Income tax on ₹18 lakh salary
Rules for FY 2026-27 · Checked 24 October 2026
On a ₹18 lakh salary you pay ₹1,50,800 in the new regime for FY 2026-27: ₹12,567 a month, or 8.4% of your salary. The old regime costs ₹3,51,000 with no deductions, or ₹2,95,650 with ₹1.5 lakh of 80C and ₹25,000 of 80D. It only matches the new regime once your deductions reach ₹6.42L.
- Tax a year (new)₹1,50,8008.4% of salary
- Tax a month₹12,567Deducted as TDS
- Old regime, 80C + 80D₹2,95,650₹1.45L more
- You keep₹16.49LAfter income tax
How the new regime tax is worked out
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross salary | ₹18,00,000 |
| Standard deduction | − ₹75,000 |
| Taxable income | ₹17,25,000 |
| 0 – 4,00,000 at 0% | ₹0 |
| 4,00,000 – 8,00,000 at 5% | ₹20,000 |
| 8,00,000 – 12,00,000 at 10% | ₹40,000 |
| 12,00,000 – 16,00,000 at 15% | ₹60,000 |
| 16,00,000 – 17,25,000 at 20% | ₹25,000 |
| Cess (4%) | ₹5,800 |
| Total tax | ₹1,50,800 |
Old regime on a ₹18 lakh salary
| Deductions claimed | Taxable income | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction only | ₹17,50,000 | ₹3,51,000 |
| Plus 80C ₹1,50,000, 80D ₹25,000, professional tax | ₹15,72,600 | ₹2,95,650 |
To beat the new regime you would need about ₹6.42L of deductions in all, apart from the standard deduction: HRA, 80C, 80D, NPS and home loan interest together.
Tax on nearby salaries
Add your own deductions
Enter your HRA, investments and other income to see your exact tax under both regimes.
a year compared with the old regime, for FY 2026-27.
- That is ₹12,567 a month, or 8.4% of your income.
- The old regime needs 4.65 lakh more in deductions to match the new one.
- You keep₹16,49,200
- Income tax₹1,50,800
How new regime tax adds up
- Gross income
- ₹18,00,000
- Standard deduction
- − ₹75,000
- Taxable income
- ₹17,25,000
| Income slab | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 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 – 16,00,000 | 15% | ₹60,000 |
| 16,00,000 – 17,25,000 | 20% | ₹25,000 |
- Tax on slabs
- ₹1,45,000
- Health and education cess (4%)
- ₹5,800
- Total tax (8.4% of income)
- ₹1,50,800
Resident individual, slab-rate income only. Capital gains are taxed separately. See the old vs new regime guide for how to choose.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do I pay on a ₹18 lakh salary?
₹1,50,800 a year in the new regime for FY 2026-27, which is ₹12,567 a month and 8.4% of your salary.
Which tax regime is better for a ₹18 lakh salary?
The new regime, unless your deductions apart from the standard deduction reach ₹6.42L. With ₹1.5 lakh of 80C and ₹25,000 of 80D the old regime costs ₹2,95,650.
What is the taxable income on a ₹18 lakh salary?
₹17,25,000 in the new regime, after the ₹75,000 standard deduction. In the old regime it is ₹17,50,000 before any other deduction.