Contents
- 1 Tax Saving Calculator — Old vs New Regime FY 2025-26
- 1.1 Old vs New Regime — Which One Suits You?
- 1.2 Major Deductions Available (Old Regime Only)
- 1.3 Best 80C Investments — Compared
- 1.4 Section 80D — Health Insurance Deductions
- 1.5 HRA Exemption Formula (Section 10(13A))
- 1.6 When New Regime Wins (Despite Lower Deductions)
- 1.7 Frequently Asked Questions
- 1.8 Related Calculators
Tax Saving Calculator — Old vs New Regime FY 2025-26
Find out exactly how much tax you save with deductions like 80C, 80D, HRA, NPS, home loan. Compare Old vs New Regime side-by-side.
Old vs New Regime — Which One Suits You?
From FY 2023-24, the New Tax Regime is the default. It offers lower slabs but disallows most deductions (80C, 80D, HRA, Home Loan interest, LTA, etc.). You must actively opt for the Old Regime if you want deductions. The “right” regime depends entirely on how many deductions you claim — there’s no universal winner.
Income Tax Slabs Comparison (FY 2025-26)
| Income Range | Old Regime | New Regime |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹2.5L (Old) / ₹4L (New) | Nil | Nil |
| ₹2.5L – ₹4L (Old) / ₹4L – ₹8L (New) | 5% | 5% |
| ₹4L – ₹5L (Old) | 5% | — |
| ₹5L – ₹8L (Old) / ₹8L – ₹12L (New) | 20% | 10% |
| ₹8L – ₹10L (Old) | 20% | — |
| ₹10L+ (Old) | 30% | — |
| ₹12L – ₹16L (New) | — | 15% |
| ₹16L – ₹20L (New) | — | 20% |
| ₹20L – ₹24L (New) | — | 25% |
| ₹24L+ (New) | — | 30% |
Section 87A rebate: Up to ₹12,500 in Old (income ≤₹5L); up to ₹60,000 in New (income ≤₹12L). Standard deduction: ₹50K in Old, ₹75K in New for salaried/pensioners.
Major Deductions Available (Old Regime Only)
| Section | Description | Max Limit (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| 80C | EPF, PPF, ELSS, NSC, Life Insurance, ULIP, Tax Saver FD, Home Loan Principal, SSY, Tuition Fees (max 2 children) | 1,50,000 |
| 80CCD(1B) | Additional NPS Tier-I contribution | 50,000 |
| 80CCD(2) | Employer NPS contribution (up to 10% of basic+DA, 14% for govt) | No cap |
| 80D | Health Insurance — self + family (₹25K, ₹50K if senior) | 25,000-50,000 |
| 80D (Parents) | Health Insurance — parents (₹50K if senior) | 25,000-50,000 |
| 80DD | Disabled dependent maintenance | 75,000 – 1,25,000 |
| 80DDB | Specified diseases treatment (cancer, kidney, etc.) | 40,000-1,00,000 |
| 80E | Education loan interest (no upper limit, 8 yrs max) | No cap |
| 80EE / 80EEA | First home loan interest (additional) | 50,000 / 1,50,000 |
| 80G | Donations to approved charities (50% or 100%) | 10% of gross income (most) |
| 80GG | Rent paid (if no HRA from employer) | 5,000/mo or 25% of income |
| 80TTA / 80TTB | Savings interest (general/senior) | 10,000 / 50,000 |
| 80U | Self disability | 75,000 – 1,25,000 |
| Sec 10(13A) | HRA exemption | Formula-based |
| Sec 24b | Home loan interest (self-occupied) | 2,00,000 |
Best 80C Investments — Compared
| Option | Returns | Lock-in | Tax on Maturity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELSS Mutual Fund | 10-15% | 3 yrs | LTCG @ 12.5% (above ₹1.25L) | Wealth + tax saving |
| PPF | 7.1% | 15 yrs (partial after 7) | Tax-free | Retirement, ultra-safe |
| EPF (Employee) | 8.25% | Till retirement | Tax-free (after 5 yrs) | Salaried — automatic |
| NPS Tier-I | 9-12% | Till 60 | 60% tax-free withdrawal, 40% annuity | Long-term retirement |
| SSY (girl child <10) | 8.2% | 21 yrs / marriage | Tax-free | Daughter’s future |
| Tax-Saver FD | 6.5-7.5% | 5 yrs | Interest taxable | Risk-averse with deduction need |
| NSC | 7.7% | 5 yrs | Interest taxable (deemed reinvested) | Post office walk-ins |
| SCSS (60+) | 8.2% | 5 yrs | Interest taxable | Senior citizens |
| Life Insurance Premium | 3-6% (traditional) | Long | Maturity may be taxable if premium > ₹2.5L (ULIP) | Pure term insurance (separate) |
| Home Loan Principal | n/a | n/a | n/a | Already buying home |
Section 80D — Health Insurance Deductions
| Scenario | Self & Family | Parents | Total Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both you and parents under 60 | ₹25,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹50,000 |
| You under 60, parents 60+ | ₹25,000 | ₹50,000 | ₹75,000 |
| You 60+, parents 60+ | ₹50,000 | ₹50,000 | ₹1,00,000 |
| Preventive health check-up (within above) | ₹5,000 max | — | |
Premium must be paid through banking channels (UPI, NEFT, credit card, cheque). Cash premiums don’t qualify (except preventive check-up).
