Every year, millions of Indians stare at their tax return and wonder: should I pick the new regime or stick with the old one? The answer depends entirely on one number — how much you can claim as deductions. Let's break this down simply.
The Core Difference (In One Line)
The new regime gives you lower tax rates but takes away almost all deductions and exemptions. The old regime has higher rates but lets you reduce your taxable income using investments and allowances.
Tax Slabs Side by Side
| Income Slab | New Regime Rate | Old Regime Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹2,50,000 | Nil | Nil |
| ₹2,50,001 – ₹3,00,000 | Nil | 5% |
| ₹3,00,001 – ₹5,00,000 | 5% | 5% |
| ₹5,00,001 – ₹7,00,000 | 5% | 20% |
| ₹7,00,001 – ₹10,00,000 | 10% | 20% |
| ₹10,00,001 – ₹12,00,000 | 15% | 30% |
| ₹12,00,001 – ₹15,00,000 | 20% | 30% |
| Above ₹15,00,000 | 30% | 30% |
Both regimes add 4% Health and Education Cess on the final tax amount.
The Big Bonuses in the New Regime
- Standard deduction of ₹75,000 for salaried employees (up from ₹50,000)
- Rebate under Section 87A: If your taxable income after the standard deduction is ₹7 lakh or less, your tax is effectively zero
- This means anyone earning up to roughly ₹7.75 lakh per year pays zero tax in the new regime
What the Old Regime Allows You to Deduct
- Section 80C — Up to ₹1.5 lakh: PPF, ELSS mutual funds, LIC premium, EPF, home loan principal
- Section 80D — Up to ₹25,000 for health insurance (₹50,000 if parents are senior citizens)
- HRA Exemption — If you live on rent, a portion of your House Rent Allowance is exempt
- Section 24b — Home loan interest up to ₹2 lakh per year for self-occupied property
- Standard deduction of ₹50,000
A Real Example: ₹12 Lakh Annual Salary
| Item | New Regime | Old Regime |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | ₹12,00,000 | ₹12,00,000 |
| Standard Deduction | ₹75,000 | ₹50,000 |
| 80C + HRA + 80D | Not allowed | ₹2,50,000 |
| Taxable Income | ₹11,25,000 | ₹9,00,000 |
| Tax + Cess | ₹1,17,000 | ₹93,600 |
In this case, the old regime saves ₹23,400 per year — because the deductions significantly reduce taxable income.
The Simple Rule of Thumb
- If your total deductions are more than ₹3.75 lakh, the old regime almost always wins.
- If you have fewer deductions (no rent, no home loan, minimal investments), the new regime is better.
- Income below ₹7.75 lakh? New regime — you pay zero tax.
💡 Quick tip: Use our free tax calculator to compute your exact liability under both regimes in under 60 seconds. Numbers don't lie.
Which Regime is the Default?
As of FY 2024-25, the new regime is the default. If you want to choose the old regime, you must explicitly opt in when filing your ITR or submitting Form 10-IEA to your employer. Salaried employees can switch between regimes each year. Business owners and freelancers can switch from new to old only once.