Income Tax — Har Saal Ka Confusing Season
February-March aata hai aur offices mein yeh sawaal shuru ho jaata hai — "bhai, tum old regime mein ho ya new mein?" Bahut log confuse rahte hain. Main koshish karunga seedha bataane ki.
2023 mein government ne new tax regime ko "default" bana diya — lekin old regime abhi bhi choose kar sakte ho. Dono ke apne apne fayde hain.
FY 2026-26 Tax Slabs — Old vs New
Old Tax Regime
- Up to ₹2.5 lakh: No tax
- ₹2.5L - ₹5L: 5%
- ₹5L - ₹10L: 20%
- Above ₹10L: 30%
- Deductions allowed: 80C, 80D, HRA, LTA etc.
New Tax Regime (Default from FY2026-26)
- Up to ₹3 lakh: No tax
- ₹3L - ₹7L: 5%
- ₹7L - ₹10L: 10%
- ₹10L - ₹12L: 15%
- ₹12L - ₹15L: 20%
- Above ₹15L: 30%
- Standard Deduction: ₹75,000
- No 80C, HRA, 80D deductions allowed
Konsa Regime Better Hai — Practical Comparison
Salary ₹8 lakh/year, investments ₹1.5L (80C), HRA ₹96,000/year:
Old Regime:
- Taxable income = 8,00,000 - 50,000 (std) - 1,50,000 (80C) - 96,000 (HRA) = ₹5,04,000
- Tax = 5% of ₹2,54,000 = ₹12,700 + 4% cess = ₹13,208
New Regime:
- Taxable income = 8,00,000 - 75,000 (std) = ₹7,25,000
- Tax = 5% of ₹4,00,000 (3-7L) = ₹20,000 + 0% rebate (below 7L? No, ₹7.25L hai)
- Tax on ₹25,000 at 10% = ₹2,500
- Total = ₹22,500 + 4% cess = ₹23,400
Yahan Old Regime better hai — ₹10,192 bachega!
Key Deductions Jo Old Regime Mein Milte Hain
- Section 80C (₹1.5 lakh): PPF, ELSS, life insurance premium, home loan principal, children's tuition
- Section 80D: Health insurance premium — ₹25,000 (self/family), ₹50,000 (senior citizen parents)
- HRA: Actual HRA ya 40-50% of basic (whichever less) — rent paid ke hisaab se
- Home Loan Interest (Sec 24B): ₹2 lakh deduction
- NPS (80CCD 1B): Additional ₹50,000 — over and above 80C
New Regime Kab Better Hai
- Jab aapke paas koi significant investments nahi hain
- HRA nahi milta (owned house mein rehte ho)
- Income ₹15 lakh se zyada ho — toh lower rates ka benefit milta hai
- Freshers / young earners jinke investments kam hain
Calculator Use Karna
- Annual gross salary daalen
- Deductions enter karo (HRA, 80C, etc.)
- Calculator dono regimes mein tax calculate karega
- Comparison table dikhega — konsa regime better hai
FAQs
Q: Regime mid-year change kar sakte hain?
A: Nahi — salaried employees ke liye financial year ke shuru mein ek baar choose karna hota hai employer ko batane ke liye. ITR file karte waqt wahi maintain karo.
Q: Kya refund milega agar zyada TDS kata?
A: Haan — agar actual tax liability TDS se kam hai toh refund milega ITR file karne ke baad. Usually 15-45 din mein account mein aata hai.
Q: Form 16 kya hota hai?
A: Employer ki taraf se certificate — kitni salary mili, kitna TDS kata, kya deductions diye. ITR file karne mein yahi use hota hai.