1. The two regimes at a glance
Since FY 2020-21, salaried taxpayers in India have had a choice between two income tax regimes. The 'old regime' has higher slab rates but lets you claim a large set of deductions. The 'new regime' — introduced under Section 115BAC — has lower slab rates but strips away most deductions.
Until AY 2024-25, the old regime was usually better for anyone earning above ₹12L with meaningful deductions. The 2024 budget changed that. The new regime's slabs were widened, and the standard deduction was raised to ₹75,000. The result: for most salaried users today, the new regime wins.
The bottom line
At AY 2026-27, the new regime beats the old one for the majority of salaried taxpayers. The old regime only wins when combined deductions (80C + HRA + home-loan interest + 80D) together exceed roughly ₹4.5L to ₹5L per year.
2. New regime slabs for AY 2026-27
Under the new regime, income tax is calculated on your gross income minus a ₹75,000 standard deduction. No other deductions apply — no 80C, no HRA, no home-loan interest. The tradeoff is simpler filing and lower slab rates.
- Up to ₹4L — 0% (tax-free)
- ₹4L to ₹8L — 5%
- ₹8L to ₹12L — 10%
- ₹12L to ₹16L — 15%
- ₹16L to ₹20L — 20%
- ₹20L to ₹24L — 25%
- Above ₹24L — 30%
Section 87A rebate
If your total taxable income after the standard deduction is ₹12L or less, Section 87A gives a full rebate — meaning zero tax. This effectively makes ₹12.75L salary tax-free under the new regime.
3. Old regime slabs and deductions
The old regime has higher slab rates but lets you subtract a long list of deductions before computing tax. The standard deduction is ₹50,000. The slab rates are unchanged from previous years and substantially higher than the new regime in the middle brackets.
- Up to ₹2.5L — 0%
- ₹2.5L to ₹5L — 5%
- ₹5L to ₹10L — 20%
- Above ₹10L — 30%
- Section 87A rebate kicks in up to ₹5L taxable income
The key deductions the old regime lets you claim
Section 80C (up to ₹1.5L: PPF, ELSS, EPF, life premiums, home loan principal), 80D (up to ₹1L for health insurance), HRA exemption (based on actual rent), home loan interest under Section 24 (up to ₹2L for self-occupied), and the ₹50,000 standard deduction.
4. When the new regime wins
The new regime is mathematically better whenever your effective tax liability is lower under its wider slabs than under the old regime with your available deductions. For most salaried users in 2026, that's the case.
On a ₹15L annual salary with typical deductions (₹1.5L 80C, ₹25k 80D, no HRA), the old regime charges about ₹2.1L in tax. The new regime charges about ₹1.5L. The new regime wins by ₹60,000 annually.
On a ₹25L salary with the same deductions, the old regime charges about ₹5.1L. The new regime charges about ₹4.6L. The new regime still wins by ₹50,000.
The pattern holds across most salary bands for users without HRA claims and without home loan interest. The new regime simplifies filing, adds no paperwork, and leaves more money in your pocket.
5. When the old regime still wins
The old regime beats the new one only when the combined value of your deductions is unusually high. Specifically, you need 80C, 80D, HRA, and home loan interest to together clear ₹4.5L to ₹5L per year.
This profile is realistic for senior IC engineers and managers in metros with high rent (₹50k+ per month), active home loan interest (₹2L per year under Section 24), maxed-out 80C (₹1.5L), and 80D (₹50k for parents' health cover). When all four add up, the old regime can save ₹30,000 to ₹1,00,000 per year at ₹25L+ salary.
Run the numbers
Use the Salary Tax Calculator to compute your tax under both regimes with your specific deductions. Don't guess — the gap can flip by tens of thousands of rupees based on small HRA and home-loan interest differences.
6. Can I switch between regimes?
Salaried taxpayers can switch regimes every financial year. Your employer deducts TDS based on whichever regime you declare at the start of the year, but at the time of filing your return you can still choose the regime that saves more.
Self-employed taxpayers and those with business income have stricter rules. Once they opt out of the default regime, going back is limited. Verify with a CA before you choose if you have business income.
7. What the new regime costs you
The new regime's simplicity has a hidden cost: it removes the incentive to save under 80C. If the only reason you're investing in PPF, ELSS, or NPS is the tax break, the new regime takes that incentive away.
That's not necessarily bad. Investing because it saves tax is backwards — you should invest because the instrument is right for your goal. But for many Indians, the tax break was the nudge that got them into long-term instruments at all. Be deliberate about continuing PPF, ELSS, and retirement contributions even after switching to the new regime, because the wealth-building reasons haven't changed.