Author: chandru

The new tax regime has lower rates but almost no deductions. The old regime has higher rates but lets you claim HRA, 80C, health insurance, home loan interest and more. Which is cheaper depends on how much you can claim. Compare both instantly:

The break-even point

This is roughly how much you need to claim in deductions (on top of the standard deduction) before the old regime costs the same as the new one, for a salaried person below 60:

Yearly salary	Tax under new regime	Deductions needed for old regime to match
₹10 lakh	₹0	about ₹4.5 lakh
₹15 lakh	₹97,500	about ₹5.45 lakh
₹20 lakh	₹1,92,400	about ₹7.1 lakh
₹25 lakh and above	₹3,19,800 at ₹25 lakh	about ₹8 lakh

Who may still be better off in the old regime

• People paying high rent in a big city with a large HRA. Check yours with the HRA calculator.
• People with a home loan who can claim up to ₹2 lakh of interest, plus principal under 80C.
• People who already use the full 80C limit, health insurance for themselves and their parents, and NPS.

For most salaried people with few deductions, the new regime is now cheaper, and it is the default if you do not choose.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch regimes every year?

Salaried people without business income can choose each year when filing their return. People with business income have limited chances to switch.

Do the section numbers like 80C still apply?

The Income-tax Act, 2025 renumbers many sections. This guide uses the familiar names because most people and payslips still use them; the deductions themselves are what matter for the comparison.

An estimate based on the site’s tax calculator; confirm with a tax professional before filing. Related: Income tax on common salaries

Black Friday falls on 27 November 2026. Big percentages are designed to make you buy fast, so check the numbers first. The discount calculator works out the real price and saving in seconds.

1. Stacked discounts do not add up

“30% off, plus an extra 20% off at checkout” sounds like 50%. It is not: a $200 item becomes $140 after 30%, then $112 after another 20%. That is a 44% discount, not 50%.

2. Check the “was” price

A “was $150, now $99” label suggests 34% off. If the item normally sold for $119, the real saving is $20, or about 17%. Look at the price history or other shops before trusting the crossed-out price.

3. Add tax and delivery

In the US, sales tax is added at checkout, and delivery fees can wipe out a small discount. Enter the tax rate in the calculator to see the price you will actually pay.

4. Compare the price per unit

Multi-buys and bigger packs are not always cheaper. Divide the price by the quantity to compare fairly.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the percentage I saved?

Saving ÷ original price × 100. Paying $112 for a $200 item saves $88, which is 44%. See how to calculate percentage change.

Is buy now, pay later a good deal on Black Friday?

Only if you repay on time with no fees. Late fees or interest can cost more than the discount saved. Set a limit first with the budget calculator.

Related: Discount calculator · VAT calculator

Here is the income tax on common salaries for FY 2026-27 (AY 2027-28) under both regimes. Enter your own salary and deductions in the calculator for an exact comparison.

Tax by salary

Yearly salary	New regime	Old regime*	Lower option
₹10 lakh	₹0	₹65,000	New
₹12 lakh	₹0	₹1,06,600	New
₹12.75 lakh	₹0	₹1,24,800	New
₹15 lakh	₹97,500	₹1,95,000	New
₹20 lakh	₹1,92,400	₹3,51,000	New
₹25 lakh	₹3,19,800	₹5,07,000	New

*Old regime assumes ₹1.5 lakh of 80C investments and ₹50,000 of other deductions. Salaried resident below 60, including 4% cess.

Why ₹12.75 lakh salary is tax-free

Under the new regime, salaried people get a ₹75,000 standard deduction, which brings ₹12.75 lakh down to ₹12 lakh of taxable income. A rebate of up to ₹60,000 then cancels the tax on income up to ₹12 lakh. Just above that limit, marginal relief makes sure your tax is never more than the income above ₹12 lakh.

New regime slabs for FY 2026-27

Taxable income	Rate
Up to ₹4 lakh	Nil
₹4–8 lakh	5%
₹8–12 lakh	10%
₹12–16 lakh	15%
₹16–20 lakh	20%
₹20–24 lakh	25%
Above ₹24 lakh	30%

Frequently asked questions

Is the old regime ever better?

Only if your deductions are large, typically ₹4.5–8 lakh or more depending on salary. See who should still choose the old regime.

How much is my tax per month?

Divide the yearly tax by 12. On ₹15 lakh under the new regime, that is about ₹8,125 a month, usually deducted from salary as TDS.

An estimate; excludes capital gains and specially taxed income. Confirm with a tax professional. Related: HRA exemption calculator · Gratuity calculator

To turn an hourly rate into a yearly salary, multiply by the hours you work each week and by 52. The table below covers common rates, and the calculator handles any pay, hours and holidays.

Formula

Yearly salary = hourly rate × hours per week × 52. At 40 hours a week that is 2,080 hours a year; at 37.5 hours (common in the UK) it is 1,950 hours.