HRA Exemption Formula (Section 10(13A))
HRA exemption = LEAST of:
- Actual HRA received from employer
- 50% of basic salary (metro cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) OR 40% (non-metro)
- Rent paid minus 10% of basic salary
Example: Basic ₹50,000/mo, HRA ₹25,000/mo, Rent paid ₹20,000/mo (Mumbai). Three values: (1) ₹3,00,000, (2) ₹3,00,000, (3) ₹1,80,000. Exemption = ₹1,80,000 (lowest). If annual rent > ₹1 lakh, you must give landlord’s PAN. For rent > ₹50,000/month, deduct 5% TDS under Section 194-IB.
When New Regime Wins (Despite Lower Deductions)
- Low deductions: If you don’t have home loan, no HRA claim (own home), no health insurance, minimal 80C → New regime almost always wins
- Young single earner: Just starting out, only EPF contribution — New regime saves more
- Income above ₹15L with limited deductions: New regime’s lower slabs reduce tax
- Section 87A boost: Up to ₹12L taxable in new regime = zero tax due to ₹60K rebate
Break-Even Point
For income ₹15L: You need deductions ≥ ₹4,16,667 to make Old Regime beneficial. Below this — New regime wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch between Old and New Regime every year?
Salaried with no business income: Yes, you can choose every year. Business/professional income: switching out and back in is allowed only once in lifetime. Most salaried people pick the better one annually using a calculator before filing ITR.
What if I declared one regime to employer but want to file ITR in other?
You can change at the time of filing ITR. The regime declared to employer is only for TDS calculation. The final tax liability/refund is based on what you file in ITR-1/2/3/4.
Is LTA (Leave Travel Allowance) deductible in New Regime?
No. LTA, HRA, food coupons, professional tax, entertainment allowance — all are disallowed in New Regime. Only standard deduction (₹75K) and employer’s NPS contribution (Sec 80CCD(2)) survive in New Regime.
Can I claim 80C for ELSS bought in March for the same FY?
Yes, as long as the SIP/investment date and bank debit date are on or before 31 March. Many people SIP in March to maximize 80C — but rupee cost averaging is better; spread investments year-round.
Does NPS Tier-II qualify for tax benefits?
No. Only NPS Tier-I qualifies for 80C (up to ₹1.5L) and 80CCD(1B) (additional ₹50K). Tier-II is like an open-ended mutual fund — no deductions, no lock-in, no special tax treatment.
Can I claim deduction for life insurance premium I pay for parents?
No. 80C life insurance deduction is only for self, spouse, or own children. Premiums for parents don’t qualify (even though 80D health insurance for parents is allowed).
What is the difference between 80EE and 80EEA?
80EE: Additional ₹50K for first-time home buyers (loan sanctioned FY 2016-17). 80EEA: Additional ₹1.5L for affordable housing (loan up to ₹35L, property value up to ₹45L, sanctioned FY 2019-20 to 2022-23). Both are in addition to Sec 24b ₹2L. Mostly grandfathered now.
How is HRA exemption calculated for half-year stays in different cities?
Calculate exemption month-wise using the relevant 40%/50% rate per city. Combine the monthly exemptions for the year. Most ITR utilities do this automatically if you enter month-wise data.
Do I need bills to claim 80C investments?
You don’t submit bills to ITR. Keep them for 7 years in case of scrutiny. Salaried employees give proofs (investment statements, premium receipts, PPF passbook copy) to employer for accurate TDS — these are not uploaded but retained by company.
Can I claim home loan principal under 80C and home loan interest under 24b together?
Yes! Both are independent. ₹1.5L principal under 80C + ₹2L interest under Sec 24b = total ₹3.5L deduction. For first-time buyers eligible for 80EE/80EEA, additional ₹50K-₹1.5L can be claimed. Joint loan with co-owner spouse: both can claim proportionate deductions.
Are Sukanya Samriddhi (SSY) contributions taxable on maturity?
No, SSY is EEE — Exempt at Contribution, Exempt during Earning, Exempt at Maturity. Both interest and maturity amount are fully tax-free. One of the best fully tax-free options for a girl child below 10 years.
What if I pay rent to my parents — can I claim HRA?
Yes, if (a) you actually transfer rent via UPI/NEFT to their account, (b) parents declare it as rental income in their ITR, (c) you have a rent agreement. The IT Department has scrutinised such claims when documentation is weak. Don’t skip the paper trail.