Old vs new regime at ₹15 lakh: which leaves more in hand?
At ₹15 lakh, old vs new is the closest it gets. The new regime wins for most people — but only by about ₹2,242 a month. If your deductions are large enough, the old regime can still come out ahead. The number that decides it is your total deductions.
At ₹15 lakh the new regime wins by about ₹2,242 a month — unless you can claim more than ₹5,29,331 in deductions, where the old regime takes the lead.
- New regime · monthly in-hand
- ₹1,10,819
- Old regime · monthly in-hand
- ₹1,08,577
- New regime · income tax + cess
- ₹88,503
- Old regime · income tax + cess
- ₹1,15,404
The break-even deduction at ₹15 lakh
Side by side: the new regime gives about ₹1,10,819 a month (annual tax ₹88,503), and the old regime about ₹1,08,577 a month (annual tax ₹1,15,404) even with full deductions — a gap of just ₹2,242 a month.
The tipping point is about ₹5,29,331 in total deductions. Claim less than that and the new regime wins; claim more — combining 80C, 80D, HRA exemption and home-loan interest — and the old regime pulls ahead. At ₹15 lakh that threshold is reachable if you rent in a metro and carry a home loan, so it's worth checking your own numbers rather than assuming.
When each regime wins
New regime wins if…
- You take the standard deduction and little else.
- You don't pay rent, or your rent (and HRA exemption) is modest.
- You have no home-loan interest to claim.
Old regime wins if…
- You can claim more than about ₹5,29,331 in total deductions.
- You rent in a metro (large HRA exemption) and have a home loan.
- You already max 80C and 80D and have extra deductions on top.
Check your own numbers
Pre-filled for a ₹15 lakh CTC in a metro city with ₹25,000/mo rent. Enter your real rent and investments to see which regime wins for you.
Helps old-regime HRA exemption
New regime puts ₹2,242 more in your pocket every month.
Salary breakup · per year
₹57,675 of your CTC is employer contributions & benefits — real value, but never a monthly bank credit.
Old vs New, side by side
| Metric | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable income | ₹9,92,325 | ₹13,67,325 |
| Income tax + cess | ₹1,15,404 | ₹88,503 |
| Annual in-hand | ₹13,02,921 | ₹13,29,822 |
| Monthly in-hand | ₹1,08,577 | ₹1,10,819 |
How we calculate this
- Basic = 50% of CTC; HRA = 50% of Basic; PF capped at ₹1,800/mo (statutory ceiling); Gratuity = 4.81% of Basic. Change these under “Match your offer letter”.
- Employee PF (₹1,800/mo) is deducted from your salary.
- New regime: ₹75,000 standard deduction, FY 2026-27 slabs, no other exemptions.
- Old-regime estimate assumes full ₹1.5L under 80C, ₹25K under 80D, plus HRA exemption from the rent you entered. Flexible-benefit / reimbursement exemptions (RFB, LTA, food, telephone) aren’t counted unless you add them under “Match your offer letter”.
- 4% health & education cess and ₹200/month professional tax applied.
Tax rules: Budget 2026 retained FY 2025-26 slabs unchanged. Verified against Income Tax Dept (incometax.gov.in) & ClearTax, July 2026. Updated 2026-07-02.
Estimates only — not tax or financial advice. Your actual pay depends on your company’s exact salary structure and your declared investments. Verify with a professional before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is old or new regime better for 15 lakh salary?
- The new regime wins for most people, but by only about ₹2,242 a month — the closest margin of any income. The old regime overtakes it if your total deductions exceed about ₹5,29,331.
How much tax on 15 lakh salary?
- About ₹88,503 a year under the new regime, versus roughly ₹1,15,404 under the old regime even after full deductions.
What deductions make the old regime worth it at 15 lakh?
- You'd need to claim more than about ₹5,29,331 in total — typically a maxed 80C (₹1.5 lakh), 80D, a sizeable HRA exemption from metro rent, and home-loan interest combined.
What is the in-hand for 15 lakh under each regime?
- About ₹1,10,819 a month under the new regime and ₹1,08,577 under the old, on a metro city with standard CTC components.
Related comparisons and tools
Estimates only — not tax or financial advice. Your actual pay depends on your company’s exact salary structure and your declared investments. Tax rules: Budget 2026 retained FY 2025-26 slabs unchanged. Verified against Income Tax Dept (incometax.gov.in) & ClearTax, July 2026.