Ask Veda

TaxClue AI · Active
Namaste! I'm Veda — TaxClue's AI assistant.

Ask me anything about GST, Income Tax, Company Registration, Trademark, or any compliance topic. I'll give you a direct answer.
Free Expert Consultation
Powered by TaxClue · India's Trusted Compliance Platform

Section 87A Rebate FY 2026 — ₹60,000 Rebate, Zero Tax up to ₹12 Lakh & ₹12.75L for Salaried

Updated: 3 June 2026  |  FY 2025-26 / Tax Year 2026-27  |  Income-tax Act, 2025

Section 87A rebate for FY 2025-26 (Tax Year 2026-27): ₹60,000 under the new regime for net taxable income up to ₹12 lakh — making income effectively tax-free. Salaried employees earning up to ₹12.75 lakh gross pay zero tax (₹12.75L − ₹75K standard deduction = ₹12L → ₹60K tax → ₹60K rebate → ₹0). Old regime rebate: ₹12,500 for income ≤ ₹5L. Rebate not available on STCG/LTCG at special rates.
₹60,000
Maximum Section 87A rebate under new regime for FY 2025-26 / Tax Year 2026-27.
Tax on ₹12L income under new regime = ₹60,000. The rebate exactly cancels this → zero tax. No investments, no deductions needed.

How Section 87A Rebate Works — Step by Step

StepNon-Salaried (₹12L)Salaried (₹12.75L Gross)
Gross Income₹12,00,000₹12,75,000
Standard Deduction− ₹75,000
Net Taxable Income₹12,00,000₹12,00,000
Tax on Slabs (new regime)₹60,000₹60,000
Section 87A Rebate− ₹60,000− ₹60,000
Tax After Rebate₹0₹0
Health & Education Cess (4%)₹0₹0
Total Tax Payable₹0₹0

Section 87A Rebate — New Regime vs Old Regime Comparison

ParameterNew RegimeOld Regime
Maximum Rebate Amount₹60,000₹12,500
Income Eligibility Ceiling≤ ₹12,00,000≤ ₹5,00,000
Effective Tax-Free Income₹12,00,000₹5,00,000
Salaried Zero-Tax Ceiling₹12,75,000₹5,50,000
Available on STCG (Sec 111A)?NoNo
Available on LTCG (Sec 112A)?NoNo

Section 87A — What Incomes are Excluded from Rebate?

The Section 87A rebate cannot reduce tax on the following special-rate incomes, even if total income is below ₹12 lakh:

Income TypeSectionTax Rate87A Rebate Available?
STCG on listed equity/equity MFSection 111A20%No
LTCG on listed equity/equity MFSection 112A12.5% (above ₹1.25L)No
Lottery, horse racing winningsSection 115BB30%No
Regular salary/business/FD incomeNormal slabsSlab ratesYes (if total ≤ ₹12L)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Section 87A rebate for FY 2025-26 (Tax Year 2026-27)?
Section 87A rebate for FY 2025-26 (also called Tax Year 2026-27 under the Income-tax Act, 2025) is ₹60,000 under the new regime for total income ≤ ₹12 lakh. This completely eliminates income tax for those earning up to ₹12 lakh. Under the old regime, the 87A rebate remains ₹12,500 for income ≤ ₹5 lakh. Note: The rebate cannot be applied against tax on special rate incomes like STCG (Section 111A) or LTCG (Section 112A).
How does the ₹60,000 Section 87A rebate work?
The 87A rebate works by directly reducing your computed income tax to zero (or by up to ₹60,000). Example: Income ₹12 lakh (new regime) → tax on slabs = ₹60,000 → apply 87A rebate ₹60,000 → net tax = ₹0 → add 4% cess = ₹0 total. For salaried: gross ₹12.75L − ₹75K standard deduction = ₹12L net taxable → same calculation → zero tax. The rebate is automatically applied when filing ITR — no separate declaration needed.
Is Section 87A rebate available on capital gains or special rate income?
No. Section 87A rebate is NOT available on: (1) Short-term capital gains under Section 111A (equity shares/equity MF units taxed at 20%); (2) Long-term capital gains under Section 112A (equity: 12.5% above ₹1.25L threshold); (3) Any other income taxed at special rates. Even if your total income is below ₹12 lakh but includes STCG/LTCG, the rebate does not apply to that portion of tax. Regular income below ₹12L can still qualify for rebate on the non-special-rate portion.
What is the difference between old regime and new regime Section 87A rebate for FY 2025-26?
New regime (FY 2025-26 / Tax Year 2026-27): 87A rebate up to ₹60,000; applicable if net taxable income ≤ ₹12,00,000; zero tax on entire ₹12L income. Old regime: 87A rebate up to ₹12,500; applicable if net taxable income ≤ ₹5,00,000; reduces tax to nil for income ≤ ₹5L. The new regime rebate is significantly more generous, making new regime the preferred choice for individuals with limited deductions.
If my income is exactly ₹12 lakh or ₹12.01 lakh, how does 87A rebate apply?
At exactly ₹12,00,000 (new regime): tax = ₹60,000 → 87A rebate = ₹60,000 → net tax = ₹0. Zero tax. At ₹12,00,001 (just ₹1 above): 87A rebate is completely unavailable → full tax of ₹60,000 + 15 paise (on ₹1 at 15%) is payable with no rebate. This cliff-edge means income just above ₹12L results in much higher effective tax. Marginal relief provisions are available to prevent gross anomaly at ₹50L, ₹1Cr thresholds, but there is NO marginal relief at the 87A ₹12L boundary.

Related Pages