Tax

The break-down of income tax changes 2025!

08 February 2025
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Income up to ₹12,75,000 is tax-free! That’s the headline of Budget 2025. But what’s behind this? And is that the only positive outcome for you? Well, not exactly.

So let’s see what the exact changes are with income tax and how they are going to benefit you!

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Income tax slab changes

New tax regime 2024

Tax Slab Income Tax Rate
0 to 3,00,000 0%
3,00,000 to 7,00,000 5%
7,00,000 to 10,00,000 10%
10,00,000 to 12,00,000 15%
12,00,000 to 15,00,000 20%
More than 15,00,000 30%

New tax regime 2025

Tax Slab Income Tax Rate
0 to 4,00,000 0%
4,00,000 to 8,00,000 5%
8,00,000 to 12,00,000 10%
12,00,000 to 16,00,000 15%
16,00,000 to 20,00,000 20%
20,00,000 to 24,00,000 25%
More than 24,00,000 30%
The slabs have changed completely and a new rate of 25% applicable between 20,00,000 to 24,00,000 has also been introduced.

The best part? Now you don’t pay 30% straight over 15 Lakhs, rather on above 24 Lakhs.

How is it going to affect you?

Here’s how much you would save under different income levels, thanks to the updated rules.

Taxable Income New Tax Regime 2024 New Tax Regime 2025 Total Tax Savings
₹8L ₹23,400 ₹0 ₹23,400
₹10L ₹44,200 ₹0 ₹44,200
₹12L ₹71,500 ₹0 ₹71,500
₹12L ₹83,200 ₹0 ₹83,200
₹13L ₹88,400 ₹26,000 ₹62,400
₹15L ₹1,30,000 ₹97,500 ₹32,500
₹20L ₹2,78,200 ₹1,92,400 ₹85,800
₹25L ₹4,34,200 ₹3,19,800 ₹1,14,400
₹30L ₹5,90,200 ₹4,75,800 ₹1,14,400
₹35L ₹7,46,200 ₹6,31,800 ₹1,14,400
₹40L ₹9,02,200 ₹7,87,800 ₹1,14,400
₹45L ₹10,58,200 ₹9,43,800 ₹1,14,400
₹50L ₹12,14,200 ₹10,99,800 ₹1,14,400
₹1Cr ₹30,51,620 ₹29,25,780 ₹1,14,400

As you can see the maximum savings caps at 1,14,000 and though your income might rise but after 25L of income you are going to save any additional amount.

But, this saving is not just because of change in the slab rates if you notice. Then what?

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How does rebate help?

Assume you need to pay Rs10 as tax to the government , but the govt. says I am running a discount offer and will give you a 100% discount on your Tax.  Well, that is called a rebate which the government gives up to a certain income limit.

Here’s how the rebate rule has changed:

Regime Limit Applicability
New Tax Regime 2024 ₹25,000 Till ₹7 Lakhs Income
New Tax Regime 2025 ₹60,000 Till ₹12 Lakhs Income

So let’s have a look how these updated Rebate rules help you save tax:

IncomeTax @ slab rate (2024)Rebate (2024)Total Taxes (2024)Tax @ slab rate (2025)Rebate (2025)Total Taxes (2025)
₹5L₹6,250₹6,250₹0₹1,250₹1,250₹0
₹6L₹11,250₹11,250₹0₹6,250₹6,250₹0
₹7.75L₹25,000₹25,000₹0₹13,750₹13,750₹0
₹9L₹33,800₹0₹33,800₹22,500₹22,500₹0
₹12L₹71,500₹0₹71,500₹52,500₹52,500₹0
₹13L₹88,400₹0₹88,400₹26,000₹0₹26,000
₹15L₹1,30,000₹0₹1,30,000₹97,500₹0₹97,500
₹25L₹4,34,200₹0₹4,34,200₹3,19,800₹0₹3,19,800

As you can see the help from Rebate stops at 12.75 Lakhs, but you are still saving tax on each income level. How does that happen? For that you’ll have to understand—

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How marginal relief helps?

