for salaried employees and pensioners. You don't claim it separately — your employer deducts it from your gross salary before computing TDS. If you're calculating manually, subtract ₹75,000 from gross salary before applying slabs.

Section 87A Rebate: Pay Zero Tax on Income Up to ₹12 Lakh (New Regime)

Under the new regime, if your taxable income (after standard deduction) is ₹12 lakh or below, the Section 87A rebate wipes out your entire tax liability — net tax payable becomes zero. This means a salaried person earning up to ₹12.75 lakh gross (₹12 lakh after ₹75,000 standard deduction) pays zero income tax under the new regime in FY 2025-26.

Under the old regime, the 87A rebate applies if taxable income is ₹5 lakh or below — making effective tax zero for anyone with post-deduction income under ₹5 lakh.

📌 The 87A rebate applies on the tax calculated on slabs — it cannot reduce surcharge or cess. So for high-income earners above ₹50 lakh, the effective tax rate includes surcharge and is not reducible via 87A.
BenefitOld RegimeNew Regime
Standard Deduction₹75,000₹75,000
87A Rebate Threshold₹5,00,000 (taxable income)₹12,00,000 (taxable income)
Net Tax at ThresholdZeroZero
Gross Income for Zero Tax (Salaried)~₹5,75,000~₹12,75,000

How HRA Exemption is Calculated

House Rent Allowance (HRA) is one of the largest tax-saving opportunities for salaried employees who live in rented accommodation. It is only available under the old regime. The exemption is the minimum of three amounts:

ComponentFormula
A — Actual HRA receivedHRA component in salary slip (annual)
B — 50%/40% of Basic Salary50% of annual basic if metro city; 40% if non-metro
C — Rent paid minus 10% of BasicAnnual rent paid − (10% × annual basic salary)

HRA exempt = min(A, B, C). This amount is deducted from your gross income before applying tax slabs under the old regime.

💡 Example: Rohan in Delhi earns ₹8 lakh basic, receives ₹3.6 lakh HRA, and pays ₹2.4 lakh rent annually. A = ₹3.6L, B = 50% × ₹8L = ₹4L, C = ₹2.4L − (10% × ₹8L) = ₹2.4L − ₹80K = ₹1.6L. HRA exempt = min(₹3.6L, ₹4L, ₹1.6L) = ₹1.6 lakh. He saves approximately ₹50,000 in tax at the 30% slab on this HRA alone.

Which Deductions Are Allowed in Each Regime

This is the most critical table when choosing between old and new regime. The new regime has lower base rates but eliminates most deductions. The old regime has higher rates but allows you to bring down your taxable income significantly through deductions.

Deduction / ExemptionOld RegimeNew RegimeMax Limit
Standard Deduction (salaried)✓ Allowed✓ Allowed₹75,000
Section 80C (PPF, ELSS, LIC, NSC, etc.)✓ Allowed✗ Not allowed₹1,50,000
Section 80D (Medical Insurance)✓ Allowed✗ Not allowed₹25,000–₹1,00,000
HRA Exemption✓ Allowed✗ Not allowedCalculated formula
LTA (Leave Travel Allowance)✓ Allowed✗ Not allowedActual travel cost
Home Loan Interest — Section 24(b)✓ Allowed✗ Not allowed₹2,00,000
NPS Self — 80CCD(1B)✓ Allowed✗ Not allowed₹50,000
Employer NPS — 80CCD(2)✓ Allowed✓ Allowed14%/10% of basic
Section 80TTA (savings interest)✓ Allowed✗ Not allowed₹10,000
Section 80G (donations)✓ Allowed✗ Not allowed50% or 100% of donation
Professional Tax✓ Allowed✗ Not allowedActual (max ₹2,500)
Family Pension Deduction✓ Allowed✓ Allowed₹15,000 or 1/3 of pension

Who Benefits from Old Regime vs New Regime?

The answer depends almost entirely on how much you can claim in deductions. Here is a practical decision guide:

New Regime is usually better if you:

Earn up to ₹12.75 lakh gross (zero tax via 87A rebate) · Have no significant HRA (own a house or live rent-free) · Don't invest heavily in 80C instruments · Are self-employed with few structured deductions · Prefer simplicity over tax planning.

Old Regime is usually better if you:

Pay high rent in a metro city with a large HRA component · Maximise 80C (₹1.5L in PPF, ELSS, or LIC) · Pay home loan interest on a self-occupied property · Have a parent's medical insurance (80D up to ₹50,000 for senior citizens) · Contribute to NPS under 80CCD(1B) · Claim all of the above together — total deductions can reach ₹4–5 lakh easily.

Annual IncomeFew DeductionsHeavy Deductions (₹3L+)
Up to ₹12.75 lakhNew regime — Zero taxCompare both — old may match
₹15 lakhNew regime usually winsOld regime likely better
₹20 lakhNew regime likely betterOld regime often better
₹30 lakh+Depends on deductionsOld regime usually better
💡 There is no universal answer — this is why the calculator above shows both numbers side by side. Run your actual numbers every year, because your income, deductions, and the tax rules themselves can all change.

