Understanding How to Calculate Take-Home Salary: Income Tax Calculator

Home Salary - Income Tax Calculator - Taxscan

One of the most hated annual jobs of most working people is filing income taxes. And with the Ministry of Finance bringing out new additions and exemptions in the Union Budget in each financial year, the already hectic task is making it even more difficult for people to calculate the taxable income from salary and figuring out the take-home salary.

An online tax calculator or an income tax calculator, however, simplifies the cumbersome process of evaluating your tax liability by determining what slab of tax rate you fall under and how you can invest for effective tax savings.

What Is Income Tax?

To put it in one line, income tax is the tax that is levied on your income. If you fall under the income tax slab laid down by the government, you must pay a specific part of your net annual income as tax. You can pay your income tax as tax deducted as sourced (TDS) during the payment of your monthly salary or through the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) income tax returns portal.

What Is An Income Tax Calculator?

Considering the deductions and exemptions, calculating your income tax can be quite a task. An income tax calculator is a convenient and free online instrument that will help you evaluate taxes payable on your income on the basis of the guidelines laid by the Union Budget in one financial year.

To calculate income tax, the IT calculator needs to be provided with basic information, such as annual salary, fees, active loans, and other savings to determine your tax liability.

 

What Are The Benefits Of The Income Tax Calculator?

There are various advantages of the income tax calculator. Here’s a list of the perks of using an online income tax calculator.

Helps Plan Taxes

A new tax regime has been introduced by the Ministry of Finance’s Union Budget 2020 alongside the older one. Taxpayers are free to choose the regime that they’ll follow. The tax calculator can help you decide which tax regime is best suited for you. This will not only help with tax planning. but also plan your retirement and other financial plans.

User Friendly

The tax calculator is very easy to use. All you’ve to do is enter the details it asks for, including your income, expense, insurance, savings, and investment information, and the calculator will do all the calculations for you.

Time-Saving

The online calculator will simplify the process of tax calculation under the old as well as new tax regimes, by deciding which option suits them more, in a couple of minutes.

Free Tool

The online income tax calculator can be used as many times as you want free of cost. 

How To Use The Income Tax Calculator?

As discussed earlier, the income tax calculator will help taxpayers determine the outflow of tax for the financial year by collecting data regarding their income, savings, insurance, and other related expenses.

Here are the steps to use an online tax calculator.

Step 1: Annual Income

Enter your annual monthly income in the given box.

Step 2: Expenses

Now enter your monthly rent, house rent allowance, loans, and fees, if any, in the respective sections allotted for each.

Step 3: Savings

Here, you’ll be asked about your mutual funds, insurance, and investments-related questions. Enter the details in the respective boxes.

Step 4: Calculate

This is the final stage where the total tax is calculated as per the new and the old schemes. It also chalks out how much must be invested for effectively saving you taxes by suggesting you the best tax-saving investment plans. You can also change your entered values in any step.

Calculating Tax In FY 2020-21

The income tax slab rates are determined by the Income Tax Act of India and are revised every year during the budget announcement. This categorization is on the basis of an individual’s income and age.

  • Residents and non-residents below 30 years of age
  • Senior citizen (residents) from 60 to 80 years of age
  • Super senior citizens above 80 years of age

The old tax regime was largely focused on high-income earners, whereas the new tax regime benefits middle-class taxpayers with taxable income up to Rs. 15 lacs.

Tax Slab Rates

Annual IncomeBelow 60 yearsAbove 60 yearsAbove 80 years
Rs 0.0 to Rs 2.5 LakhsNILNILNIL
Rs 2.5 lakhs to Rs 3.00 Lakhs5% (tax rebate u/s 87a is available)5%5%
Rs. 3.00 lakhs to Rs 5.00 Lakhs5% (tax rebate u/s 87a is available)5%5%
Rs. 5.00 lakhs to Rs 7.5 Lakhs10.00%10.00%10.00%
Rs 7.5 lakhs to Rs 10.00 Lakhs15.00%15.00%15.00%
Rs 10.00 lakhs to Rs. 12.50 Lakhs20.00%20.00%20.00%
Rs. 12.5 lakhs to Rs. 15.00 Lakhs25.00%25.00%25.00%
Above Rs. 15 Lakhs25.00%25.00%25.00%

Exemptions Not Allowed Under The New Tax Regime

Under Section 115BAC of the Income Tax Act, the following exemptions are not allowed under the new tax regime:

  • House rent allowance;
  • Allowance for the income of minor;
  • Tax Exemption for SEZ unit;
  • Interest under section 24 in respect of self-occupied or vacant property referred to in sub-section (2) of section 23. (Loss under the head income from house property for the rented house shall not be allowed to be set off under any other heads and would be allowed to be carried forward as per extant law);
  • The standard deduction, the deduction for entertainment allowance and employment/professional tax;
  • Additional depreciation;
  • Leave travel concession;
  • Allowances to MPs/MLAs;
  • Deductions under section 32AD, 33AB, 33ABA as well as 35AD or 35CCC;
  • Deduction from the family pension;
  • Some of the allowances are contained in clause (14) of section 10


Exemptions Allowed Under The New Tax Regime


Under section 10(14) of the Income Tax Act, the following allowance shall be allowed:

  • Cost of travel on transfer or tour;
  • Conveyance allowance;
  • Daily allowance;
  • Transport allowance.
  •  

 Final Words

An income tax calculator can help you evaluate your taxes in just a few minutes. Apart from that, it also shows an effective tax savings plan based on the information you have provided. 

FAQs

  1. How can I calculate my income tax?

The income tax slab rates are determined by the Income Tax Act of India and are revised every year during the budget announcement. This categorization is on the basis of an individual’s income and age.

  • Residents and non-residents below 30 years of age
  • Senior citizen (residents) from 60 to 80 years of age
  • Super senior citizens above 80 years of age

The old tax regime was largely focused on high-income earners, whereas the new tax regime benefits middle-class taxpayers with taxable income up to Rs. 15 lacs.

  1. How much tax do I pay on 10 lakhs?

If the taxpayer’s income is 10 lakhs, they have to file their income tax at 15%.

  1. How much tax do I pay on Rs. 5 lakh?

If the taxpayer’s income is 5 lakhs, they have to file their income tax at 5%.

  1. Does everyone have to pay taxes?

In India, if the income of an individual below 60 years of age is above Rs. 2.5 lakhs they have to file income tax returns.

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