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Old vs New Tax Regime Calculator

Tax

Compare income tax under old and new regime for FY 2025-26. Enter your income and deductions to instantly see which tax regime saves you more money.

Old Regime DeductionsNot used in New Regime

New regime allows only ₹75,000 standard deduction. Old regime allows ₹50,000 + all above deductions.

Pay less tax

New Regime

Default from FY 2023-24

₹0

total tax (incl. cess)

Tax 0.0% Take-home 0.0%
Take-Home (Annual)₹0
Take-Home (Monthly)₹0
Std. Deduction₹75,000
Effective Rate0.00%

Old Regime

Opt-in required

₹0

total tax (incl. cess)

Tax 0.0% Take-home 0.0%
Take-Home (Annual)₹0
Take-Home (Monthly)₹0
Std. Deduction₹50,000
Effective Rate0.00%

Both regimes result in equal tax for these inputs.

Includes 87A rebate, surcharge, and 4% health & education cess. FY 2025-26 slabs.

What is a Tax Regime?

The Old vs New Tax Regime Calculator compares your income tax liability under both regimes for Financial Year 2025-26, using your actual gross income and deductions. Rather than navigating tax slabs manually, you enter five numbers and instantly see which regime saves you more money — expressed in rupees, not percentages.

India operates two parallel income tax systems for individuals. The old regime has been the default structure for decades: salaried employees claim deductions under Section 80C (PPF, ELSS, life insurance), Section 80D (health insurance), HRA exemption, home loan interest under Section 24(b), and standard deduction — all reducing taxable income before slab tax is applied. The new regime, introduced in 2020 and significantly restructured in Budget 2023 and Budget 2025, eliminates nearly all these deductions in exchange for lower slab rates and a substantially higher 87A rebate.

The pivotal change in FY 2025-26 is the new regime's Section 87A rebate threshold: individuals whose net taxable income (after the ₹75,000 standard deduction) does not exceed ₹12 lakh pay zero income tax. This makes the new regime compelling for a large fraction of India's salaried population. For those above ₹12 lakh, the calculus depends on the quantum of deductions — particularly HRA, home loan interest, and 80C investments — which remain available only under the old regime.

The Income Tax Calculator models both regimes with the same slab structure and is useful for more granular income breakdowns. This calculator focuses specifically on the regime comparison with your deduction inputs, making the decision immediately actionable.

How to use this Tax Regime calculator

  1. Enter your Annual Gross Income — your total salary before any deductions (CTC minus non-cash benefits like gratuity and ESOPs is a reasonable proxy). Use your gross taxable salary, not net-of-TDS income. Common values are ₹5 lakh to ₹30 lakh for most salaried employees.

  2. Enter 80C Investments — the total of eligible investments and payments under Section 80C in the financial year: EPF employee contribution, PPF deposits, ELSS mutual fund investments, life insurance premiums, home loan principal repayment, children's tuition fees, and tax-saving FD. The maximum deductible limit is ₹1.5 lakh — any amount beyond that has no additional tax benefit under the old regime.

  3. Enter 80D Health Insurance Premium — total health insurance premiums paid for self, spouse, children (up to ₹25,000 or ₹50,000 if you are a senior citizen) and for parents (an additional ₹25,000 or ₹50,000 if parents are senior citizens). The maximum deductible limit here is ₹75,000.

  4. Enter your HRA Exemption — if you live in rented accommodation and your employer pays HRA, compute your eligible exemption using our HRA Exemption Calculator and enter the figure here. HRA exemption is one of the most impactful old-regime deductions for metro residents and can run into lakhs per year.

  5. Enter Other Deductions — include Section 80CCD(1B) additional NPS deduction (up to ₹50,000), Section 80TTA/TTB savings account interest (up to ₹10,000/₹50,000), Section 80G donations, home loan interest under Section 24(b) (up to ₹2 lakh for self-occupied property), and any other eligible deductions.

  6. Compare the results — read Tax — New Regime and Tax — Old Regime side by side. The regime with the lower tax is your optimal choice. Confirm by checking the You Save figure to understand the annual financial impact of the decision.

