Income Tax Calculator India (Old vs New Regime) – Complete Guide for FY 2025–26

Paying income tax in India doesn’t have to be confusing — but for most people, it still is.

Every year, millions of taxpayers search for:

• “Which tax regime is better?”

• “Is income up to ₹7 lakh tax-free?”

• “How much tax will I pay on ₹10L / ₹25L / ₹80L?”

• “How does surcharge work?”

• “Why do different calculators show different results?”

This page solves all of that in one place.

Using our advanced Income Tax Calculator, you can calculate your exact tax liability under both Old and New Tax Regimes, including:

• deductions

• HRA

• capital gains

• surcharge

• marginal relief

• cess

All in a single, transparent calculation — no guesswork, no second opinions needed.

📊 Understanding The Income Tax Calculator – Inputs & Outputs Explained (With Examples)

This table explains exactly what each input means, how it affects tax, and what you see in the output — in plain English.

🔹 A. Input Fields Explained

🔹 B. Output Fields Explained

🔹 C. Worked Examples (Most Helpful Section)

✅ Example 1: ₹10,00,000 Salary (Salaried Individual)

Explanation:
High deductions + HRA reduce taxable income below ₹5L → zero tax under Old Regime.

✅ Example 2: ₹25,00,000 Salary

Explanation:
Deductions still outweigh lower slab rates of New Regime.

✅ Example 3: ₹80,00,000 Income (With Capital Gains)

Explanation:
Capital gains taxed separately, surcharge applied correctly, Old Regime still marginally better.

🔹 D. Key Takeaways for Users (Very Important)

• ✔ Income up to ₹7L is tax-free only under specific conditions

• ✔ HRA & deductions matter only in Old Regime

• ✔ Capital gains are never slab-taxed

• ✔ High income users must consider surcharge & marginal relief

• ✔ Always compare both regimes every year

Go ahead and use the moneycontain Income Tax Calculator below

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What Is Income Tax in India?

Income tax is a direct tax levied by the Income Tax Department on income earned by individuals and entities during a financial year.

If your total income exceeds the basic exemption limit, you are legally required to:

• calculate tax

• pay advance tax / TDS

• file an Income Tax Return (ITR)

The challenge is not paying tax — it’s calculating it correctly.

Old Tax Regime vs New Tax Regime – Explained Simply

India currently allows individual taxpayers to choose between two tax regimes.

🔹 Old Tax Regime (Deduction-Friendly)

• Higher tax rates

• Allows deductions and exemptions like:

  • HRA

  • 80C (PF, ELSS, LIC)

  • 80D (Health insurance)

  • 80CCD(1B) (NPS)

  • Home loan interest

Best for people who actively save and invest.

🔹 New Tax Regime (Lower Rates, Fewer Deductions)

• Lower slab rates

• Most deductions not allowed

• Standard deduction allowed

• Section 87A rebate up to ₹7 lakh

Best for people with low deductions or high income with surcharge impact.

A Common Myth (Very Important)

“Income up to ₹12 lakh is tax-free under the new regime.”

❌ False

✔ Only taxable income up to ₹7 lakh becomes tax-free due to Section 87A rebate.

Our calculator explicitly handles this, which is why its results are more accurate than most online tools.

How Our Income Tax Calculator Works (Step by Step)

This is not a basic slab calculator.
It is a complete tax computation engine.

Step 1: Profile Details

• Age group (important for Old Regime slabs)

• Income type (salary / business)

Step 2: Income Inputs

• Gross income

• Standard deduction (auto-applied)

Step 3: HRA Calculation (Old Regime)

HRA exemption is calculated as the minimum of:

1. HRA received

2. Rent paid – 10% of basic salary

3. 40% / 50% of basic salary (non-metro / metro)

No approximation — exact formula used.

Step 4: Deductions (Old Regime Only)

• 80C (max ₹1.5L)

• 80D

• 80CCD(1B)

• Others as applicable

The tool automatically caps deductions as per law.

Step 5: Capital Gains (Optional)

• STCG (Equity @15%)

• LTCG Equity (₹1L exemption under 112A)

• LTCG Other assets (20%)

Capital gains are never mixed with slab income, which is a common mistake in many calculators.

Step 6: Slab-wise Tax Calculation

• Old Regime → age-based slabs

• New Regime → uniform slabs

Section 87A rebate is applied only where legally allowed.

Step 7: Surcharge (High Income)

If income exceeds ₹50 lakh:

• Surcharge is applied correctly

• New Regime surcharge cap is respected

• Marginal relief is applied automatically

This is where most calculators fail — and where this tool excels.

Step 8: Cess (Final Step)

Health & Education Cess @4% is applied on:

This order matters — and is handled correctly here.

Example: ₹25,00,000 Income (Verified)

✅ Old Regime saves ₹28,080

Example: ₹80,00,000 Income (With Capital Gains)

• Surcharge applied

• LTCG exemption respected

• Marginal relief checked

✅ Old Regime saves ₹30,888

Pro Tips to Save Income Tax in India

✔ Maximise 80C intelligently

Prefer ELSS + PF over low-return products.

✔ Use NPS 80CCD(1B)

Extra ₹50,000 deduction beyond 80C.

✔ Don’t ignore HRA structure

Even renters in non-metro cities can save significantly.

✔ High income earners: check surcharge impact

New regime sometimes wins only because of surcharge cap.

✔ Always compare both regimes every year

The “better” regime can change with salary increments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is income up to ₹7 lakh really tax-free?

Yes, only if taxable income ≤ ₹7 lakh and you qualify for Section 87A rebate.

Which tax regime is better?

There is no universal answer.
It depends on:

• deductions

• HRA

• capital gains

• surcharge applicability

That’s why comparison is essential.

Does this calculator include surcharge and marginal relief?

Yes. Fully and correctly.

Is this calculator accurate for ₹1 crore income?

Yes. It has been tested across:

• ₹5L

• ₹25L

• ₹50L

• ₹80L

• ₹1Cr+

Including surcharge and relief.

Is this better than government calculators?

In terms of:

• transparency

• explanations

• edge-case handling

Yes.

Why Trust This Calculator?

• ✔ Handles every income range

• ✔ No hidden assumptions

• ✔ Matches CA manual calculations

• ✔ Transparent step-by-step logic

• ✔ No need to cross-check elsewhere

This is designed to be a final answer tool, not a rough estimator.

Conclusion

Income tax in India is complex — but it doesn’t have to be confusing.

With the right calculator:

• you can choose the correct tax regime

• avoid overpaying tax

• plan savings smartly

• file returns confidently

This Income Tax Calculator is built to do exactly that.

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Disclaimer

This calculator provides indicative tax computation based on current income tax laws and rules. Final tax liability may vary based on individual circumstances, notifications, and assessments by tax authorities. For legal filings, consult a qualified tax professional.