In India,Several types of income are exempt from tax under the Income Tax Act, 1961, including agricultural income, interest from Public Provident Fund (PPF), gifts from specified relatives or on marriage, inheritances, and, under certain conditions, life insurance maturity proceeds. Additionally, under the new tax regime, individuals with income up to ₹7-12 lakh may have a zero tax liability due to rebates.
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.
Tax-free income in new tax regime (Financial Year 2025-26)
This means that individuals earning up to Rs. 12 lakh will have their tax liability effectively reduced to zero. For salaried employees, an additional standard deduction of Rs. 75,000 elevates the tax-free income threshold to Rs. 12.75 lakh.
Inheritances, gifts, cash rebates, alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018), child support payments, most healthcare benefits, welfare payments, and money that is reimbursed from qualifying adoptions are deemed nontaxable by the IRS.
Income from agriculture, PPF interest and maturity, scholarships, and life insurance maturity (subject to conditions) are completely tax-free in India as per the Income Tax Act.
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.
With the recent changes in the Indian Income Tax Act, it's now possible to pay zero tax on a salary of up to Rs. 7 lakhs. To pay zero tax on a 7 lakh salary using the old tax regime, maximize deductions: Claim Tax Rebate under Section 87A.
Tax free can refer to tax free goods, services, or earnings. The most common tax free securities are municipal bonds, followed by some mutual funds that invest in tax-exempt securities. Items exempt from tax includes gifts, cash rebates on purchased goods, and child support payments.
Income that is not taxable
lottery winnings and other prizes. some government grants and payments. child support. the tax-free portion of your redundancy payment.
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.
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.
6 Indian Tax-Free Income and Investment Options in 2026
Everyone, including students, has something called a Personal Allowance. This is the amount of money you're allowed to earn each tax year before you start paying Income Tax. For the 2025/26 tax year, the Personal Allowance is £12,570. If you earn less than this, you usually won't have to pay any Income Tax.
How much interest income is tax-free? In India, up to Rs. 10,000 of interest income earned from the Savings Accounts of every individual is tax-free. This benefit can also be claimed by Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) under Section 80TTA of the Income Tax Act before it becomes subject to taxation.
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.
What are the best tax-efficient investments? We generally recommend investing in tax-advantaged accounts, such as traditional and Roth 401(k)s and IRAs, so that your investments can grow tax deferred and, in some cases, tax free.
Examples of tax exempt income include employer sponsored health insurance and Social Security benefits. Income tax does not include some forms of income like inheritances and gifts because they have their own tax systems that apply.
2. Annual Gift Exclusion: $19,000 Per Person. In 2026, you're allowed to give someone up to $19,000 per year without having to report it to the IRS. If you're married, you and your spouse can give up to $38,000 to the same person without worrying about gift taxes.