Info
AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26). Slabs and the ₹12 lakh Section 87A rebate reflect Budget 2025. Last reviewed 7 May 2026.
India has two income tax regimes. The new regime is simpler, has wider slabs after Budget 2025, a ₹75,000 standard deduction, and an 87A rebate that wipes out tax up to ₹12 lakh of taxable income. The old regime is more complex but lets you claim HRA, Section 80C, 80D, and home-loan interest. For most salaried users at AY 2026-27, the new regime wins. But there's a specific profile where the old regime still beats it — and this guide shows exactly where the line is.
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.
Tip
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.
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%
Info
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.
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
Info
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.
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 at AY 2026-27, that's the case — and the gap has widened materially after Budget 2025.
On a ₹15L annual salary with typical deductions (₹1.5L 80C, ₹25k 80D, no HRA), the old regime ends up with ₹12.75L taxable and charges about ₹2.03L tax including cess. The new regime, after the ₹75,000 standard deduction, sits at ₹14.25L taxable — but the broader slabs still produce only about ₹98,000 of tax including cess. The new regime wins by roughly ₹1.05 lakh annually.
On a ₹25L salary with the same deductions, the old regime taxes ₹22.75L at roughly ₹5.15L. The new regime taxes ₹24.25L at roughly ₹3.20L. The new regime still wins by about ₹1.95 lakh.
The pattern holds across most salary bands for users without HRA claims and without home-loan interest. The Budget 2025 87A rebate also creates a hard floor: any salaried user under ₹12.75L gross pays zero tax under the new regime — the old regime cannot match that without the deduction stack collapsing taxable income below ₹5L, which is rare at this income level.
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.
Tip
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.
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.
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.
FAQ
The follow-up questions people usually ask after the main recommendation is already clear.
Do I have to choose a regime before April 1?
Your employer asks you to declare a regime at the start of the financial year so they can deduct TDS accordingly. But salaried taxpayers can still change the regime at the time of filing their return — even if TDS was deducted under a different regime. The final choice is made at ITR filing.
Is the new regime better for freshers and young earners?
Almost always, yes. Young earners typically have minimal deductions — no home loan, no large HRA, basic 80C. In that profile, the new regime wins comfortably because its slabs are wider and its standard deduction is higher.
Should I drop PPF if I switch to the new regime?
No. PPF is still tax-free (EEE status applies regardless of regime), still government-backed, and still a good debt allocation for long horizons. The only thing the new regime removes is the 1.5L Section 80C tax deduction on contributions — the PPF itself still works.
What about NPS — does it still help in the new regime?
The 50,000 NPS deduction under Section 80CCD(1B) is available in both regimes for eligible employer contributions. Voluntary NPS contributions lose their deduction under the new regime, so the old regime is usually better if NPS is a big part of your tax strategy.