In India, individuals with a total income exceeding ₹5 crore per annum pay a peak income tax rate of approximately 42.74%. This maximum marginal rate consists of a base tax of 30%, a 37% surcharge, and a 4% health and education cess. It is the highest rate applicable under the old tax regime, affecting the "super-rich".
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. The extra tax outgo in absolute terms isn't small.
Reliance Industries
RIL paid the highest tax with a sum of Rs. 20,713 crore in taxes during the financial year 2022-23.
What is the 42% tax bracket in India? The maximum marginal tax rate that an individual taxpayer has to pay in India is 42.744 per cent. This includes a basic tax rate of 30 per cent plus Surcharge of 37 per cent plus education cess of 4 per cent.
“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.
Shah Rukh Khan, Thalapathy Vijay, Salman Khan, Virat Kohli and many others also pay huge amounts every year. These numbers come from public reports and estimates, but they clearly show how big the earnings of Indian superstars really are.
Indians prefer Australia, the US and Canada to migrate. The personal Income tax is higher in these countries. The US charges 51.6 per cent, Canada charges 54 per cent, and Australia charges 45 per cent. India is charging 30 per cent only.
1. Who is the highest taxpayer in India in FY 2023–24? Reliance Industries is the highest tax-paying company, and Akshay Kumar tops among individual celebrities.
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.
Adani — India's 2nd richest man figures no where among top 10 Tax Paying Companies or Individuals.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A good salary in India typically depends on the location, industry, and lifestyle. Generally, a salary of INR 50,000 to INR 1,00,000 per month is considered good, especially in metro cities. However, for smaller cities or towns, a salary of INR 30,000 to INR 50,000 could be sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle.
There isn't one single "highest tax paying country" as it depends on what's measured (income, corporate, total tax revenue), but countries like Denmark, Finland, Japan, and Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) consistently rank highest for top personal income tax rates, often exceeding 50-60%, while nations like Belgium can have the highest overall tax burden on labor (tax wedge) for average earners, with high social security. Nordic countries and some European nations generally have high income taxes, funding extensive social services.
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.
NRIs have the same tax slab rates as residents. Both NRIs and residents have the flexibility to choose between the old tax regime and the new tax regime slabs. Each option offers distinct advantages and understanding them can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your financial goals.
Unemployment compensation generally is taxable. 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.