Tax Planning Calculators

Where most people lose money on tax

The old versus new regime decision is the largest single tax choice available to most salaried people, and it cannot be answered with a general rule. The new regime offers lower slab rates but removes nearly every deduction. The old regime keeps 80C, HRA, home loan interest and the rest, at higher rates. Which one wins depends entirely on how much you genuinely claim — not how much you could theoretically claim.

HRA exemption is the most commonly miscalculated item. It is not simply the allowance shown on your payslip. It is the lowest of three values: actual HRA received, rent paid minus 10% of salary, and a percentage of salary that varies by city. Most people assume the first figure applies and over-report their exemption.

Capital gains is where holding periods matter more than amounts. The same profit taxed as short-term versus long-term can differ by a wide margin, and the qualifying period differs by asset class. Selling a few weeks before a threshold is a costly and entirely avoidable mistake.

These calculators show the slab-by-slab computation rather than only a final number, so you can see exactly which portion of income is taxed at which rate. For a filing decision with real money at stake, confirm the current year rules with a qualified tax professional — slabs and thresholds change between budgets.