Tax rates and 2026 rules

The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the Income-tax Act, 1961 from 1 April 2026. For individuals, most of the money rules carried across: the new regime slabs that started in FY 2025-26, the rebate that makes income up to ₹12 lakh tax-free under the new regime, the ₹75,000 standard deduction for salaried people, and the capital gains rates of 20% and 12.5%. What changed is the vocabulary and the numbering. The "previous year" and "assessment year" have given way to a single tax year, and familiar sections such as 80C, 87A and 115BAC now have new numbers.

The guides in this section explain the rules that decide how much tax you owe for tax year 2026-27 (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027). Start with the overview of tax year 2026-27, then read the new regime slab guide and the old vs new regime comparison. If you invest, see the capital gains rates guide. If you have income beyond salary, read the guides on TDS and TCS and advance tax.

Everything here is general information. Section numbers are given only where we have checked them against the text of the 2025 Act; otherwise the provision is named in words. Confirm figures on the Income Tax Department's portals before you file.