Income tax rules 2026 explained — what actually changed
The new Act has 536 sections across 23 chapters, replacing the old law’s 819 sections across 47 chapters. The language has been simplified, redundant provisions removed, and many section numbers changed. But critically, tax rates and slabs are unchanged for FY 2026–27. This is a structural and language reform, not a tax hike or a tax cut. Alongside the new Act, CBDT has notified the Income Tax Rules 2026, which replace the Income Tax Rules 1962. These introduce updated deduction limits, revised compliance requirements, and new form numbering.
Tax slabs under income tax rules 2026 — new regime
The new regime remains the default for all taxpayers from April 2026. If you want to file under the old regime, you must actively opt in when filing your ITR.
The slabs are unchanged from FY 2025–26: Add 4% Health and Education cess on the computed tax. Salaried employees earning up to ₹12.75 lakh still pay zero tax under the new regime — the ₹75,000 standard deduction reduces taxable income to ₹12 lakh or below, and the Section 87A rebate of up to ₹60,000 eliminates any remaining liability.
The HRA Expansion — Who Benefits
This is the most tangible change for many salaried individuals. Previously, only taxpayers in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata could claim HRA exemption at 50% of basic salary. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad now join this list under the Income Tax Rules 2026. Taxpayers in these cities who were previously limited to the 40% exemption can now claim the higher rate, which is particularly significant for IT professionals and those with structured salary packages in these metros.
Under the new income tax rules 2026, the HRA exemption cities have expanded to include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
The accompanying compliance tightening is worth noting: from April 2026, if your annual rent exceeds ₹1 lakh, you must disclose your relationship with the landlord — especially if paying rent to a family member. This applies under the new Form 124 which replaces Form 12BB for HRA declarations. The intent is to reduce false HRA claims while keeping legitimate deductions available.
Other Allowance Changes Under the New Rules
Several exemption limits that had not been revised in decades have been updated. Children’s education allowance rises from ₹100 per child per month to ₹3,000 — a 30x increase. Hostel allowance moves from ₹300 to ₹9,000 per child per month. Employer-provided meal exemptions increase from ₹50 per meal to ₹200. The employer-provided medical loan exemption jumps from ₹20,000 to ₹2 lakh. All of these benefit individuals opting for the old regime, which may make old-regime calculations more favourable than the previous year for people with structured salary packages.
New Regime vs Old Regime — Which Is Better Now
The new regime is still the better choice for most salaried individuals earning below ₹15 lakh with limited deductions. The old regime regains competitiveness for anyone in the newly expanded HRA cities or anyone whose children’s education and hostel allowances now bring their deductible amount significantly higher. Tax experts suggest that individuals who routinely claim HRA, home loan interest, and Section 80C investments of ₹1.5 lakh should run a fresh comparison for FY 2026–27 given the expanded old-regime benefits.
Utilra’s free Income Tax Calculator lets you compare both regimes for your exact income and deduction profile in under a minute — no registration needed.
Form Name Changes — Nothing to Worry About
Your annual salary TDS certificate is now officially called Form 130 — it was Form 16. Non-salary TDS certificates (previously Form 16A) will be called Form 131. Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement, is now Form 168 under the new rules. The data inside all of these documents is identical — only the names changed. When your employer issues your Form 130 in June, it is the same document you have always relied on for ITR filing.
What You Should Do This Month
Check your April salary slip — your employer may have already switched you to the new regime by default. If you intend to claim old-regime deductions for FY 2026–27, inform your employer before April TDS is calculated. File your ITR by 31 July (ITR-1 and ITR-2) or 31 August (ITR-3 and ITR-4) for non-audit taxpayers.
Income Tax Department portal
Income tax rules 2026 — frequently asked questions
Here are the most common questions about the new income tax rules 2026 answered clearly.
For returns you are filing now for FY 2025–26, the process is unchanged — the old Act governs those returns. For returns you will file in 2027 for FY 2026–27, the new framework applies. The Income Tax portal will update accordingly. The filing steps themselves remain the same.
Yes, completely valid. Form 130 is the official name for what was Form 16 under the new rules. The data inside — employer details, salary breakdown, TDS amounts — is identical. Only the name changed.
Yes, but only under the old regime. The new regime (which is now the default) does not allow 80C deductions. If you want to claim 80C investments, HRA, or home loan interest, opt into the old regime explicitly when filing your ITR.
After the ₹75,000 standard deduction, taxable income is ₹9.25 lakh. Tax = ₹0 on first ₹4L + ₹20,000 on next ₹4L at 5% + ₹12,500 on ₹1.25L at 10% = ₹32,500. After applying the Section 87A rebate of up to ₹60,000, net tax payable is zero.
Tax rules, slab rates, and form names are based on publicly available information as of April 2026. Tax laws are subject to amendment. Consult a qualified chartered accountant for personalized advice before making tax decisions.