Which regime is the default now?
The New Regime is the default — if you don't actively choose the Old Regime when filing, you're taxed under the New Regime's slabs automatically.
Why does my Old Regime tax change with age but my New Regime tax doesn't?
The Old Regime gives senior citizens (60–79) a higher exemption limit of ₹3,00,000 and super senior citizens (80+) ₹5,00,000, instead of the usual ₹2,50,000. The New Regime uses the same slabs for every age group — age only ever affects the Old Regime column here. Neither regime changes the capital gains rates with age.
What is the Section 87A rebate?
It's a rebate that zeroes out your slab-rate tax if your total income is at or below a threshold — ₹12,00,000 under the New Regime (rebate up to ₹60,000) or ₹5,00,000 under the Old Regime (rebate up to ₹12,500). Just above the threshold, 'marginal relief' kicks in so your tax doesn't jump straight to the full slab amount — it's capped at just the income above the threshold, which this calculator applies automatically.
Why doesn't the rebate wipe out my capital gains tax even though my total income is under the threshold?
This is a well-known point of confusion — the Finance Act 2025 explicitly excluded capital gains under Sections 111A (STCG) and 112A (LTCG) from the New Regime's 87A rebate entirely, regardless of total income. The Old Regime is more generous here: its rebate does cover capital-gains tax too, but only if total income (including the gains) stays at or below ₹5,00,000. This calculator applies both rules exactly as described.
How are capital gains taxed here?
This calculator models gains on listed equity shares and equity mutual funds specifically — Short-Term (held ≤1 year, Section 111A) at a flat 20%, and Long-Term (held >1 year, Section 112A) at a flat 12.5% on gains above a ₹1,25,000 annual exemption. Both rates apply identically in either regime and don't benefit from your slab or deductions. Gains on property, gold, or debt mutual funds follow different holding-period and indexation rules not covered here.
What counts toward the 'itemized deductions' in the breakeven number?
Section 80C (PF, ELSS, life insurance, etc., capped at ₹1,50,000), Section 80D (health insurance premium, capped at ₹1,00,000), home loan interest under Section 24(b) (capped at ₹2,00,000 for a self-occupied property), the additional NPS deduction under Section 80CCD(1B) (capped at ₹50,000), and any other Old-Regime-only deductions you claim (HRA, LTA, 80TTA savings interest, etc.) — entered as 'Other' with no cap enforced, since it depends on your own eligibility. These can only be set against salary/other (slab-rate) income, never against capital gains, in either regime.
Does this include surcharge?
Yes, for total income above ₹50 lakh. On slab-rate income it's the regime's normal rate — 10% (₹50L–1Cr), 15% (₹1Cr–2Cr), 25% (₹2Cr–5Cr), and 37% above ₹5Cr under the Old Regime (capped at 25% under the New Regime). On capital gains, surcharge is capped at 15% under both regimes no matter how high your income goes. Marginal relief is applied at each threshold so crossing into a higher surcharge slab never costs you more than the extra income itself; with capital gains in the mix, that relief is an approximation rather than an exact figure.
Is my data stored or shared?
No. Every number you enter stays in your browser and is only used to calculate the results shown on screen — nothing is saved, uploaded, or sent to WealthMetric or anyone else.