For the 2025 tax year, the personal exemption amount remains at $0 (suspended through 2025 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act). Instead, the standard deduction is increased to $15,750 for single filers/married filing separately, $31,500 for married filing jointly, and $23,625 for heads of household. The 2025 federal estate and gift tax exemption is $13.99 million per individual.
Personal Exemptions.
For tax year 2026, personal exemptions remain at 0, as in tax year 2025. The elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and was made permanent by OBBB.
Higher basic exemption limit – Currently set at Rs. 3 lakh, the basic exemption limit will be increased to Rs. 4 lakh from April 1, 2025 (FY 2025-26), providing additional tax relief to all individual taxpayers.
The Income Tax (Exemption) Order 2025 (“2025 Order”) was gazetted on 13 February 2025 and provides exemption from income tax on various payments from specified Labuan persons. The 2025 Order replaces the existing Income Tax (Exemption) (No. 22) Order 2007 (“2007 Order”) with effect from the year of assessment 2023.
From 2025 to 2028, adults age 65+ can claim a temporary bonus deduction of $6,000 if single or $12,000 if married filing jointly. For the 2025 tax year, the total standard plus bonus deduction for those age 65 and older is $21,750 for a single person and $43,500 for a married couple filing a joint return.
It is available to taxpayers age 65 and older and provides additional relief for seniors living on fixed or modest incomes. Effective for 2025 through 2028, individuals who are age 65 and older may claim an additional deduction of $6,000.
Basic personal amount (BPA) for 2025 is $16,129. Tax credits and deductions — claim everything you're eligible for. File taxes on time to avoid penalties and report all income, including side gigs. CRA offers payment options if you can't pay your taxes on time.
The annual exclusion amount for 2025 and 2026 is $19,000. The individual and his or her spouse wish to split all gifts made by each other during the calendar year.
Giving the good news to tax payers, the Finance Minister stated, “There will be no income tax payable upto income of Rs. 12 lakh (i.e. average income of Rs. 1 lakh per month other than special rate income such as capital gains) under the new regime.
How to avoid paying higher-rate tax
Some of the major tax changes effective from April 1, 2025, are revised tax slabs, rebate of up to Rs. 60,000, revised ITRU deadlines, calculation of partner's remuneration allowable as a deduction and revised TDS/TCS threshold limits.
Additionally, salaried taxpayers benefit from an INR 75,000 standard deduction, pushing the tax-free limit to INR 12,75,000. Lower tax rates for higher income brackets make the new tax regime income tax structure more attractive.
The income tax slab rates under the new tax regime for FY 2025–26 are as follows: income up to ₹4 lakh is tax-free; ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh is taxed at 5%; ₹8 lakh to ₹12 lakh at 10%; ₹12 lakh to ₹16 lakh at 15%; ₹16 lakh to ₹20 lakh at 20%; ₹20 lakh to ₹24 lakh at 25%; and income above ₹24 lakh is taxed at 30%.
How to lower taxable income and avoid a higher tax bracket
For the 2025 tax year, the basic Standard Deduction is $15,750 for Single filers and married taxpayers who file separate returns (up from $14,600 for 2024), while married couples filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouses can deduct an amount twice that size at $31,500 (up from $29,200 for 2024).
Income Tax Act, 2025 to be effective from April 1, 2026. The Act simplifies language, removes obsolete provisions and consolidates and restructures provisions. It Introduces concept of 'Tax Year' replacing 'Assessment Year' and 'Previous Year'.
There's no limit on how much money you can give or receive as a gift! However, there are some occasions where tax may be payable, or capital gains tax (CGT) may apply. For example, in some instances when gifting property, shares or crypto assets, or when receiving money or an asset from a non-resident trust.
Understanding the 2025 PAYE Tax Bands
K0 – K5,100: 0% tax (tax-free threshold) K5,100.01 – K7,100: 20% tax. K7,100.01 – K9,200: 30% tax. K9,200.01 and above: 37% tax.
Joint filers over 65 will be able to deduct up to $46,700 from their 2025 return. The standard deduction has been super-sized for seniors. Thanks to provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, taxpayers 65 and older can claim an additional $6,000 without itemizing their deductions.
The deduction for personal exemptions is suspended (reduced to $0) for tax years 2018 through 2025 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Although the exemption amount is zero, the ability to claim an exemption may make taxpayers eligible for other tax benefits.