Tax Rates & Slabs — The Ledger
The Ledger / Tax Rates & Slabs
FY 2025-26 · AY 2026-27
Direct tax · Reference

Tax Rates & Slabs

Individual slab rates, rebate, surcharge and cess for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), as revised by Union Budget 2025.

New Tax Regime (default, Section 115BAC)

Taxable income slabRate
Up to ₹4,00,000Nil
₹4,00,001 – ₹8,00,0005%
₹8,00,001 – ₹12,00,00010%
₹12,00,001 – ₹16,00,00015%
₹16,00,001 – ₹20,00,00020%
₹20,00,001 – ₹24,00,00025%
Above ₹24,00,00030%

Standard deduction: ₹75,000 (salary/pension). Section 87A rebate: full rebate up to ₹60,000, making tax nil for taxable income up to ₹12,00,000 (~₹12,75,000 gross salary after standard deduction). Same rates apply regardless of age — no separate senior citizen slab under the new regime.

Old Tax Regime

Age groupUp to5%20%30%
Below 60 years₹2,50,000 Nil₹2.5L–₹5L₹5L–₹10LAbove ₹10L
Senior citizen (60–80)₹3,00,000 Nil₹3L–₹5L₹5L–₹10LAbove ₹10L
Super senior (80+)₹5,00,000 Nil₹5L–₹10LAbove ₹10L

Standard deduction: ₹50,000 (salary/pension). Section 87A rebate: up to ₹12,500, making tax nil for taxable income up to ₹5,00,000. Chapter VI-A deductions (80C, 80D, HRA, home loan interest, etc.) remain available only under this regime.

Surcharge (both regimes, on tax before cess)

Taxable incomeOld regimeNew regime
₹50 lakh – ₹1 crore10%10%
₹1 crore – ₹2 crore15%15%
₹2 crore – ₹5 crore25%25%
Above ₹5 crore37%25% (capped)

Health & education cess of 4% applies on tax plus surcharge under both regimes. Marginal relief provisions apply near each surcharge threshold and near the rebate cut-off — not reflected in the table above.

Source. Rates reflect the Union Budget 2025 revision to Section 115BAC and Section 87A, applicable for FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27, and carried forward unchanged into FY 2026-27 per Budget 2026. Always cross-check against the current Income Tax Department notification before advising a client, since rates are set by annual Finance Act and can change.