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:
Income
Tax @ 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.
Details
Amount (₹)
Total Income
9,00,000
Stock Profit
2,00,000
Exemption Limit
1,25,000
Taxable Amount
75,000
Tax Rate
12.5%
Tax Payable
9,375
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:
Income
Regime
₹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 L
Old
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
₹10 L
New
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
NIL
₹13.75 L
Old
77,500
75,000
65,000
52,500
47,500
42,500
32,500
30,000
25,000
20,000
₹13.75 L
New
75,000
75,000
75,000
75,000
75,000
75,000
75,000
75,000
75,000
75,000
₹15.75 L
Old
1,20,000
1,16,250
1,05,000
92,500
82,500
72,500
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
₹15.75 L
New
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
₹17.5 L
Old
1,72,500
1,68,750
1,53,750
1,35,000
1,27,500
1,20,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
1,05,000
95,000
₹17.5 L
New
1,35,000
1,35,000
1,35,000
1,35,000
1,35,000
1,35,000
1,35,000
1,35,000
1,35,000
1,35,000
₹18.25 L
Old
1,95,000
1,91,250
1,76,250
1,57,500
1,50,000
1,42,500
1,27,500
1,23,750
1,21,250
1,20,000
₹18.25 L
New
1,50,000
1,50,000
1,50,000
1,50,000
1,50,000
1,50,000
1,50,000
1,50,000
1,50,000
1,50,000
₹19 L
Old
2,17,500
2,13,750
1,98,750
1,80,000
1,72,500
1,65,000
1,50,000
1,46,250
1,41,250
1,31,250
₹19 L
New
1,65,000
1,65,000
1,65,000
1,65,000
1,65,000
1,65,000
1,65,000
1,65,000
1,65,000
1,65,000
₹20.5 L
Old
2,62,500
3,97,125
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,17,500
2,10,000
1,95,000
1,95,000
1,83,750
1,76,250
₹20.5 L
New
1,95,000
1,95,000
1,95,000
1,95,000
2,10,000
1,95,000
1,95,000
1,95,000
1,95,000
1,95,000
₹21 L
Old
2,77,500
2,73,750
2,58,750
2,40,000
2,32,500
2,25,000
2,10,000
2,06,250
1,98,750
1,91,250
₹21 L
New
2,06,250
2,06,250
2,06,250
2,06,250
2,06,250
2,06,250
2,06,250
2,06,250
2,06,250
2,06,250
₹22.5 L
Old
3,25,000
3,21,250
3,06,250
2,87,500
2,77,500
2,70,000
2,55,000
2,51,250
2,43,750
2,36,250
₹22.5 L
New
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,43,750
2,43,750
₹24 L
Old
3,67,500
3,63,750
3,48,750
3,30,000
3,22,500
3,15,000
3,00,000
2,96,250
2,88,750
2,81,250
₹24 L
New
2,81,250
2,81,250
2,81,250
2,81,250
2,81,250
2,81,250
2,81,250
2,81,250
2,81,250
2,81,250
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/Transaction
Current Threshold (FY 2024-25)
Revised Threshold (FY 2025-26)
Interest on securities
No 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 Remittance
TCS Rate (Before April 1, 2025)
TCS Rate (Effective April 1, 2025)
Education (Financed through Education Loan)
0% ≤ ₹7 lakh, 0.5% > ₹7 lakh
No TCS (Fully Exempt)
Education (Personal funds) & Medical Treatment
0% ≤ ₹7 lakh, 5% > ₹7 lakh
No TCS up to ₹10 lakh, 5% > ₹10 lakh
Overseas Tour Packages
5% ≤ ₹7 lakh, 20% > ₹7 lakh
5% ≤ ₹10 lakh, 20% > ₹10 lakh
Other Purposes (Investment, Travel, etc)
0% ≤ ₹7 lakh, 20% > ₹7 lakh
0% ≤ ₹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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