Salaried workers can now reach a zero tax income level of ₹14.66 lakh. This news follows the Union Budget 2026 announcements made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Today, savvy taxpayers are already remapping their salary paths for the new fiscal year.
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The New Zero Tax Threshold for 2026
Recently, tax experts revealed a path to pay no tax on high salaries. Specifically, workers under the New Tax Regime can shield ₹14.66 lakh from the taxman. First, you must have a specific salary structure. Then, your employer must contribute to both retirement funds. In fact, Section 87A offers a full rebate if taxable income stays under ₹12 lakh. Therefore, the goal is to lower your taxable pay through smart deductions.
Now, look at the math for 2026. Standard deductions for salaried staff currently sit at ₹75,000. Next, add employer funds to the mix. These funds do not count toward your taxable total. As a result, a CTC of ₹14.66 lakh shrinks quickly. Still, you need your firm to cooperate with this plan.
How EPF and NPS Reduce Your Bill
First, ensure your basic salary is 50% of your total cost to company. Then, your boss can put 12% into your EPF account. This money is tax-free. For example, a basic pay of ₹7.32 lakh moves ₹87,900 into EPF. Later, apply the standard deduction of ₹75,000 to the remaining balance. Finally, use the NPS employer route for more gains.
Today, firms can put 14% of basic pay into your NPS. This moves about ₹1.02 lakh out of the tax zone. After these steps, your taxable income falls below the ₹12 lakh line. Thus, the Section 87A rebate wipes out your entire tax bill. In fact, this saves you up to ₹60,000 in cash.
Reality Check
Reality Check: The Finance Ministry calls the New Tax Regime “simple.” Still, reaching these zero-tax levels requires complex math. In 2025, many workers failed to update their salary structures in time. Therefore, they paid thousands in unnecessary taxes. Meanwhile, many private firms do not offer the 14% NPS contribution. Instead, they stick to basic EPF rules. Yet, the Ministry assumes everyone has access to these tools. This gap means the “tax-free” dream is only for a few.
The Loopholes
The Loopholes: High earners must watch the ₹7.5 lakh cap. This rule limits total tax-free employer funds. In fact, any amount over this cap faces a tax hit. Additionally, employee contributions to NPS do not count for deductions here. Only employer-paid funds qualify for this specific 2026 tax hack. Therefore, workers with low basic pay cannot hit the full ₹14.66 lakh limit.
What This Means for You
Recently, the government shifted more people to the new regime. Now, you must act fast to save money. First, check if your boss offers NPS benefits. If not, your tax-free limit drops to ₹13.56 lakh. Then, ask for a salary restructure before April 1, 2026. Indeed, a small change now saves a lot later.
Next Steps
Use your HR portal to check your CTC breakdown. Then, ask your finance team to add NPS employer contributions to your plan. Would you like me to create a sample salary breakdown for your specific income level?
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