Formula & Methodology

New Regime Taxable Income:

Taxable_New = max(0, Gross_Income − 75,000)

Old Regime Taxable Income:

Taxable_Old = max(0, Gross_Income − 50,000 − min(80C, 1,50,000) − min(80D, 75,000) − HRA − Others)

Slab Tax — New Regime FY 2025-26:

| Taxable Income (₹) | Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 – 4,00,000 | 0% |
| 4,00,001 – 8,00,000 | 5% |
| 8,00,001 – 12,00,000 | 10% |
| 12,00,001 – 16,00,000 | 15% |
| 16,00,001 – 20,00,000 | 20% |
| 20,00,001 – 24,00,000 | 25% |
| Above 24,00,000 | 30% |

87A Rebate — New Regime: If Taxable_New ≤ ₹12,00,000 → Tax = 0; else marginal relief applies (Tax ≤ Taxable_New − 12,00,000)

Slab Tax — Old Regime FY 2025-26:

| Taxable Income (₹) | Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 – 2,50,000 | 0% |
| 2,50,001 – 5,00,000 | 5% |
| 5,00,001 – 10,00,000 | 20% |
| Above 10,00,000 | 30% |

87A Rebate — Old Regime: If Taxable_Old ≤ ₹5,00,000 → Tax = 0

Surcharge on Base Tax (both regimes):
- Income > ₹50 lakh: 10% surcharge
- Income > ₹1 crore: 15%
- Income > ₹2 crore: 25%
- Income > ₹5 crore: 37% (old) / 25% (new regime cap)

Final Tax = (Base_Tax + Surcharge) × 1.04 (4% cess)

Worked example — ₹10 lakh gross income, 80C ₹1.5 lakh, 80D ₹25,000:

- New regime taxable: ₹10,00,000 − ₹75,000 = ₹9,25,000
  - Slab tax: ₹0 + ₹20,000 (4–8L @5%) + ₹12,500 (8–9.25L @10%) = ₹32,500
  - 87A rebate: taxable ≤ ₹12L → tax = 0. Total new tax = ₹0

- Old regime taxable: ₹10,00,000 − ₹50,000 − ₹1,50,000 − ₹25,000 = ₹7,75,000
  - Slab tax: ₹12,500 (2.5–5L @5%) + ₹55,000 (5–7.75L @20%) = ₹67,500
  - 87A rebate: taxable > ₹5L → no rebate
  - Cess: ₹67,500 × 1.04 = ₹70,200. Total old tax = ₹70,200

- Result: New regime saves ₹70,200 in this scenario.

