Income Tax on ₹15 Lakh Salary
What you actually pay on a ₹15 Lakh salary in FY 2025-26, both regimes side by side, with the calculator preset to ₹15 Lakh.
FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) rules: new regime slabs of 0/5/10/15/20/25/30% with ₹75,000 standard deduction and full rebate up to ₹12 lakh taxable income; old regime slabs of 5/20/30% with ₹50,000 standard deduction and rebate up to ₹5 lakh. Surcharge and 4% cess included.
Tax on ₹15 Lakh salary, both regimes
The figures below assume a salaried taxpayer. The new regime gets the ₹75,000 standard deduction and nothing else. The old regime gets the ₹50,000 standard deduction plus a full ₹1,50,000 of 80C and ₹25,000 of 80D, which is the most common combination. If you claim HRA or home loan interest on top, the old regime number falls further, so use the calculator above with your own figures.
| Step | New regime | Old regime |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | ₹15,00,000 | ₹15,00,000 |
| Less: deductions claimed | ₹75,000 | ₹2,25,000 |
| Taxable income | ₹14,25,000 | ₹12,75,000 |
| Tax as per slabs | ₹93,750 | ₹1,95,000 |
| Less: rebate u/s 87A | -₹0 | -₹0 |
| Surcharge | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| Health and education cess at 4% | ₹3,750 | ₹7,800 |
| Total tax payable | ₹97,500 | ₹2,02,800 |
| Effective rate on gross | 6.50% | 13.52% |
On these assumptions the new regime is cheaper by ₹1,05,300 for the year.
Where the ₹15 Lakh sits in the slabs
Only the income inside each slab is taxed at that slab’s rate, which is why the effective rate (6.50% under the new regime here) is always well below the headline rate people quote. Under the new regime, taxable income up to ₹12,00,000 pays no tax at all because of the section 87A rebate, and just above that a marginal relief rule stops the tax exceeding the income over the threshold.
How ₹15 Lakh compares with nearby salaries
| Gross salary | Tax, new regime | Tax, old regime | Lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹8 Lakh | ₹0 | ₹28,600 | New |
| ₹10 Lakh | ₹0 | ₹70,200 | New |
| ₹12 Lakh | ₹0 | ₹1,11,800 | New |
| ₹15 Lakh | ₹97,500 | ₹2,02,800 | New |
| ₹20 Lakh | ₹1,92,400 | ₹3,58,800 | New |
| ₹25 Lakh | ₹3,19,800 | ₹5,14,800 | New |
| ₹30 Lakh | ₹4,75,800 | ₹6,70,800 | New |
Which regime should you pick
The old regime only wins when your deductions are large. Roughly speaking you need deductions of about 30% of gross before it catches up, which usually means 80C in full, 80D, and either HRA or home loan interest. If you rent in a metro or pay a home loan, run both. If you claim nothing beyond the standard deduction, the new regime wins at almost every income level.
Tax at other salary levels
₹8 Lakh ₹10 Lakh ₹12 Lakh ₹20 Lakh ₹25 Lakh ₹15 LPA In Hand Income Tax Calculator
Frequently asked questions
How much income tax on ₹15 Lakh salary?
₹97,500 under the new regime for FY 2025-26. Under the old regime with 80C and 80D claimed in full it is ₹2,02,800, so the new regime is cheaper by ₹1,05,300.
What is the take-home on ₹15 Lakh?
Tax is only one deduction. EPF, gratuity and professional tax also come out of a CTC, so see our in-hand salary page for ₹15 Lakh for the full monthly figure.
Can I switch between the old and new regime?
Salaried taxpayers without business income can choose afresh each year when filing. Your employer deducts TDS based on what you declare at the start of the year, but the final choice is made in the return.
Does this include cess and surcharge?
Yes. The 4% health and education cess is added on every calculation, and surcharge is applied above the statutory thresholds, starting at 10% over 50 lakh of taxable income.