5 Common Income Tax Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1 — Forgetting the standard deduction

Many salaried employees don't realise that ₹75,000 is automatically deducted from gross salary before tax is computed. Always verify your Form 16 shows this deduction, and include it when doing your own calculation. Ignoring it makes your calculated tax ₹15,000–₹22,500 higher than it actually is (at 20–30% slab).

Mistake 2 — Using gross CTC instead of actual salary

Your CTC includes employer PF contribution, gratuity, and other components that are not part of your taxable income. Use your net taxable salary — from your payslip or Form 16 Part B — not your CTC figure from your offer letter. CTC and taxable income can differ by ₹50,000–₹1.5 lakh.

Mistake 3 — Not comparing both regimes before TDS declaration

Most employers ask employees to declare their regime at the start of the financial year. Many people pick the new regime by default because it's simpler — but for those with HRA, 80C, and home loans, the old regime can save ₹30,000–₹80,000 or more annually. Use this calculator before submitting your employer's investment declaration form (typically in April).

Mistake 4 — Exceeding 80C limit and expecting full deduction

Section 80C has a combined cap of ₹1.5 lakh — that's LIC premium + PPF + ELSS + home loan principal + children's tuition fees all together. Exceeding ₹1.5 lakh gives you no additional tax benefit. Many people discover mid-year that their LIC premiums alone hit ₹1.2 lakh, leaving only ₹30,000 room for PPF or ELSS.

Mistake 5 — Missing the 87A rebate claim in ITR

If your taxable income is within the rebate threshold (₹5 lakh old regime, ₹12 lakh new regime) but you paid excess TDS through the year, you must file an ITR to claim a refund. The rebate is not automatic — it must be claimed. If you skip filing because "I have no tax to pay," you lose the refund of any excess TDS already deducted by your employer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which income tax regime is better — old or new in 2026? +
It depends on your deductions. If you claim HRA, 80C (₹1.5 lakh), NPS (80CCD), home loan interest, and medical insurance, the old regime often saves more tax. If you have few deductions, the new regime's lower slab rates usually result in lower tax. Use this calculator to compare both and pick the better one for your exact income and deductions.
What is the 87A tax rebate in FY 2025-26? +
Under the new regime, individuals with taxable income up to ₹12 lakh get a full tax rebate under Section 87A — meaning zero tax payable. Under the old regime, the 87A rebate applies if taxable income is up to ₹5 lakh. For salaried individuals, the standard deduction of ₹75,000 means gross income up to ₹12.75 lakh (new regime) or ₹5.75 lakh (old regime) results in zero tax.
What is the standard deduction for salaried employees in FY 2025-26? +
The standard deduction is ₹75,000 for FY 2025-26 under both the old and new tax regime for salaried individuals and pensioners. This was increased from ₹50,000 in Budget 2024. It is applied automatically by your employer before deducting TDS — you don't need to claim it separately, but verify it appears in your Form 16.
How is HRA exemption calculated for income tax? +
HRA exemption under the old regime is the minimum of: (1) Actual HRA received from employer annually, (2) 50% of basic salary for metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) or 40% for non-metro, and (3) Actual annual rent paid minus 10% of basic salary. HRA exemption is not available under the new tax regime.
Is Section 80C available under the new tax regime? +
No. Section 80C deductions (PPF, ELSS, LIC premium, NSC, home loan principal, tuition fees, etc.) up to ₹1.5 lakh are only available under the old tax regime. Under the new regime, most deductions including 80C, 80D, HRA, LTA, and home loan interest are not allowed. Only employer NPS (80CCD(2)), standard deduction, and family pension deduction are available under the new regime.
Can I switch between old and new tax regime every year? +
Salaried individuals can switch between old and new regime every financial year when filing their ITR. However, if you have business income, you can switch to the old regime only once — after that, you must stay in the old regime or permanently move to the new one. Inform your employer of your regime choice at the start of each financial year for correct TDS deduction throughout the year.
What income is completely tax-free in India in 2026? +
Under the new regime for salaried individuals: gross income up to ₹12,75,000 is effectively tax-free (₹12,00,000 taxable after ₹75,000 standard deduction → zero tax via 87A rebate). Under the old regime for individuals below 60: taxable income up to ₹5,00,000 is tax-free via 87A rebate — translating to gross income of approximately ₹5,75,000 plus any additional deductions you claim.

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About ToolLoom — We build free tools for Indian students, professionals and creators. All calculators are verified against official Income Tax Department, RBI, and SEBI guidelines. Tax rules verified for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27). Found an error or want a new feature? Email contact@toolloom.in

📅 May 2026 · Written by the ToolLoom Team · Reviewed for accuracy May 2026