Hourly to yearly conversion table

Hourly rate	Yearly (40 hrs/week)	Monthly (40 hrs/week)	Yearly (37.5 hrs/week)
10	20,800	1,733	19,500
15	31,200	2,600	29,250
20	41,600	3,467	39,000
25	52,000	4,333	48,750
30	62,400	5,200	58,500
40	83,200	6,933	78,000
50	104,000	8,667	97,500

The table works in any currency: $20 an hour, £20 an hour or €20 an hour all come to 41,600 a year at 40 hours a week. Figures are before tax.

Quick shortcut

For a 40-hour week, double the hourly rate and add three zeros, then add 4%: $25 an hour → 50,000 + 2,000 = about $52,000 a year.

Frequently asked questions

Does this include paid holidays?

Multiplying by 52 assumes you are paid every week, including holidays. If you are not paid for some weeks, use fewer paid weeks in the calculator.

How do I convert a yearly salary to hourly?

Divide by 2,080 for a 40-hour week: 50,000 a year is about 24.04 an hour.

Related: Salary calculator · 50/30/20 budget calculator

Percentage change tells you how much something went up or down compared with where it started. Use the calculator, or follow the formula below.

The formula

Percentage change = (new value − old value) ÷ old value × 100. A positive answer is an increase; a negative answer is a decrease.

Everyday examples

Situation	Old	New	Change
Pay rise	40,000	44,000	+10%
Price rise	250	300	+20%
Price drop	80	60	−25%
Website visitors	1,200	1,500	+25%

A common trap

A 20% rise followed by a 20% fall does not bring you back to the start. 100 rises 20% to 120, but 20% off 120 is 96. To undo a 20% rise you need a fall of about 16.7%.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a percentage to a number?

Multiply by 1 plus the percentage: adding 15% to 200 is 200 × 1.15 = 230.

What is the difference between percent and percentage points?

If an interest rate goes from 5% to 6%, it rose by 1 percentage point, which is a 20% increase in the rate.

Related: Percentage calculator · Discount calculator

Compound interest means you earn interest on your interest, so money grows faster the longer you leave it. These examples show the effect clearly. Try your own numbers in the calculator.

What ₹1 lakh grows to (one-time, compounded yearly)

Rate	10 years	20 years	30 years
7%	₹1,96,715	₹3,86,968	₹7,61,226
10%	₹2,59,374	₹6,72,750	₹17,44,940
12%	₹3,10,585	₹9,64,629	₹29,95,992

What $10,000 grows to

Rate	10 years	20 years	30 years
7%	$19,672	$38,697	$76,123
10%	$25,937	$67,275	$174,494
12%	$31,058	$96,463	$299,599

Three lessons from the tables

• Time does the heavy lifting. At 10%, the money grows 2.6 times in the first 10 years but 17 times over 30 years.
• Small rate differences add up. Over 30 years, 12% gives about four times as much as 7%.
• Starting early beats investing more later. The last 10 years add more than the first 20 combined.

Frequently asked questions

What is the compound interest formula?

Amount = principal × (1 + rate ÷ n)^{n × years}, where n is how many times a year interest is added. With yearly compounding, n = 1.

Are 10% or 12% returns realistic?

Bank deposits pay much less. Stock-market investments have returned more over long periods in many countries, but returns vary a lot from year to year and are not guaranteed.

Related: Investment (SIP) calculator · Simple interest calculator

Two loans can both say “10% interest” and cost very different amounts. The difference is whether interest is charged at a flat rate or a reducing (diminishing) balance rate. Check any offer with the calculator below, which uses the reducing-balance method that banks use.

What is the difference?

• Flat rate: interest is charged on the full loan amount for the whole tenure, even though you repay part of it every month.
• Reducing rate: interest is charged only on what you still owe, so it falls as you repay.

Worked example: ₹5 lakh for 3 years

	10% flat	10% reducing
Total interest	₹1,50,000	₹80,809
Monthly EMI	₹18,056	₹16,134
Same as a reducing rate of	about 17.9%	10%

The 10% flat loan costs almost twice the interest. Its EMI matches a reducing-rate loan at about 17.9%.

How to compare loan offers

• Ask whether the rate is flat or reducing, and ask for the APR or effective rate.
• Compare the EMI and total amount payable, not just the headline rate.
• Add processing fees and insurance that are bundled into the loan.

Frequently asked questions

Which loans use flat rates?

Flat rates are common with some dealer-arranged vehicle loans, consumer durable loans and informal lenders. Banks usually quote reducing rates for home, car and personal loans.

Is a flat rate always worse?

At the same headline number, yes. A flat rate is only cheaper if it is roughly half the reducing rate or less, so always convert before deciding.

