The best regime is not decided by salary alone. It depends on deduction profile, documentation discipline, liquidity preference,
and how stable your investments are year to year. A lower tax number on paper is useful only if you can consistently maintain the
required deductions.
How to think about the choice
Old regime: useful when your eligible deductions are meaningfully high and sustainable.
New regime: useful when deductions are low, variable, or you want simpler planning.
Practical rule: compare both using realistic deductions, not optimistic assumptions.
Step-by-step decision method
Estimate annual gross income.
List deductions you are sure you can claim this year.
Compute tax under both regimes with same income assumptions.
Check effort cost: paperwork, lock-ins, and cash-flow burden.
Choose the lower-tax path that is repeatable, not one-time lucky.
Deduction realism check
Many taxpayers overestimate deductions while comparing regimes. If you need aggressive tax-saving purchases in March to make old
regime competitive, your annual cash-flow quality may worsen.
Discipline test: if you would make those investments even without tax pressure, old regime can be structurally valid.
If not, new regime often fits better.
Worked example (illustrative)
Assume annual taxable income equivalent to 14,00,000 before deductions.
Case A: eligible deductions around 3,00,000 and consistently claimed.
Case B: eligible deductions around 80,000 with weak documentation.
In Case A, old regime may still be competitive depending on current slab configuration. In Case B, new regime is usually clearer,
simpler, and less prone to filing mistakes. The point is not theoretical maximum savings; it is reliable net tax outcome.
Where people usually go wrong
Mixing one-time exceptional deductions into annual long-term comparison.
Ignoring proof requirements for HRA, insurance, and investment claims.
Comparing monthly TDS impact without checking annual final liability.
Not revisiting choice after salary structure changes.
Employee vs self-employed nuance
Salaried users usually have predictable deduction buckets and payroll support, so comparison is simpler. Self-employed users may have
variable income and expenses, so scenario planning should include low-income and high-income year outcomes, not only a single estimate.
Annual review calendar
April to June: set expected deduction plan and documentation routine.
July to December: track whether deductions are actually happening.
January to March: run final comparison and avoid forced, low-quality tax-saving purchases.
Before return filing: verify claims with proofs and compute final liability.
Documents you should keep ready
Salary slips, Form 16, and investment proof statements.
Insurance premium receipts and eligible loan interest certificates.
Rent receipts/agreements where applicable.
Bank and broker statements used for claimed tax benefits.
Decision checklist before final selection
Did you run both regimes with current-year assumptions?
Are deduction assumptions backed by proof, not intent?
Does your choice preserve healthy monthly cash flow?
Can you maintain this choice next year without stress?
This guide is informational, not legal or tax advice. Tax rules and slab configuration can change; verify with official notifications
and qualified professionals before filing.