While rebate is only given till a specific threshold, marginal relief kicks in just beyond it, offering a small break instead of a full discount!

Here’s how it helps:

Income Taxable Income Tax as per Slab Excess over ₹12.75 L Marginal Relief Final Tax Payable (without cess) Final Tax (with 4% cess)
₹12L ₹11,25,000 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0
₹12.7L ₹11,95,000 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0 ₹0
₹12.8L ₹12,05,000 ₹60,750 ₹5,000 ₹55,750 ₹5,000 ₹5,200
₹12.9L ₹12,15,000 ₹62,250 ₹15,000 ₹47,250 ₹15,000 ₹15,600
₹13L ₹12,25,000 ₹63,750 ₹25,000 ₹38,750 ₹25,000 ₹26,000
₹13.1L ₹12,35,000 ₹65,250 ₹35,000 ₹30,250 ₹35,000 ₹36,400
₹13.2L ₹12,45,000 ₹66,750 ₹45,000 ₹21,750 ₹45,000 ₹46,800
₹13.3L ₹12,55,000 ₹68,250 ₹55,000 ₹13,250 ₹55,000 ₹57,200
₹13.4L ₹12,65,000 ₹69,750 ₹65,000 ₹4,750 ₹65,000 ₹67,600
₹13.5L ₹12,75,000 ₹71,250 ₹0 ₹0 ₹71,250 ₹74,100

However, these benefits also stop at ₹13,50,000 and after this the savings are only because of the Improvised Tax slabs and rates.

But here’s the catch!

Even if your total income is below ₹12.75L, you still pay tax on special incomes like capital gains. Let’s break it down with an example:

Saroj earns ₹9L in FY 25-26. Out of this, ₹2L is profit from stocks she bought in 2020.

Even though her total income is under ₹12.75L, she still pays tax on her capital gains.

DetailsAmount (₹)
Total Income9,00,000
Stock Profit2,00,000
Exemption Limit1,25,000
Taxable Amount75,000
Tax Rate12.5%
Tax Payable9,375

That’s because capital gains tax applies separately—so, even if your income qualifies for a rebate, these taxes still apply!

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Is the Old Tax regime dead?

The old tax regime remains unchanged for another year and it seems that the Old tax regime is going to be phased out though not officially. Here’s why:

  • Simpler Compliance: No need for complex tax planning, and claiming exemptions or deductions under the new system.
  • Higher Tax-Free Limit: The new regime exempts income up to ₹12.75L, while the old regime taxes above ₹5.5L.
  • Lower Tax Liability: The Tax Payable is mostly lower under the New Tax Regime unless you have a ton of deductions under the Old Tax Regime!

72% already use the new tax regime, and recent benefits will definitely push this number higher!

Which one should you pick?

Refer this table to understand for what amount of deductions under different income levels, which regime makes sense:

IncomeRegime₹5,00,000₹5,12,500₹5,62,500₹6,25,000₹6,50,000₹6,75,000₹7,25,000₹7,37,500₹7,62,500₹7,87,500
₹10 LOldNILNILNILNILNILNILNILNILNILNIL
₹10 LNewNILNILNILNILNILNILNILNILNILNIL
₹13.75 LOld77,50075,00065,00052,50047,50042,50032,50030,00025,00020,000
₹13.75 LNew75,00075,00075,00075,00075,00075,00075,00075,00075,00075,000
₹15.75 LOld1,20,0001,16,2501,05,00092,50082,50072,5001,05,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,000
₹15.75 LNew1,05,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,000
₹17.5 LOld1,72,5001,68,7501,53,7501,35,0001,27,5001,20,0001,05,0001,05,0001,05,00095,000
₹17.5 LNew1,35,0001,35,0001,35,0001,35,0001,35,0001,35,0001,35,0001,35,0001,35,0001,35,000
₹18.25 LOld1,95,0001,91,2501,76,2501,57,5001,50,0001,42,5001,27,5001,23,7501,21,2501,20,000
₹18.25 LNew1,50,0001,50,0001,50,0001,50,0001,50,0001,50,0001,50,0001,50,0001,50,0001,50,000
₹19 LOld2,17,5002,13,7501,98,7501,80,0001,72,5001,65,0001,50,0001,46,2501,41,2501,31,250
₹19 LNew1,65,0001,65,0001,65,0001,65,0001,65,0001,65,0001,65,0001,65,0001,65,0001,65,000
₹20.5 LOld2,62,5003,97,1252,43,7502,43,7502,17,5002,10,0001,95,0001,95,0001,83,7501,76,250
₹20.5 LNew1,95,0001,95,0001,95,0001,95,0002,10,0001,95,0001,95,0001,95,0001,95,0001,95,000
₹21 LOld2,77,5002,73,7502,58,7502,40,0002,32,5002,25,0002,10,0002,06,2501,98,7501,91,250
₹21 LNew2,06,2502,06,2502,06,2502,06,2502,06,2502,06,2502,06,2502,06,2502,06,2502,06,250
₹22.5 LOld3,25,0003,21,2503,06,2502,87,5002,77,5002,70,0002,55,0002,51,2502,43,7502,36,250
₹22.5 LNew2,43,7502,43,7502,43,7502,43,7502,43,7502,43,7502,43,7502,43,7502,43,7502,43,750
₹24 LOld3,67,5003,63,7503,48,7503,30,0003,22,5003,15,0003,00,0002,96,2502,88,7502,81,250
₹24 LNew2,81,2502,81,2502,81,2502,81,2502,81,2502,81,2502,81,2502,81,2502,81,2502,81,250

So, now you know which Tax Regime to pick, right?

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Is that it?

Nope, here are a few more updates on you Tax money!

A. TDS (Tax Deducted at Source)

TDS is a tax deducted from your income (salary, interest, rent) before payment, ensuring tax is collected upfront.

Nature of Income/TransactionCurrent Threshold (FY 2024-25)Revised Threshold (FY 2025-26)
Interest on securitiesNo threshold₹10,000
Rent₹2,40,000 per year₹6,00,000 per year
Interest FDs (Senior Citizens)₹50,000₹1,00,000
Interest (bank, co-op society, post office)₹40,000₹50,000
Interest (other cases)₹5,000₹10,000
Dividend for an individual shareholder₹5,000₹10,000
Income from units of mutual funds or specified companies₹5,000₹10,000
Winnings (lottery, crossword, etc.)₹10,000 (aggregate per year)₹10,000 (per transaction)
Winnings (horse races)₹10,000 (aggregate per year)₹10,000 (per transaction)
Lottery winnings₹15,000₹20,000

B. TCS (Tax Credited at Source)

TCS (Tax Collected at Source) is a tax the seller collects from the buyer and pays to the government.

Type of RemittanceTCS Rate (Before April 1, 2025)TCS Rate (Effective April 1, 2025)
Education (Financed through Education Loan)0% ≤ ₹7 lakh, 0.5% > ₹7 lakhNo TCS (Fully Exempt)
Education (Personal funds) & Medical Treatment0% ≤ ₹7 lakh, 5% > ₹7 lakhNo TCS up to ₹10 lakh, 5% > ₹10 lakh
Overseas Tour Packages5% ≤ ₹7 lakh, 20% > ₹7 lakh5% ≤ ₹10 lakh, 20% > ₹10 lakh
Other Purposes (Investment, Travel, etc)0% ≤ ₹7 lakh, 20% > ₹7 lakh0% ≤ ₹10 lakh, 20% > ₹10 lakh
Voila! That’s it! Here’s how every Indian will be saving on taxes after the Union Budget 2025, that too without spending on tax saving assets or finding out hidden methods.

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Summary

To make your life easier, we have summarised the above Read here. Hope you enjoyed it!

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