What Is The Difference Between Old And New Tax Regimes?

In India, the government offers two tax regimes: the old tax regime and the new tax regime. Both regimes have different tax slabs, exemptions, and deductions, allowing taxpayers to choose the one that best suits their financial situation. The new tax regime, introduced in the 2020-21 financial year, offers lower tax rates but eliminates most exemptions and deductions, while the old tax regime allows the use of various exemptions and deductions but has higher tax rates.

Key Differences Between the Old and New Tax Regimes:

Criteria	Old Tax Regime	New Tax Regime
Tax Slabs	Higher tax rates for income above ₹2.5 lakh	Lower tax rates for income above ₹2.5 lakh
Exemptions and Deductions	Allows various exemptions (e.g., HRA, LTA, etc.)	No exemptions or deductions allowed
Popular Deductions	Section 80C (PPF, LIC), 80D (Health Insurance)	No deductions under Section 80C, 80D, etc.
Rebate Under Section 87A	Available (up to ₹12,500 if taxable income is ₹5 lakh or less)	Available (up to ₹12,500 if taxable income is ₹5 lakh or less)
Choice of Regime	Can choose to switch between regimes annually	Can choose to switch between regimes annually
Tax Computation	Based on taxable income after applying exemptions and deductions	Based on taxable income without exemptions and deductions
Availability of Deductions	Taxpayers can claim deductions like HRA, 80C, 80D, etc.	No deductions like HRA, 80C, 80D, etc.

Detailed Comparison:

Tax Slabs:

The old tax regime has higher tax slabs, and taxpayers can reduce their taxable income by applying various exemptions and deductions. The new tax regime offers reduced tax rates but removes most exemptions and deductions available under the old regime.

Old Tax Regime Slabs (for individuals below 60 years of age):

• Up to ₹2.5 lakh: No tax
• ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh: 5% of taxable income
• ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh: 20% of taxable income
• Above ₹10 lakh: 30% of taxable income

New Tax Regime Slabs (for individuals below 60 years of age):

• Up to ₹2.5 lakh: No tax
• ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh: 5% of taxable income
• ₹5 lakh to ₹7.5 lakh: 10% of taxable income
• ₹7.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh: 15% of taxable income
• ₹10 lakh to ₹12.5 lakh: 20% of taxable income
• ₹12.5 lakh to ₹15 lakh: 25% of taxable income
• Above ₹15 lakh: 30% of taxable income

Exemptions and Deductions:

The old tax regime allows various exemptions and deductions such as:

• House Rent Allowance (HRA), Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
• Section 80C deductions for PPF, life insurance premiums, etc.
• Section 80D deductions for health insurance premiums
• Home loan interest deduction (Section 24(b))
• Interest on education loan (Section 80E)

The new tax regime does not allow the claim of these exemptions or deductions, but it offers lower tax rates in return.

Rebate Under Section 87A:

Both tax regimes offer a rebate of ₹12,500 under Section 87A for individuals whose taxable income is up to ₹5 lakh. This rebate effectively reduces the income tax liability to zero for such individuals.

Choice Between Regimes:

Taxpayers can choose either regime at the beginning of each financial year, and they can switch between the old and new regimes annually. The decision should be based on whether the individual has significant exemptions and deductions to claim under the old regime or if they prefer the lower tax rates of the new regime.

Example:

Let’s consider Mr. Ravi, a salaried individual with the following income and deductions:

• Gross Salary: ₹8,50,000
• HRA Exemption: ₹1,00,000
• Section 80C Deductions: ₹1,50,000 (PPF, LIC)

Old Tax Regime:

• Gross Income: ₹8,50,000
• Exemptions and Deductions:
  • HRA Exemption: ₹1,00,000
  • Section 80C: ₹1,50,000
• Taxable Income: ₹8,50,000 - ₹1,00,000 - ₹1,50,000 = ₹6,00,000
• Tax Calculation:
  • ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh: 5% of ₹2.5 lakh = ₹12,500
  • ₹5 lakh to ₹6 lakh: 20% of ₹1 lakh = ₹20,000
• Total Tax: ₹12,500 + ₹20,000 = ₹32,500
• Cess (4%): ₹32,500 × 4% = ₹1,300
• Total Tax Payable: ₹32,500 + ₹1,300 = ₹33,800

New Tax Regime:

• Gross Income: ₹8,50,000
• Taxable Income: ₹8,50,000 (no exemptions or deductions)
• Tax Calculation:
  • ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh: 5% of ₹2.5 lakh = ₹12,500
  • ₹5 lakh to ₹7.5 lakh: 10% of ₹2.5 lakh = ₹25,000
  • ₹7.5 lakh to ₹8.5 lakh: 15% of ₹1 lakh = ₹15,000
• Total Tax: ₹12,500 + ₹25,000 + ₹15,000 = ₹52,500
• Cess (4%): ₹52,500 × 4% = ₹2,100
• Total Tax Payable: ₹52,500 + ₹2,100 = ₹54,600

Conclusion:

The old tax regime is beneficial for those who have significant exemptions and deductions (such as HRA, 80C, 80D). The new tax regime is suitable for those who do not have many exemptions and prefer lower tax rates without the need for detailed tax planning.