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Guide · Tax Slabs & Regimes

Income Tax Slab FY 2018-19 (AY 2019-20)

The historical income tax slab rates for FY 2018-19 (AY 2019-20) under the Finance Act 2018 — individuals, senior and super-senior citizens, plus the Rs40,000 standard deduction, 4% cess and Section 87A rebate. For current rates, see the FY 2025-26 slabs.

Written by
TaxClue Editorial Desk
Updated
18 August 2026
Reading time
4 min
Questions
15 answered
  • Historical AY 2019-20
  • Old regime (only regime then)
  • Reviewed by TaxClue
Quick Answer · Historical

For FY 2018-19 (AY 2019-20), income tax slabs for individuals below 60 were nil up to Rs2.5 lakh, 5% from Rs2.5L to Rs5L, 20% from Rs5L to Rs10L and 30% above Rs10L. Budget 2018 introduced a Rs40,000 standard deduction and raised the cess from 3% to 4%. There was only one regime — the current new/old choice did not exist yet.

This is a historical page (AY 2019-20)

These rates apply only to FY 2018-19 and are kept for reference and back-year filings. For the current year (FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27) the new regime is the default, with nil tax up to Rs12 lakh taxable income after the Section 87A rebate. See the current-year guide at /income-tax-slabs.

At a glance

Slab Rates — Individuals Below 60 (FY 2018-19)

The slabs for resident individuals under 60 and for non-resident individuals (NRIs) of any age were identical for AY 2019-20.

Income RangeTax RateTax on this Slab
Up to Rs2,50,000Nil—
Rs2,50,001 – Rs5,00,0005%Up to Rs12,500
Rs5,00,001 – Rs10,00,00020%Up to Rs1,00,000
Above Rs10,00,00030%On amount above Rs10L

Add: Health & Education Cess @ 4% on total tax. Surcharge: 10% if income Rs50L–Rs1Cr; 15% above Rs1Cr. Historical — Finance Act 2018.

Higher exemptions

Senior & Super-Senior Citizen Slabs

Resident senior citizens (60–79) and super-senior citizens (80+) got a higher basic exemption. NRIs did not get these higher limits or the Section 87A rebate.

Income RangeSenior (60–79)Super-Senior (80+)
Up to Rs2,50,000NilNil
Rs2,50,001 – Rs3,00,000NilNil
Rs3,00,001 – Rs5,00,0005%Nil
Rs5,00,001 – Rs10,00,00020%20%
Above Rs10,00,00030%30%

Senior basic exemption Rs3L; super-senior Rs5L. Cess 4% on total tax.

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What changed

Key Changes in Budget 2018 (Finance Act 2018)

  • Standard deduction of Rs40,000 reintroduced for salaried employees and pensioners, replacing the transport allowance (Rs19,200) and medical reimbursement (Rs15,000) exemptions — a net new benefit of about Rs5,800. Raised to Rs50,000 from FY 2019-20.
  • Health & Education Cess raised from 3% to 4% on income tax plus surcharge, and renamed. On a base tax of Rs1,00,000 the cess rose from Rs3,000 to Rs4,000.
  • Section 87A rebate of Rs2,500 for total income up to Rs3,50,000 — down from the earlier Rs5,000 (up to Rs5L). NRIs were not eligible.
  • LTCG on equity reintroduced: 10% on long-term gains above Rs1 lakh on listed equity shares and equity mutual funds, with grandfathering of gains up to 31 January 2018.
Standard deduction did not lower most tax bills much

Because the Rs40,000 standard deduction replaced roughly Rs34,200 of existing transport and medical exemptions, the net additional benefit was only about Rs5,800 for a typical salaried employee — and the 1% higher cess partly offset it.

Worked example

Tax on Rs8 Lakh Salary — FY 2018-19

Taxable income

Gross salaryRs8,00,000
Less: Standard deduction(Rs40,000)
Less: Section 80C(Rs1,50,000)
Taxable incomeRs6,10,000

Tax payable

Tax on Rs2.5L–Rs5L @ 5%Rs12,500
Tax on Rs5L–Rs6.1L @ 20%Rs22,000
Health & edu cess @ 4%Rs1,380
Total taxRs35,880

The same person under the current FY 2025-26 new regime would pay nil tax up to Rs12 lakh taxable income after the Section 87A rebate — a very different outcome. Compare with the current-year calculator.

Context

FY 2017-18 vs 2018-19 vs 2019-20

FeatureFY 2017-18FY 2018-19FY 2019-20
Basic exemption (below 60)Rs2,50,000Rs2,50,000Rs2,50,000
Standard deductionNilRs40,000Rs50,000
Cess rate3%4%4%
87A rebateRs2,500 (≤Rs3.5L)Rs2,500 (≤Rs3.5L)Rs12,500 (≤Rs5L)
LTCG on equity (above Rs1L)Exempt10% (from Feb 2018)10%
Lowest slab rate5%5%5%

Old regime figures. The new tax regime (Section 115BAC) only began from FY 2020-21.

