Standard deduction is a crucial tax benefit available to salaried individuals and pensioners in India. This fixed deduction reduces your taxable income without requiring any investment or expense documentation. Understanding how standard deduction works under both old and new tax regimes can help you optimize your tax planning and maximize your take-home salary.
[IMAGE::Standard Deduction for Salaried Employees]
What is Standard Deduction?
Standard deduction is a fixed amount that salaried taxpayers can deduct from their gross salary income before calculating taxable income. Unlike other deductions that require proof of expenses or investments, standard deduction is automatically available to all salaried individuals and pensioners without any documentation requirements.
This deduction was reintroduced in Budget 2018-19, replacing the earlier transport allowance and medical reimbursement exemptions. The standard deduction simplifies tax filing by eliminating the need to maintain receipts for small expenses while providing tax relief to middle-class salaried employees.
Standard Deduction Amount for FY 2025-26
The standard deduction amount varies based on the tax regime you choose:
Old Tax Regime: Rs. 50,000 per financial year
New Tax Regime: Rs. 75,000 per financial year (increased from Rs. 50,000 in Budget 2024)
This increase in the new tax regime was introduced to make it more attractive and provide additional tax relief to taxpayers opting for the simplified tax structure.
Who Can Claim Standard Deduction?
Standard deduction is available to:
All salaried individuals receiving income under the head "Salaries"
Pensioners receiving pension from former employers
Individuals with income from salary, regardless of the amount
Important Note: Standard deduction is NOT available for:
Income from business or profession
Freelancing income
Income from other sources (unless it's pension)
Self-employed individuals
How Standard Deduction Works
Standard deduction is deducted from your gross salary income. Here's how it works:
Calculation Example
Let's say your gross salary is Rs. 10,00,000 for FY 2025-26:
Gross Salary: Rs. 10,00,000
Less: Standard Deduction (Old Regime): Rs. 50,000
Taxable Salary: Rs. 9,50,000
Under the new tax regime, you would get Rs. 75,000 as standard deduction, making your taxable salary Rs. 9,25,000.
Standard Deduction in Multiple Employment Scenarios
If you have changed jobs during the financial year or have multiple employers, standard deduction is calculated on your total salary income from all employers combined. You get only one standard deduction of Rs. 50,000 (old regime) or Rs. 75,000 (new regime) for the entire year, not per employer.
Standard Deduction for Pensioners
Pension received from former employers is taxable under the head "Salaries" and is eligible for standard deduction. Pensioners can claim the same standard deduction amount as salaried individuals - Rs. 50,000 under old regime or Rs. 75,000 under new regime.
Standard Deduction vs Other Allowances
When standard deduction was reintroduced in 2018-19, it replaced:
Transport allowance (up to Rs. 1,600 per month)
Medical reimbursement (up to Rs. 15,000 per year)
You cannot claim both standard deduction and these allowances. Standard deduction is a consolidated benefit that replaces these exemptions.
Tax Benefits of Standard Deduction
The standard deduction provides significant tax benefits:
Reduces Taxable Income: Directly lowers your taxable salary income
No Documentation Required: Unlike HRA or LTA, no receipts or proofs needed
Automatic Benefit: Available to all salaried individuals without any conditions
Simplifies Tax Filing: Reduces paperwork and makes ITR filing easier
How to Claim Standard Deduction in ITR
Standard deduction is automatically considered when filing your Income Tax Return:
In Form 16, your employer already deducts standard deduction from your salary
While filing ITR, ensure your salary income matches Form 16
The standard deduction is already reflected in your taxable salary in Form 16
No separate claim or declaration is required in ITR
Key Points to Remember
Standard deduction is available only for salary income and pension
The amount is fixed and doesn't depend on actual expenses
You get one standard deduction per financial year, regardless of number of employers
Standard deduction is higher (Rs. 75,000) in the new tax regime from FY 2024-25
No supporting documents are required to claim this deduction
Standard deduction is shown in Form 16 issued by your employer
Conclusion
Standard deduction is a valuable tax benefit that simplifies tax filing while providing relief to salaried individuals and pensioners. With the increased deduction of Rs. 75,000 in the new tax regime, taxpayers have an additional incentive to opt for the simplified tax structure. Understanding how standard deduction works can help you make informed decisions about tax planning and maximize your take-home income.