For employees wanting a complete salary breakdown including PF contributions and professional tax before using this calculator, start with the Salary / CTC Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between old and new tax regime in India?
The old tax regime allows taxpayers to claim multiple deductions and exemptions — such as Section 80C (up to ₹1.5 lakh), Section 80D (health insurance), HRA exemption, and home loan interest — before computing taxable income, using pre-Budget 2023 slabs starting at 2.5 lakh. The new tax regime (introduced in 2020, overhauled in Budget 2023, and further revised in Budget 2025) offers lower slab rates with zero tax up to ₹12 lakh for most taxpayers, but allows only a ₹75,000 standard deduction with virtually no other deductions available.
Which tax regime is better for salaried employees in FY 2025-26?
For most salaried individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh, the new regime is better because the Section 87A rebate eliminates tax entirely after the ₹75,000 standard deduction. For those with income above ₹12 lakh, the answer depends on the total value of deductions they can claim — high deductions under 80C, HRA, and home loan interest make the old regime competitive. Use the Old vs New Tax Regime Calculator to enter your specific deductions and get a personalised comparison.
What are the new tax regime income tax slabs for FY 2025-26?
Under the new regime for FY 2025-26: income up to ₹4 lakh — nil; ₹4–8 lakh — 5%; ₹8–12 lakh — 10%; ₹12–16 lakh — 15%; ₹16–20 lakh — 20%; ₹20–24 lakh — 25%; above ₹24 lakh — 30%. After computing slab tax, if taxable income (post ₹75,000 standard deduction) does not exceed ₹12 lakh, Section 87A rebate reduces tax to nil. A 4% health and education cess is added to the final tax and surcharge.
What deductions are available under the new tax regime?
The new regime allows only a standard deduction of ₹75,000 for salaried individuals and pensioners (increased from ₹50,000 in Budget 2024). It does not allow deductions under Section 80C, 80D, 80E, 80G, HRA exemption, LTA, home loan interest under Section 24(b), or most other Chapter VI-A deductions. The sole exception is employer's NPS contribution under Section 80CCD(2), which can still be claimed under the new regime.
How does Section 87A rebate work in FY 2025-26?
Under the new regime, if your net taxable income (gross income minus the ₹75,000 standard deduction) does not exceed ₹12 lakh, you pay zero tax — the Section 87A rebate offsets all computed slab tax. For income just above ₹12 lakh, marginal relief applies: your total tax cannot exceed the income earned above ₹12 lakh. Under the old regime, the 87A rebate applies only if taxable income (after all deductions) does not exceed ₹5 lakh, making it meaningful primarily for lower-income taxpayers.
Should I choose the old regime if I have a home loan?
Home loan interest under Section 24(b) — up to ₹2 lakh for self-occupied property — is only deductible under the old regime. If you have a ₹50 lakh home loan at 8.5% p.a., your annual interest in the early years can easily exceed ₹4 lakh, though only ₹2 lakh is deductible. Combined with ₹1.5 lakh under 80C (which typically includes your principal repayment) and HRA or other deductions, the old regime can result in significantly lower tax for high-income home loan borrowers. Enter your actual deductions in this calculator to verify.
Can I switch between old and new tax regime every year?
Salaried individuals (without business income) can switch between old and new tax regime every financial year by declaring their choice to their employer at the start of the year or by selecting the appropriate option while filing their ITR. Self-employed individuals and those with business or professional income can switch to the old regime only once — after which switching back to the new regime is not permitted. The new regime is the default from FY 2023-24 onwards, so you must actively opt for the old regime if you want it.
What is the standard deduction under old and new tax regime?
Under the old regime, the standard deduction for salaried employees is ₹50,000 per financial year — unchanged since FY 2019-20. Under the new regime, the standard deduction was increased to ₹75,000 from FY 2024-25 (Budget 2024), giving new regime taxpayers a ₹25,000 higher deduction as an additional incentive to switch. Both deductions are available automatically to salaried individuals and do not require documentation or separate claims in the ITR.
At what income level is the new tax regime always better regardless of deductions?
Based on FY 2025-26 slabs, the new regime is definitively better for income up to ₹12 lakh due to the full 87A rebate. For income above ₹15.75 lakh, the new regime is generally better even with maximum old-regime deductions, because the lower slab rates compound significantly. In the ₹12–15.75 lakh range, the answer varies depending on actual deductions — specifically, whether HRA exemption plus 80C, 80D, and home loan interest together exceed the new-regime standard deduction advantage. This calculator models this breakeven precisely for your input values.
How does HRA exemption affect my choice between old and new tax regime?
HRA exemption can only be claimed under the old tax regime and is one of the most valuable deductions for salaried employees living in rented accommodation — especially in metros like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru where rent is high. A person paying ₹25,000 per month in rent (₹3 lakh per year) with a basic salary of ₹6 lakh could claim significant HRA exemption under the old regime, shifting the tax break-even point. Use our [HRA Exemption Calculator](/hra-calculator/) to compute your exact eligible HRA exemption before entering it in this calculator.
What is the surcharge on income tax in India for FY 2025-26?
Surcharge is an additional tax levied on the income tax amount (not income) for high earners. Under both regimes, surcharge rates are: 10% for income above ₹50 lakh, 15% above ₹1 crore, 25% above ₹2 crore, and 37% above ₹5 crore (old regime only — the new regime caps surcharge at 25% for income above ₹5 crore). After computing income tax and surcharge, a 4% health and education cess is applied to the combined amount. This calculator applies surcharge and cess automatically.
Do I need to declare my tax regime choice while filing ITR?
Yes. From FY 2023-24, the new tax regime is the default. If you wish to file under the old regime, you must explicitly opt for it by selecting the relevant option in your ITR form and, if applicable, filing Form 10-IEA before the due date. Salaried employees should also inform their employer of their regime choice at the start of the financial year so that TDS is deducted at the correct rate. Use our [TDS Calculator](/tds-calculator/) to verify how much TDS your employer should be deducting based on your chosen regime.