Want the latest slabs and a quick tax estimate?

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Sources
  1. Finance Act 2018 & slab history: incometax.gov.in
  2. Standard deduction & cess: Finance Act 2018, Sections 16(ia) & cess provisions
  3. Section 87A rebate: Section 87A, Income-tax Act 1961 (as amended by FA 2018)
  4. Current-year rates: TaxClue Income Tax Slabs (FY 2025-26)

Disclaimer: This guide is general information based on the law and notifications in force when it was last updated. It is not professional advice for your case — rates, thresholds and due dates change, so check the current position or speak to our CA team before you act on it.

People also ask

FY 2018-19 Income Tax — Frequently Asked Questions

Short, direct answers to the 15 questions readers ask most on this topic.

For FY 2018-19 (AY 2019-20), individuals below 60 were taxed: nil up to Rs2,50,000; 5% from Rs2,50,001 to Rs5,00,000; 20% from Rs5,00,001 to Rs10,00,000; and 30% above Rs10,00,000. A 4% Health & Education Cess applied on the total tax. These slabs were unchanged from FY 2017-18.

No. The basic slab rates for FY 2018-19 stayed the same as FY 2017-18. Budget 2018 instead introduced a Rs40,000 standard deduction, raised the cess from 3% to 4%, and reintroduced 10% LTCG tax on equity above Rs1 lakh. The slab thresholds and rates themselves were not altered.

The lowest slab rate was 5%, applying to income between Rs2,50,001 and Rs5,00,000 for individuals below 60. Income up to Rs2.5 lakh was exempt. The 5% rate had been reduced from 10% in Budget 2017 and remained at 5% for FY 2018-19.

No. The optional new tax regime under Section 115BAC only came into effect from FY 2020-21. In FY 2018-19 there was a single regime with the traditional slabs, and taxpayers could claim all Chapter VI-A deductions such as Section 80C.

A standard deduction of Rs40,000 was introduced for FY 2018-19 for salaried employees and pensioners. It replaced the transport allowance exemption (Rs19,200) and the medical reimbursement exemption (up to Rs15,000), so the net additional benefit was about Rs5,800. It was raised to Rs50,000 from FY 2019-20.

Not much. Because it replaced roughly Rs34,200 of existing transport and medical exemptions, the net new deduction was only about Rs5,800 for a typical salaried taxpayer. The simultaneous increase of the cess from 3% to 4% offset part of that benefit.

From FY 2018-19 onwards the education cess was increased from 3% to 4% and renamed the Health & Education Cess. It is charged on income tax plus surcharge. On a base tax of Rs1,00,000, the cess rose from Rs3,000 to Rs4,000.

Surcharge for individuals in FY 2018-19 was 10% where total income exceeded Rs50 lakh but was up to Rs1 crore, and 15% where total income exceeded Rs1 crore. The higher 25% and 37% surcharge bands were introduced only later, from FY 2019-20.

For FY 2018-19, the Section 87A rebate was Rs2,500 for resident individuals with total income up to Rs3,50,000. This was down from the earlier Rs5,000 rebate (available up to Rs5 lakh). Most salaried taxpayers with income above Rs3.5 lakh after deductions did not benefit.

No. The Section 87A rebate was available only to resident individuals. Non-resident Indians (NRIs) could not claim it, regardless of income level, and also did not get the higher senior-citizen basic exemption limits.

Resident senior citizens aged 60 to 79 had a basic exemption of Rs3,00,000, and super-senior citizens aged 80 and above had Rs5,00,000. Above these limits the same 5%, 20% and 30% slab rates applied, plus 4% cess.

NRIs used the same slab rates as resident individuals below 60 (nil up to Rs2.5L, then 5%, 20% and 30%). However, NRIs did not get the higher senior/super-senior exemption limits and were not eligible for the Section 87A rebate.

Budget 2018 reintroduced long-term capital gains tax on listed equity shares and equity mutual funds at 10% on gains above Rs1 lakh, without indexation, effective for transfers from 1 April 2018. Gains accrued up to 31 January 2018 were grandfathered and remained exempt.

The normal and belated return windows for AY 2019-20 have long closed. In limited cases an updated return or a response to a departmental notice may be possible under specific conditions. For any back-year return, consult a tax professional — TaxClue can review your case.

For FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), the new regime is the default: nil up to Rs4L, then 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% bands, with a Section 87A rebate making tax nil up to Rs12 lakh taxable income (about Rs12.75L for the salaried after the Rs75,000 standard deduction). See the current-year guide at /income-tax-slabs.