Related: How loan EMI is calculated · Bike loan EMI calculator

Personal contract purchase (PCP) is the most popular way to finance a new car in the UK. Monthly payments are low because a large part of the car’s price is left until the end as a balloon payment. Compare PCP-style leasing with buying in the calculator below.

What is the balloon payment?

The balloon, also called the guaranteed minimum future value (GMFV), is the lender’s estimate of what the car will be worth at the end of the deal, based on its age and your agreed mileage. Your monthly payments cover the difference between the price (after deposit) and the balloon, plus interest on the whole amount borrowed.

Worked example: £25,000 car over 3 years at 7% APR

	PCP	HP
Deposit	£2,500	£2,500
Balloon at the end	£11,000	None
Monthly payment	£419	£695
Total if you keep the car	£28,593	£27,510
Total if you hand it back	£17,593	Not an option

PCP’s monthly payment is about £276 lower, but if you pay the balloon to keep the car it costs about £1,080 more than HP in total, because you pay interest on the balloon for the whole three years.

Your three choices at the end

1. Pay the balloon and keep the car.
2. Hand the car back and pay nothing more, if it is within the mileage and in fair condition.
3. Part-exchange it: if the car is worth more than the balloon, the extra (equity) can go towards your next deposit.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I go over the mileage?

If you hand the car back, you pay an excess mileage charge per mile, set in your agreement. Higher mileage also lowers the car’s value.

Can I end a PCP early?

Yes. Under the Consumer Credit Act you can usually hand the car back once you have paid half of the total amount payable, including the balloon. You can also ask for a settlement figure at any time.

Example figures are illustrative; real balloon values and rates vary by car and lender. Related: Lease vs buy in the UK · Car depreciation calculator

Here are car loan EMIs for common loan amounts in India. Choose INR in the calculator to try your exact price, down payment and rate.

Car loan EMI table

Loan	Rate	EMI (5 years)	Total interest (5 years)	EMI (7 years)	Total interest (7 years)
₹5 lakh	8.5%	₹10,258	₹1,15,496	₹7,918	₹1,65,132
₹5 lakh	9%	₹10,379	₹1,22,751	₹8,045	₹1,75,741
₹5 lakh	10%	₹10,624	₹1,37,411	₹8,301	₹1,97,250
₹8 lakh	8.5%	₹16,413	₹1,84,794	₹12,669	₹2,64,212
₹8 lakh	9%	₹16,607	₹1,96,401	₹12,871	₹2,81,186
₹8 lakh	10%	₹16,998	₹2,19,858	₹13,281	₹3,15,600
₹10 lakh	8.5%	₹20,517	₹2,30,992	₹15,836	₹3,30,265
₹10 lakh	9%	₹20,758	₹2,45,501	₹16,089	₹3,51,483
₹10 lakh	10%	₹21,247	₹2,74,823	₹16,601	₹3,94,499

5 years or 7 years?

A 7-year loan lowers the EMI by about a quarter, but you pay much more interest: on ₹8 lakh at 9%, about ₹85,000 extra. A car also loses value quickly, so on a long loan you may owe more than it is worth for the first few years.

Frequently asked questions

What salary do I need for a ₹10 lakh car loan?

A common guide is to keep the EMI around 10–15% of take-home pay. A ₹20,758 EMI fits that guide at roughly ₹1.4–2 lakh a month. See how much car you can afford.

Can I prepay a car loan?

Usually yes, but many lenders charge a fee on fixed-rate car loans. Check the charges, then see how much prepaying saves.

Rates shown are examples; your rate depends on the lender, your credit score and the car. Related: Loan / EMI calculator · How EMI is calculated

An amortization schedule is a table that shows every payment on a loan, how much of it is interest, how much reduces the loan, and what you still owe afterwards. The calculator below builds one for any loan.

Example: $20,000 at 9% over 3 years

The monthly payment is $635.99. Interest each month is 9% ÷ 12 = 0.75% of the balance:

Payment	Interest	Principal	Balance after
1	$150.00	$485.99	$19,514.01
2	$146.36	$489.64	$19,024.37
3	$142.68	$493.31	$18,531.05
12	$108.37	$527.63	$13,921.38
24	$58.87	$577.12	$7,272.54
36	$4.73	$631.26	$0.00

What the schedule tells you

• Early payments are mostly interest. In month 1, $150 of the $636 payment is interest; by the last month it is under $5.
• You build equity slowly at first. After one year of this loan you have repaid only about $6,080 of the $20,000.
• Extra payments early save the most. Each extra dollar removes all the future interest on it. See how much overpaying saves.

Frequently asked questions

How is each month’s interest calculated?

Monthly interest = outstanding balance × yearly rate ÷ 12. The rest of the payment reduces the balance.

Where can I get my own schedule?

Your lender can provide one, or enter your loan details in the calculator above to see a year-by-year breakdown.

Related: How loan EMI is calculated · Mortgage calculator