₹12 Lakh Tak Zero Tax — Section 87A Rebate New Regime 2026-27 Complete Guide

Budget 2025 (presented Feb 2025, effective FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27) mein government ne new tax regime mein ek bada announcement kiya: ₹12 lakh tak income waale individuals ka tax zero ho jaata hai Section 87A rebate ki wajah se. Lekin yeh exactly kaise kaam karta hai? Salaried employees ke liye actually kya hota hai — ₹12.75 lakh tak effectively zero tax?

Section 87A Kya Hai?

Section 87A Income Tax Act ka ek provision hai jo ek tax rebate deta hai — matlab pehle tax calculate hoti hai, phir yeh rebate deduct ho jaati hai. FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27 mein new regime ke liye:

• Agar total income ₹12 lakh ya kam hai toh Section 87A rebate = calculated tax ka poora amount (maximum ₹60,000)
• Income ₹12 lakh se zyada ho jaaye toh marginal relief milta hai — tax kabhi bhi extra income se zyada nahi lagega (cliff effect nahi aata)

Salaried Employees Ke Liye ₹12.75 Lakh Kaise Zero?

Yahan standard deduction ka role aata hai. Salary income ke liye:

• Gross salary = ₹12,75,000
• Standard deduction (Section 16(ia)) = ₹75,000
• Net taxable income = ₹12,75,000 − ₹75,000 = ₹12,00,000

Ab ₹12 lakh par tax calculate hogi — aur 87A rebate se poora cancel ho jaayega. Toh salaried employee jiska gross salary ₹12.75 lakh tak hai, uska effective tax zero!

New Tax Regime Slabs FY 2025-26

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

₹12 Lakh Tax Calculation:

• Up to ₹4L = Nil
• ₹4L – ₹8L = ₹4L × 5% = ₹20,000
• ₹8L – ₹12L = ₹4L × 10% = ₹40,000
• Total tax = ₹60,000
• Section 87A rebate = ₹60,000 (income ₹12L tak full rebate)
• Net tax = ₹0

Clarification: Section 87A rebate maximum ₹60,000 hai. FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) new regime slabs mein ₹12 lakh taxable income par tax exactly ₹60,000 aata hai — rebate se poora zero. Isliye salaried ke liye ₹12.75 lakh gross (₹12L taxable after ₹75,000 standard deduction) tak effective tax zero hai — salaried ho ya non-salaried, ₹12L taxable income tak sabka zero.

Income ₹12 lakh se thodi zyada ho jaaye toh marginal relief milta hai — tax kabhi bhi ₹12L se zyada ki extra income se zyada nahi lagega (cliff effect nahi aata). Lagbhag ₹12.75 lakh taxable tak yeh relief effective liability ko kaafi kam rakhta hai; uske upar normal slabs lagti hain.

₹12 Lakh Se Thoda Zyada — Cliff Effect Problem

Ek zaroori warning: Agar aapki taxable income ₹12 lakh se ₹1 rupee bhi zyada hai, toh 87A rebate available nahi hoti (in new regime). Marginal relief provision available hai — agar income ₹12L se thoda upar hai, tax ₹60,000 se zyada nahi hoga (tak ke band mein).

Example: Income ₹12.1 lakh → Tax without rebate = ~₹84,500. Marginal relief: Net tax capped at (income − ₹12L) = ₹10,000. So aap ₹10,000 se zyada tax nahi doge. CBDT ne marginal relief provision isko handle karta hai.

Special Income Par 87A Nahi Milti

Important: Long-term capital gains (LTCG) on equity shares (Section 112A), short-term gains (Section 111A), lottery winnings, etc. par calculated tax se 87A rebate apply nahi hoti. Yeh sirf regular income (salary, FD interest, rental) par applicable hai.

Isi wajah se FY 2023-24 mein ek controversy thi — kuch people ke ITR mein Section 87A refund demands aaye the LTCG ke saath rebate claim karne par. CBDT ne clarify kiya tha ki special rate income par 87A nahi milti.

Kya Karein — Action Steps

• Apni total income (salary + interest + dividends + other) calculate karo
• Agar ₹12.75 lakh se kam gross salary hai, new regime choose karo — zero/minimal tax
• Form 12BB employer ko submit karo new regime opt-in ke liye
• ITR file karo time par aur 87A rebate correctly claim karo
• Capital gains income hai toh CA se consult karo — 87A controversy still resolved nahi hai officially for all cases