Choosing the right tax regime is one of the most common dilemmas for salaried employees and retirees today. Since the introduction of the New Tax Regime (Section 115BAC), taxpayers now have two options — each with different tax rates and deductions. 👉 Which regime is better for YOU this year? Let’s understand both options — and how to make the right choice. What is the Old Tax Regime? Old Regime = traditional system with deductions and exemptionsYou can claim deductions such as: 👉 Tax slabs are higher, but you can reduce taxable income with deductions. What is the New Tax Regime — What Is Allowed & Not Allowed? Not Allowed under New Regime: Allowed under New Regime: Standard Deduction ₹50,000 → for salaried employees and pensioners (applicable for FY 2024-25, AY 2025-26 filing). Important Note: In the Interim Budget 2024, the Government proposed an increase of Standard Deduction to ₹75,000 under the New Tax Regime. However, as of now (June 2025), this change is yet to be notified in the final Finance Act. For the current return filing season (FY 2024-25), ₹50,000 standard deduction continues to apply. We will update this blog once the final Union Budget is passed. Latest Tax Slabs (FY 2024-25) Income Slab Old Regime Tax Rate New Regime Tax Rate Up to ₹2.5 lakh (₹3 lakh for senior citizens) Nil Nil (up to ₹3 lakh) ₹2.5L – ₹5L 5% 5% ₹5L – ₹7.5L 20% 10% ₹7.5L – ₹10L 20% 15% ₹10L – ₹12.5L 30% 20% ₹12.5L – ₹15L 30% 25% Above ₹15L 30% 30% Practical Example — Tax Comparison: Old vs New Regime 👉 Let’s take Mr. Ravi, a salaried person, who avails full 80C deduction (₹1.5L) in Old Regime.👉 Assumptions: Gross Income Old Regime Taxable Income Tax under Old Tax under New Which is better? ₹8,25,000 ₹8,25,000 – ₹50K – ₹1.5L = ₹6,25,000 ₹12,500 ₹31,200 Old Regime ₹10,80,000 ₹10,80,000 – ₹50K – ₹1.5L = ₹8,80,000 ₹64,500 ₹70,200 Old Regime (slightly better) ₹13,50,000 ₹13,50,000 – ₹50K – ₹1.5L = ₹11,50,000 ₹1,39,500 ₹1,32,600 New Regime ₹16,00,000 ₹16,00,000 – ₹50K – ₹1.5L = ₹14,00,000 ₹2,10,600 ₹1,89,000 New Regime Key Observations: ✅ At lower incomes (₹8.25L / ₹10.8L) → Old Regime is better if full 80C is used.✅ At higher incomes (₹13.5L / ₹16L) → New Regime starts becoming better → due to lower slab rates. 👉 Break-even point usually around ₹12–13L income → depending on other deductions (80D, HRA, etc.). How to Decide? Golden Rule: If your total deductions (80C + 80D + HRA + Home Loan + Others) are ≥ ₹3–3.5 lakh → Old Regime is usually better. If you don’t have much to claim → or prefer simplicity → New Regime is beneficial. Conclusion — Don’t Guess, Calculate! Need Help Choosing the Right Tax Regime & Filing Your ITR? BizGuardian can help you: 👉 Contact us today — and file your tax with confidence! [ Email: support@bizguardian.in / WhatsApp : 9003009901]