Tax & Salary Guides
Guides on tax regime selection, salary optimization, and job offer evaluation.
Old vs New Regime
Decision math, AY 2026-27 slabs, and when each regime wins.
Old vs New Tax Regime 2026: A Complete Decision Guide
Which tax regime actually saves more money under AY 2026-27 slabs? We break down the math, the deductions that matter, and when each regime wins.
Read guideSection 87A Rebate in 2026: Why ₹12.75 Lakh Is Tax-Free, and the Marginal Relief Trap
Budget 2025 raised the new-regime Section 87A rebate to ₹12 lakh of taxable income — meaning ₹12.75 lakh of gross salary is tax-free. The marginal relief band that prevents a ₹1 spike in income from triggering tens of thousands in tax. Here's the math, the cliff, and the smoothing rule that fixes it.
Read guideSurcharge and Marginal Relief: Checked Examples (AY 2026-27)
Understand surcharge thresholds, relief before cess and the limits of the 15% capital-gains surcharge cap. Includes corrected ₹50.10 lakh and ₹10 crore taxable-income examples.
Read guideOld vs New Regime — by income
Worked examples at the most-searched salary bands with break-even deductions.
Old vs New Tax Regime for ₹10 Lakh Salary (AY 2026-27)
On a ₹10 lakh salary in 2026, the new regime owes zero tax thanks to the ₹12 lakh Section 87A rebate. The old regime still owes ~₹70,200 with basic deductions. The choice is decided — here's the math.
Read guideOld vs New Tax Regime for ₹15 Lakh Salary (AY 2026-27)
On a ₹15 lakh salary, the new regime taxes ₹97,500 vs the old regime's ₹2.03 lakh — the new regime wins by ~₹1.05 lakh. Here's the math at every deduction level, the break-even point, and when staying old still makes sense.
Read guideOld vs New Tax Regime for ₹20 Lakh Salary (AY 2026-27)
On a ₹20 lakh salary, the new regime taxes ~₹1.92 lakh vs the old regime's ~₹3.59 lakh — the new regime wins by ~₹1.66 lakh. Even a stacked old-regime deduction profile (HRA + 80C + 80D + home loan) loses to the new regime at this income.
Read guideOld vs New Tax Regime for ₹25 Lakh Salary (AY 2026-27)
On a ₹25 lakh salary, the new regime taxes ~₹3.20 lakh vs the old regime's ~₹5.15 lakh — gap of ~₹1.95 lakh. Even the joint-home-loan, metro-HRA full-stack profile leaves the old regime ~₹50K short of the new regime.
Read guideTake-Home Salary
Salary structuring, the rebate band, and the deductions that still work.
Salary Structuring for Maximum Take-Home in 2026
Budget 2025 made the new regime even sharper for AY 2026-27. Here's how to choose the right regime and how to structure your CTC for maximum legal in-hand salary.
Read guideEmployer NPS under Section 80CCD(2): Limits and Take-home Trade-off
FY 2025-26 employer NPS limits, eligible salary, the separate retirement-contribution cap and a worked example showing tax saved versus cash pay lost.
Read guideHRA
Formula, metro rule, paying rent to parents, and what disappears in the new regime.
HRA Exemption: Exact Formula, Metro Rule, and Rent Receipt Rules
The three-part HRA exemption formula, which cities count as metro, the PAN rule above ₹1 lakh rent, paying rent to parents, and why HRA vanishes entirely under the new tax regime.
Read guideHRA Paying Rent to Parents (2026): The Legitimate Way to Save Tax
You can claim HRA exemption while paying rent to your parents — if you set it up correctly. Ownership, bank-transfer rent, market rate, parent-side declaration, and the four traps that turn it into tax evasion. Old-regime only.
Read guideJob Offer & CTC
Decode an Indian CTC, value ESOPs, compare two offers on equal terms.
Home Loan + Tax
Section 24(b), 80C principal, 80EEA, and which regime wins after the math.
Capital Gains
Equity, real estate, debt MFs, gold, foreign shares — the post-Budget 2024 rewrite.
ESOP & RSU
Two-stage taxation, foreign-listed RSU rules, startup deferral, and the Schedule FA disclosure trap.
Filing & Reconciliation
AIS, TIS, 26AS, Form 16 — what each shows, how to reconcile, and how to avoid 143(1) intimations.
Compensation Edge Cases
Notice period buyout deductibility, leave encashment exemption, and bonus clawback — the contested areas of salary tax.
Notice Period Buyout Tax in India: What to Check for AY 2026-27
Separate notice-pay recovery, employer reimbursement and joining bonus. Check the documented tribunal decision, payroll records and cash shortfall before changing jobs.
Read guideLeave Encashment Tax: Exemption and ₹25 Lakh Limit (AY 2026-27)
Check employer category, unused earned leave, eligible salary and earlier exemptions before estimating the taxable part of leave encashment for FY 2025-26.
Read guideJoining Bonus, Retention Bonus, and Clawback: Tax in India (AY 2026-27)
Work out the cash you keep from a joining bonus, compare gross and net clawback terms, and identify the tax questions to resolve before changing jobs. Includes a salary-tax calculator.
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