From Section 80C and NPS to HRA, health insurance and employer NPS — practical, fully legal ways to cut your tax bill.
Tax planning works best when done at the start of the financial year, not in a March panic. Most of the options below apply to the old regime; we flag the ones that also work in the new regime.
Deductions under the old regime
- Section 80C (up to ₹1.5 lakh): EPF, PPF, ELSS mutual funds, life insurance premium, tuition fees, principal repayment of home loan, Sukanya Samriddhi.
- NPS – 80CCD(1B): an extra ₹50,000 over and above 80C.
- Health insurance – 80D: up to ₹25,000 for self and family, plus up to ₹50,000 for senior-citizen parents.
- HRA exemption: if you live in rented accommodation and receive HRA.
- Home-loan interest: up to ₹2 lakh for a self-occupied house.
- Education-loan interest – 80E: full interest, for up to 8 years.
- Donations – 80G: 50% or 100% deduction for eligible institutions.
- Savings interest – 80TTA / 80TTB: up to ₹10,000 (₹50,000 for senior citizens on deposits).
Works in the new regime too
- Employer NPS contribution – 80CCD(2): ask your employer to restructure part of your CTC.
- Standard deduction: ₹75,000 for salaried employees.
- Tax-free LTCG: equity gains up to ₹1.25 lakh a year are exempt — book gains strategically.
- Choosing the right regime: for many taxpayers, simply picking the better regime is the biggest saving.
Every salary structure is different. A 20-minute review with our tax expert typically uncovers savings people miss on their own.
Want an expert to handle this for you?
Our CAs can do it for you — accurately, on time, with a fixed fee. First consultation is free.