What this guide covers: Section 87A of the Income Tax Act — who qualifies for zero income tax in FY 2025-26, the ₹12 lakh new regime limit vs ₹5 lakh old regime limit, the dangerous rebate cliff above ₹12 lakh, how capital gains and special rate income affects the rebate, and a simple eligibility checklist for your situation.
| New Tax Regime | Old Tax Regime |
|---|---|
| ₹12L zero-tax threshold ₹12.75L for salaried (after ₹75K standard deduction). Finance Act 2025 update. |
₹5L zero-tax threshold After 80C, HRA & all deductions — ₹12,500 max rebate. Unchanged. |
1. What Is Section 87A?
Section 87A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 provides a tax rebate — a direct reduction in the tax you owe — to resident individuals whose net taxable income does not exceed a specified limit. It is not a deduction (which reduces income); it is a rebate (which reduces the tax computed on that income).
In simpler terms: once your tax is calculated using the applicable slabs, Section 87A comes in and says — if your total income is within the limit, we will waive that entire tax amount. You pay nothing.
Budget 2025 enhancement: Finance Act 2025 increased the Section 87A rebate limit under the new tax regime from ₹7 lakh to ₹12 lakh (applicable from FY 2025-26 / AY 2026-27). This is the single most impactful change for middle-income taxpayers in the new regime. Under the old regime, the limit remains ₹5 lakh with a maximum rebate of ₹12,500 — unchanged.
2. The ₹12 Lakh Limit (New) vs ₹5 Lakh (Old) — Side by Side
| Feature | New Regime | Old Regime |
|---|---|---|
| Rebate threshold (net taxable income) | ₹12,00,000 | ₹5,00,000 |
| Maximum rebate amount | ₹60,000 | ₹12,500 |
| Effective zero-tax salary (salaried) | ₹12,75,000 gross | Depends on deductions |
| Cess on rebated amount | Nil (tax = 0) | Nil (tax = 0) |
| Applies to NRIs? | No | No |
| Applies to STCG u/s 111A (equity)? | No (new regime) | Yes (old regime) |
| Applies to LTCG u/s 112A (equity)? | No | No |
The ₹12 lakh threshold in the new regime is the net taxable income — i.e., income after all applicable deductions (in the new regime, mainly just the standard deduction of ₹75,000). For salaried individuals, this translates to gross salary of ₹12,75,000 resulting in zero tax. For a full comparison of the two regimes, see our new vs old tax regime guide for FY 2025-26.
3. Who Qualifies for the Section 87A Rebate?
- ✅ Resident individuals (Indian residents) — You must be a resident Indian as defined under the Income Tax Act — meaning you were present in India for 182+ days in FY 2025-26, or 60+ days in FY 2025-26 and 365+ days in the preceding 4 years.
- ✅ Net taxable income within the limit — New regime: net taxable income ≤ ₹12,00,000. Old regime: net taxable income ≤ ₹5,00,000. "Net taxable income" means income after all applicable deductions (standard deduction, 80C etc.) have been subtracted.
- ✅ Any age — including senior citizens — There is no age restriction. Senior citizens (60–80 years) and super senior citizens (80+ years) all qualify for the rebate if their net taxable income is within the limit.
- ❌ NRIs do NOT qualify — Non-Resident Indians are not eligible for the Section 87A rebate, regardless of their income level. NRIs pay tax as per the applicable slabs with no rebate under this section.
- ❌ HUFs, companies, firms do NOT qualify — Section 87A is exclusively for individual taxpayers. Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), companies, LLPs, and partnership firms are not eligible.
Not sure if you qualify after including capital gains or multiple income sources? A CA on FirstReports checks your eligibility across all income heads and applies the correct rebate. From ₹999 · Deadline: 31 July 2026. File with a CA →
