For a yearly salary of ₹720,000 in India (FY 2025-26), the total estimated tax payable, including cess, is approximately ₹58,760 to ₹145,160 depending on deductions and the chosen regime. Under the new tax regime, after accounting for the standard deduction, the tax liability is relatively low, while the old regime may result in higher tax without investments.
Maximum marginal rate is the highest rate of tax at any income level. This means for those with incomes between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, 39% will be the highest applicable tax rate, and for those with incomes above Rs 5 crore, it will be 42.74% — the highest tax rate since 1992.
Individuals earning up to Rs. 4 lakh will not be taxed. Income between Rs. 4 lakh and Rs. 8 lakh will be taxed at 5%, while income from Rs. 8 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh will be taxed at 10%. For earnings between Rs. 12 lakh and Rs. 16 lakh, the applicable tax rate is 15%.
If you make ₹ 800,000 a year living in India, you will be taxed ₹ 171,400. That means that your net pay will be ₹ 628,600 per year, or ₹ 52,383 per month. Your average tax rate is 21.4% and your marginal tax rate is 32.8%.
“At a salary of one crore, the average tax rate is 29.26% in the New Regime, compared to 32% in the Old Regime. As the salary increases, the average tax rate in both regimes also increases, reaching 38.42% in the New Regime and 42.46% in the Old Regime for ₹10 crore income,” the CEO of Tax2win added.
In her 2025 Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shared big news. Under the new regime, if you earn up to Rs 12 lakh, you will not have to pay any income tax. Salaried taxpayers get an extra benefit too. The standard deduction, which was Rs 50,000 before, has now gone up to Rs 75,000 for the new regime.
According to government reports, while over 7 crore people file tax returns, only a fraction of them actually pay taxes because many fall below the taxable income threshold or use deductions to reduce liability.
2.5 Lakhs and 5 Lakhs are subject to 5 per cent tax; those earning between 5 Lakhs and 10 lakhs rupees, 20 percent tax; and those above 10 lakhs, a 30 percent rate. Further you are not required to any Income-tax if your total income doesn't exceed Rs. 5,00,000.
Surcharge and Cess:
Income over ₹50 lakh but under ₹1 crore: 10% of income tax payable. Income over ₹1 crore but under ₹2 crore: 15% of income tax payable. Income over ₹2 crore but under ₹5 crore: 25% of income tax payable. Income over ₹5 crore: 37% of income tax payable.
Additionally, the new regime has allowed a standard deduction of ₹75,000. Therefore, taxpayers with incomes up to ₹7.75 lakhs can opt for the new tax regime and have zero tax liability. To benefit from this, taxpayers should first assess their income and categorise it correctly to determine their taxable income.
A good salary in India depends on the city. It ranges from INR 50,000 to 80,000/month in metros, INR 35,000 to 50,000 in Tier-2 cities, and INR 25,000 to 35,000 in smaller towns. Is INR 70,000 per month a good salary in India? Yes, INR 70,000/month is considered good, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Example of lottery tax calculation:
1 crore: Tax: 30% of Rs. 1 crore = Rs. 30 lakh.
While middle-income earners are paying more in taxes, corporate profits and personal wealth of the rich continue to benefit from relatively light taxation through lower rates, exemptions and incentives. Over the last decade, India's tax regime has tilted in favour of corporates and indirect taxes.
He directly holds 1.61 crore shares in Reliance, earning Rs 8.85 crore in dividend income based on the Rs 5.50 per share dividend declared by the company for FY25. The promoter group firms that he controls, own 664.5 crore shares, or 50.07 per cent, give a dividend income of Rs 3,655 crore.
In India, the 30% income tax rate generally applies to individuals earning above ₹24 Lakhs (under the old regime/default for some) or ₹15 Lakhs (under the new optional regime for FY 2025-26) and to firms (as a flat rate), while certain income types like lottery winnings, online gaming, and virtual digital assets (like crypto) are taxed at a flat 30% for everyone, regardless of total income.
Obtain a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC)
For instance, if you are a tax resident of the US, you can claim relief in India under the India-US DTAA subject to obtaining a Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) from the US revenue authorities, electronically filed declaration in Form 10F, etc.
In a parliamentary session, Finance Minister of State, Pankaj Chaudhary, revealed that only 6.68% of the country's population filed income tax returns (ITRs) for the fiscal year 2023-24. There are multiple factors contributing to the low rate of income tax return filings in India.
Agricultural Income [Section 10(1)]
As per section 10(1), agricultural income earned by the taxpayer in India is exempt from tax. Agricultural income is defined under section 2(1A) of the Income-tax Act.
The Union Budget 2025 introduced a major income tax relief for the middle class – making annual incomes up to ₹12 lakh completely tax-free* under the new regime. This means if your taxable income is ₹12 lakh or less, you owe zero tax* for the year.
Examples of income that are not taxable in India include agricultural income, gifts and inheritances, interest on EPF and PPF, scholarships and awards, life insurance proceeds, leave encashment, gratuity, Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG), and interest on tax-free bonds.
Use tax-reduction strategies like expanded SALT deductions and vehicle loan interest deductions, as well as smart timing around stock options, to avoid the alternative minimum tax, or AMT . Optimize investment taxes via tax-loss harvesting and timing mutual fund investments to avoid increasing taxable income.
Hold U.S. dividend-paying securities in RRSPs: Consider holding U.S.-listed dividend-paying securities in your RRSP account. U.S. dividends received in an RRSP are generally subject to zero withholding taxes. However, the same dividends received in TFSAs or non-registered accounts are subject to 15% withholding tax.