On a salary of ₹15 lakh in FY 2026-27 (AY 2027-28), you pay ₹97,500 under the New regime versus ₹2,57,400 under the Old regime (standard deduction only). The New regime saves you ₹1,59,900. The Old regime becomes cheaper only if your total deductions - 80C + 80D + NPS + home-loan interest + HRA combined - exceed ₹5,43,728.
₹15 lakh salary - tax at a glance
| Particulars | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross salary | ₹15,00,000 |
| Tax - New regime (incl. cess) | ₹97,500 |
| Tax - Old regime, standard deduction only | ₹2,57,400 |
| Recommended regime | New (saves ₹1,59,900) |
| Break-even deduction (Old beats New above this) | ₹5,43,728 |
| Monthly in-hand (New regime) | ₹1,16,875 |
How the tax is calculated (New regime)
Taxable income after the ₹75,000 standard deduction = ₹14,25,000. It falls into these slabs:
| Slab · rate | Tax |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹4,00,000 · 0% | ₹0 |
| ₹4,00,000 – ₹8,00,000 · 5% | ₹20,000 |
| ₹8,00,000 – ₹12,00,000 · 10% | ₹40,000 |
| ₹12,00,000 – ₹14,25,000 · 15% | ₹33,750 |
| Tax on slabs | ₹93,750 |
| Health & Education cess (4%) | ₹3,750 |
| Total tax (New regime) | ₹97,500 |
Should you pick the Old or New regime at ₹15 lakh?
For most salaried people at ₹15 lakh the new regime wins because reaching ₹5,43,728 in deductions needs a home loan plus rent plus a maxed 80C - uncommon without a housing EMI. If you have all of those, run your exact figures below.
Why ₹15 lakh is where the regime question gets interesting
Below about ₹12.75 lakh the new regime is a foregone conclusion (it charges nothing). At ₹15 lakh you pay real tax - ₹97,500, an effective rate of 6.5% - so deductions start to matter again, and the old regime becomes a genuine option for a specific type of taxpayer: the one with a home loan and rent and a maxed-out 80C. Everyone else should stay put.
It helps to see how the ₹97,500 is built up. Taxable income is ₹14,25,000; the first ₹4 lakh is free, the next ₹4 lakh is taxed at 5% (₹20,000), the ₹8-12 lakh band at 10% (₹40,000) and the last ₹2,25,000 at 15% (₹33,750). That is ₹93,750, plus 4% cess. The same salary cost ₹1,30,000 under the FY 2024-25 slabs, so Budget 2025 handed a ₹15 lakh earner a ₹32,500 cut that continues into FY 2026-27.
Three realistic ₹15 lakh profiles, old vs new
The break-even deduction at this salary is ₹5,43,728 - the old regime only wins if your deductions (beyond the standard deduction) exceed that. Here is what that looks like for three people who all earn ₹15 lakh:
| Profile | Old-regime deductions | Old regime tax | New regime tax | Better |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravi - single, no loan, PF only | ₹1.5 lakh (80C via PF/ELSS) | ₹2,10,600 | ₹97,500 | New, by ₹1,13,100 |
| Meera - home loan, family cover, NPS | ₹1.5L 80C + ₹2L interest + ₹25k 80D + ₹50k NPS = ₹3.75 lakh | ₹1,40,400 | ₹97,500 | New, by ₹42,900 |
| Arjun - all of Meera's, plus rents in Mumbai (₹6L basic, ₹3L HRA, ₹3.75L rent) | ₹3.75 lakh + ₹3 lakh HRA exemption | ₹70,200 | ₹97,500 | Old, by ₹27,300 |
Only Arjun beats the new regime, and he does it because a metro HRA exemption alone is worth ₹3 lakh of deductions. If you are renting in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai with a big HRA component and servicing a home loan elsewhere, run both regimes with your real numbers. If you are missing any one of those pieces, the new regime wins.
The one lever that still works in the new regime: employer NPS
The new regime disallows 80C, 80D, HRA and home-loan interest - but it keeps Section 80CCD(2), the employer's contribution to NPS, up to 14% of basic salary. With a ₹6 lakh basic (40% of CTC), a 14% contribution is ₹84,000 a year, and routing it through NPS instead of taking it as cash brings the tax down from ₹97,500 to ₹84,400. At 10% (the more common employer offer) the saving is ₹9,360.
This is a salary-restructuring conversation with HR, not a tax-filing one: the amount has to be paid by the employer into your Tier-1 NPS account. The money is locked until 60, so treat it as retirement savings that happen to be tax-efficient, not as a way to boost this year's take-home of ₹1,16,875 a month.
Your real tax depends on your 80C, HRA, NPS and home-loan interest. Add them and compare both regimes in seconds.
Calculate your exact tax →Frequently asked questions
How much income tax on a ₹15 lakh salary in FY 2026-27?
Under the new regime you pay ₹97,500 on a ₹15 lakh salary (after the ₹75,000 standard deduction). Under the old regime with only the standard deduction it is ₹2,57,400.
Which tax regime is better for a ₹15 lakh salary?
The new regime, unless your total deductions exceed ₹5,43,728. Below that, the new regime is cheaper by ₹1,59,900.
What is the monthly in-hand for a ₹15 lakh salary?
About ₹1,16,875 per month under the new regime, before any employer PF or other deductions.
How much tax do I pay on a ₹15 lakh salary in FY 2026-27?
₹97,500 under the new regime (₹93,750 slab tax plus 4% cess) with only the standard deduction. Under the old regime with only the standard deduction it is ₹2,57,400; with a full set of deductions including HRA it can drop below ₹97,500.
Does a home loan make the old regime better at ₹15 lakh?
Not on its own. Even ₹2 lakh of home-loan interest plus a full ₹1.5 lakh 80C, 80D and NPS (₹3.75 lakh total) leaves old-regime tax at ₹1,40,400, above the new regime's ₹97,500. You also need a large HRA exemption to tip it.
What is the in-hand salary on ₹15 lakh?
About ₹1,16,875 a month under the new regime after income tax, before your PF contribution and professional tax are deducted.