4. Real Examples — Does Your Income Qualify?
| Example A: Salaried, ₹11,00,000 gross — New Regime ✅ | |
|---|---|
| Gross Salary | ₹11,00,000 |
| (-) Standard Deduction | - ₹75,000 |
| Net Taxable Income | ₹10,25,000 |
| Tax computed (new slabs) | ₹37,500 |
| Section 87A Rebate (income ≤ ₹12L) ✅ | - ₹37,500 |
| Final Tax | ₹0 — Zero Tax! |
| Example B: Salaried, ₹12,75,000 gross — New Regime ✅ (boundary case) | |
|---|---|
| Gross Salary | ₹12,75,000 |
| (-) Standard Deduction | - ₹75,000 |
| Net Taxable Income | ₹12,00,000 |
| Tax computed (new slabs) | ₹60,000 |
| Section 87A Rebate (income = ₹12L exactly) ✅ | - ₹60,000 |
| Final Tax | ₹0 — Zero Tax! |
| Example C: Salaried, ₹15,00,000 gross — New Regime ❌ (above threshold) | |
|---|---|
| Gross Salary | ₹15,00,000 |
| (-) Standard Deduction | - ₹75,000 |
| Net Taxable Income | ₹14,25,000 |
| Tax computed (new slabs) | ₹1,33,750 |
| Section 87A Rebate (income > ₹12L) ❌ | Not available |
| 4% Cess | ₹5,350 |
| Final Tax | ₹1,39,100 |
| Example D: Old Regime — ₹8L salary, 80C + HRA ✅ | |
|---|---|
| Gross Salary | ₹8,00,000 |
| (-) Standard Deduction (old regime) | - ₹50,000 |
| (-) HRA Exemption | - ₹1,00,000 |
| (-) Section 80C | - ₹1,50,000 |
| Net Taxable Income | ₹5,00,000 |
| Tax (old slabs) on ₹5L | ₹12,500 |
| Section 87A Rebate (old regime, income ≤ ₹5L) ✅ | - ₹12,500 |
| Final Tax | ₹0 — Zero Tax! |
5. The Rebate Cliff — The ₹1 That Costs ₹60,000
This is the most important thing to understand about the 87A rebate. There is no gradual phase-out — the rebate is binary. You either get it fully or not at all.
⚠️ The 87A Rebate Cliff (New Regime):A difference of ₹1 in income = ₹62,400 in tax. There is no marginal relief in Section 87A.
- Net Taxable Income ₹12,00,000 → Tax = ₹0 ✅
- Net Taxable Income ₹12,00,001 → Tax = ₹62,400 ❌
This creates a real-world planning situation: if your gross salary is between ₹12,75,001 and approximately ₹13,50,000, you may want to explore legitimate ways to reduce net taxable income below ₹12 lakh — such as maximising the employer NPS contribution under Section 80CCD(2), which is allowed even in the new regime.
The one deduction that can help: Employer contribution to NPS under Section 80CCD(2) is allowed in the new regime. If your employer can contribute to NPS on your behalf (up to 10% of basic salary), that reduces your net taxable income — potentially bringing you below ₹12 lakh and triggering the zero-tax rebate. Discuss this with your CA or HR.
Is your income near the ₹12 lakh threshold? A FirstReports CA identifies if you qualify for the 87A rebate, explores NPS contributions to cross the threshold, and ensures you pay the minimum legally possible tax. From ₹999 · All deductions optimised · Deadline: 31 July 2026. File with a CA Now →
6. Capital Gains and Special Rate Income — Important Exceptions
This is where many people — and some tax software tools — make critical errors. The 87A rebate does not apply uniformly to all types of income.
| ❌ 87A Rebate NOT Available On (New Regime) | ✅ 87A Rebate Available On (Both Regimes) |
|---|---|
| STCG on equity shares / equity mutual funds taxed at 20% under Section 111A. LTCG on equity taxed at 12.5% under Section 112A. These are taxed at special rates and are outside the 87A rebate scope in the new regime. | All income taxable at slab rates — salary, house property income, other income (FD interest, dividends), STCG on debt funds / gold / property taxed at slab rates, and business/professional income at slab rates. |
Practical Example — Capital Gains Trap
| Salary ₹9L + STCG from Zerodha ₹2L — Net income ₹10.25L (new regime) | |
|---|---|
| Salary (after std deduction) | ₹8,25,000 |
| STCG u/s 111A (equity, at 20%) | ₹2,00,000 |
| Total Net Income | ₹10,25,000 |
| Tax on salary at slab rates | ₹12,500 |
| 87A Rebate on salary portion ✅ (salary income ≤ ₹12L) | - ₹12,500 |
| Tax on STCG @20% (NO 87A rebate) ❌ | ₹40,000 |
| 4% Cess on ₹40,000 | ₹1,600 |
| Final Tax | ₹41,600 |
⚠ Important: Even though total income is ₹10.25 lakh (below ₹12 lakh), you still pay ₹41,600 in tax because STCG on equity is taxed at a flat 20% with no 87A rebate available in the new regime. This surprises many equity investors. Make sure your CA accounts for this correctly.
Old regime vs new regime for equity investors: Under the old regime, the 87A rebate does apply to STCG under Section 111A (if total income ≤ ₹5 lakh after all deductions). For small equity investors with low overall income, the old regime might occasionally be more beneficial — but the income must be below ₹5 lakh after all deductions for this to work. See our new vs old tax regime comparison for more on this trade-off.
7. Quick Eligibility Checker — 5 Questions
Quick Eligibility Checker — 5 Questions:
- Are you a resident Indian (not NRI)? → Yes: proceed ✅ | No: not eligible ❌
- Are you an individual (not a company, HUF, or firm)? → Yes: proceed ✅ | No: not eligible ❌
- Which regime are you filing under? → New Regime: ₹12L threshold | Old Regime: ₹5L threshold
- Is your net taxable income (after standard deduction / all deductions) within the threshold? → Yes: 87A rebate applies ✅ | No: not available ❌
- Do you have STCG (equity) or LTCG (equity) income? → No: full zero-tax benefit ✅ | Yes: rebate applies only to slab-rate income ⚠️
If you answered Yes → Yes → New Regime → Yes → No: You pay zero tax for FY 2025-26. File your ITR to claim your TDS refund if any was deducted by your employer.
