Deductions You Didn't Know You Could Still Claim Under the New Tax Regime in India
Every time I mention the new tax regime to someone, I get the same reaction: "Bhai, wahaan toh koi deduction hi nahi hota" — there's no deduction there at all. And I understand why people think that. The new regime under Section 115BAC is built around the trade-off of lower slab rates in exchange for giving up HRA, Section 80C, 80D, and most of the exemptions people grew up filing with. But "fewer deductions" isn't the same as "zero deductions." There's a short, specific list of benefits that quietly survive under the new regime for FY 2026-27 (AY 2027-28) — and most salaried people never claim them simply because nobody tells them these exist. If you've moved to the new regime (which is now the default one) assuming you've got no room to reduce your taxable income at all, you're probably leaving money on the table. Let's fix that. 1. The Standard Deduction — ₹75,000 This is the one most people do know, but it's worth ...