New Regime: ₹12 Lakh Limit (FY 2025-26)
Budget 2025 enhanced the Section 87A rebate under the new tax regime significantly. For FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), resident individuals with total taxable income up to ₹12 lakh pay zero income tax under the new regime. The maximum rebate is ₹60,000 — equal to the tax that would otherwise be payable on ₹12 lakh under the new regime slabs (0% up to ₹4L, 5% on ₹4-8L = ₹20,000, 10% on ₹8-12L = ₹40,000, total ₹60,000). The standard deduction of ₹75,000 for salaried employees means that a salaried person with gross salary up to ₹12.75 lakh effectively pays zero tax under the new regime.
Old Regime: ₹5 Lakh Limit
Under the old tax regime, the Section 87A rebate applies to resident individuals with total taxable income up to ₹5 lakh. The maximum rebate is ₹12,500 — equal to the tax on ₹5 lakh under old regime slabs (nil up to ₹2.5L, 5% on ₹2.5-5L = ₹12,500). This limit has not changed since FY 2019-20. Under the old regime, a salaried person with gross salary up to ₹5.5 lakh (after ₹50,000 standard deduction) and ₹1.5 lakh of 80C investments can bring taxable income to ₹4 lakh and pay zero tax.
What Section 87A Does Not Cover
The rebate cannot be applied against tax computed at special rates. This includes: STCG on listed equity shares and equity mutual funds taxed at 20% under Section 111A; LTCG on listed equity above ₹1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5% under Section 112A; LTCG on other assets taxed at 12.5% under Section 112; and any other income taxed at a flat rate. The rebate applies only to tax on income taxed at normal slab rates. If your income includes special rate income, compute tax separately on special rate income and slab rate income — the rebate applies only to the slab rate portion.
Marginal Relief
For income marginally above ₹12 lakh (new regime), marginal relief prevents a cliff-edge tax jump. The tax payable is capped at the amount by which income exceeds ₹12 lakh. For example, at ₹12.5 lakh income, normal tax would be approximately ₹65,000. Marginal relief caps the tax at ₹50,000 (₹12.5L − ₹12L). Marginal relief phases out as income rises — at approximately ₹12.75 lakh, the normal tax exceeds the excess income and marginal relief no longer applies.