8. How the Rebate Is Applied in Your ITR
The Section 87A rebate is handled automatically in the ITR portal — you do not fill any separate form for it. Here is what happens:
- The ITR portal calculates your net taxable income after all deductions.
- It computes tax on that income using the applicable slab rates.
- If your net taxable income is within the 87A limit (₹12L new / ₹5L old), the portal automatically applies the rebate and brings your tax to zero.
- 4% health and education cess is then computed on the post-rebate tax — since tax is zero, cess is also zero.
- The final tax payable shows as ₹0 and any TDS already deducted becomes a refund.
TDS refund for zero-tax filers: If you qualify for zero tax under 87A but your employer deducted TDS during the year (because they projected higher tax), that TDS becomes a refund. You must file your ITR to claim it — the refund does not come automatically. Filing by 31 July 2026 ensures faster processing.
If you qualify for zero tax, you may also have a TDS refund coming. A FirstReports CA files your return correctly, claims every rebate you are owed, and tracks the refund for you. From ₹999 · CA-filed · Refund tracking included · Deadline: 31 July 2026. View Plans & File Now →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Section 87A rebate for FY 2025-26?
Section 87A provides a full tax rebate to resident individuals with net taxable income within a specified limit. For FY 2025-26: New regime — rebate limit ₹12 lakh (max rebate ₹60,000, making tax zero). Old regime — rebate limit ₹5 lakh (max rebate ₹12,500). Finance Act 2025 increased the new regime limit from ₹7 lakh to ₹12 lakh effective FY 2025-26.
Who qualifies for the Section 87A rebate?
Resident individuals (not NRIs) whose net taxable income does not exceed ₹12 lakh (new regime) or ₹5 lakh (old regime). There is no age restriction — salaried employees, pensioners, and senior citizens all qualify if the income condition is met. HUFs, companies, LLPs, and NRIs do not qualify.
Does the 87A rebate apply to capital gains from stocks and mutual funds?
Under the new regime: No — the 87A rebate does not apply to STCG taxed at 20% under Section 111A (equity/equity MFs) or LTCG taxed at 12.5% under Section 112A. These incomes are taxed at special flat rates, and the rebate is unavailable on them even if total income is below ₹12 lakh. Under the old regime: The rebate does apply to STCG under 111A but not to LTCG under 112A.
What is the "87A cliff" and why does it matter?
The 87A cliff is the abrupt jump in tax liability when net taxable income crosses ₹12 lakh (new regime) by even ₹1. At ₹12,00,000 — tax is zero. At ₹12,00,001 — tax is approximately ₹62,400. There is no marginal relief. This cliff makes tax planning crucial for anyone with income near this threshold. The main tool to avoid the cliff (legally) is maximising employer NPS contribution under Section 80CCD(2), which is allowed in the new regime.
What is the maximum rebate under Section 87A in FY 2025-26?
New tax regime: maximum rebate = ₹60,000 (the full tax on ₹12 lakh under new regime slabs). Old tax regime: maximum rebate = ₹12,500. The rebate cannot exceed the actual tax payable — it simply brings tax to zero for those within the threshold.
If I qualify for zero tax, do I still need to file ITR?
It depends on your income. If your gross income exceeds the basic exemption limit (₹4 lakh under new regime), filing is mandatory even if no tax is payable. More importantly: if your employer deducted TDS during the year (which they often do before knowing your final tax is zero), you must file your ITR to claim the TDS as a refund. The refund does not come automatically — only filing triggers it.
My income is ₹10 lakh but I switched to new regime. Do I still get zero tax?
For a salaried individual with gross salary of ₹10 lakh in the new regime: Gross ₹10,00,000 minus standard deduction ₹75,000 = Net taxable income ₹9,25,000. Since ₹9,25,000 is below ₹12 lakh, the 87A rebate applies fully. Tax computed on ₹9,25,000 = ₹42,500. Section 87A rebate = ₹42,500. Final tax = ₹0. So yes — zero tax at ₹10 lakh gross salary in the new regime.
Does Section 87A rebate apply under the old regime if I have deductions bringing income below ₹5 lakh?
Yes — if your net taxable income (after all deductions including 80C, HRA, 80D, standard deduction etc.) is ₹5 lakh or below under the old regime, the 87A rebate of up to ₹12,500 applies, making your tax zero. However, this requires significant deductions — at a ₹10L salary, you would need ₹5L worth of deductions (80C + HRA + home loan etc.) to reach the ₹5L threshold. The new regime's ₹12L threshold is far more accessible for most salaried employees.