‘Loot lo, loot lo,’ a man yells while recording scenes after a truck toppled in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore. His video is now going viral, sparking discussions online over ‘insensitivity’. But what exactly happened? The truck was loaded with bottles of cold drinks (primarily bottles of Thums
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Big price drop on 4K smart TVs: Up to 60% off on Samsung, Sony, LG and moreSmart TVs on Amazon are seeing noticeable price drops, making it easier to upgrade to sharper visuals
NRI installs Statue of Liberty replica atop Jalandhar home after 26 years in New YorkAn NRI installed a Statue of Liberty replica on his Jalandhar home, drawing visitors and going viral online. Published on: Mar 22, 2026 7:39 AM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A unique
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “biggest infiltrator” and reiterated her criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government in connection with the special intensive revision of voter rolls, PTI reported
Meet Team USA's ‘giantkillers’ who handed Tom Brady, Joe Burrow brutal losses in Fanatics Flag Football Published on: Mar 22, 2026 4:11 AM IST By Yash Nitish Bajaj Share via Copy link U.S. National Flag team's Isaiah Calhoun reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Wildcats FFC (AP) Key
Can 0 Tax Threshold Be Extended To Over 14L Instead Of Rs 12L
Can Zero-Tax Threshold Be Extended To Over 14 Lakh Instead Of Rs 12 Lakh Under New Tax Regime? Explained
Income tax is zero for those earning up to Rs 12 lakh per annum under New Tax Regime.
As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Union Budget on February 1, 2026, the general public and taxpayers will watch out for possible changes on the income tax front. Budget 2026 is especially important for taxpayers as the FM may reveal this year's tax reforms.
The government introduced the New Tax Regime in Budget 2020 and has since made several changes to accommodate the interests of taxpayers. In Budget 2025, FM Sitharaman reduced the income tax rates and made income tax-free for those earning up to Rs 12 lakh per annum. The changes were made in the New Tax Regime. When FM Sitharaman presents the Budget 2026, the general public will be more interested in whether the zero-tax threshold will remain in the new budget.
Pay no income tax for up to Rs 14.65 lakh
Tax experts claim that salaried employees who opt for the new regime can avoid paying taxes on incomes of up to Rs 14.65 lakh by structuring their income around employer-supported retirement schemes. Under the new tax regime, employees can keep their income of up to Rs 14.65 lakh tax-free if they are eligible for the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and the National Pension System (NPS) employer contribution exemption.
Add Zee News as a Preferred Source
Under the ideal structure, an employee's basic salary should account for around 50 percent of total CTC. If the employer contributes 12 percent of basic salary to EPF and up to 14 percent to NPS, the tax impact changes significantly. With these contributions and the standard deduction of Rs 75,000, a gross salary of around Rs 14.65 lakh can be reduced to a taxable income of just under Rs 12 lakh, the zero-tax threshold under the new regime.
NPS is a powerful lever for tax planning
According to tax experts, employer contributions to EPF are exempt under Section 17(2) while employer contributions to NPS are eligible under Section 80CCD(2). As a result, employer-facilitated NPS becomes the most powerful lever for tax planning.
Things to remember
It should be remembered that there are limits to these advantages. Combined employer contributions to EPF, NPS and superannuation funds are exempt only up to Rs 7.5 lakh annually. Any sum over this cap is subject to perquisite taxation. Furthermore, under the new system, employee-funded NPS contributions are not deductible unless they are processed through payroll as part of employer contributions.
How can you make your Rs 14.65 lakh salary tax-free?
On a CTC of Rs 14.65 lakh with basic salary at Rs 7.32 lakh, employer NPS of Rs 1.02 lakh and employer EPF of Rs 87,900 and after accounting for the standard deduction taxable income falls to about Rs 11.99 lakh, meaning there is no income tax burden.
Source: ZeeNews
Related Posts: Income Tax department issues draft rules for new Income Tax Act 2025 Will Your Tax Slab Change Under New Income Tax Act How NPS Helps Lower Income Tax In Old Vs New Tax Regime Slab-Wise Tax Rates If Your Income Exceeds Rs 12L In New Tax Regime Tax Year’ Replacing ‘Assessment Year’ In New Income Tax Law From 1 April 2026 New Income Tax Draft Rules Bring Old Tax Regime Back Into Focus ITR forms under new Income Tax Act to be notified prior to FY28 Should You Pay Advance Tax If Your Income Is Below Rs 12 Lakh New income-tax draft rules 2026 Do Students And Unemployed Need To File Income Tax Returns in 2025
The US has lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil, as it scrambles to contain the impact of its war in Iran on energy markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the issuing of a narrowly tailored, short-term authorisation permitting the sale of Iranian oil currently stranded at sea
13 hours ago
Delhi engulfed in ‘not very common’ dense fog in March; records lowest temperature since February 26Experts attributed the occurrence of fog to a combination of recent rain, high moisture content in the atmosphere and relatively calm winds overnight. Updated on: Mar 22
13 hours ago
Bournemouth held Manchester United to a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday in their Premier League clash. Bruno Fernandes strike and an own goal accounted for United’s tally, while Ryan Christie and Junior Kroupi found the net for the Cherries in a match that also saw Harry Maguire sent
13 hours ago
Chandrasekhar, who is fighting against CPI(M) leader and state Education Minister V Sivankutty, and K S Sabarinadhan from the Congress in the April 9 polls, submitted his nomination papers before the returning officer during the day, accompanied by Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma.Chandrasekhar
13 hours ago
In 2018, a young tigress stopped appearing on camera traps in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. There was no official report of conflict as well as no records of carcass recovery or poaching incidents. This indicated that she had not died within the reserve.In 2018
13 hours ago
The Union government on Saturday allowed an additional 20% allocation of commercial liquefied petroleum gas to states and Union Territories, taking the overall allocation to 50%. Of the total amount, an allocation of 10% will be given on the condition that states undertake measures to ease the
13 hours ago
DICGC risk-based premium: How much will banks pay for deposit insurance?RBP framework provides a bank with a discount of up to 33.33% on the deposit insurance premium based on its rating category and an up to 25% vintage incentive. Updated on: Mar 22
13 hours ago
Maharashtra politics heats up after a state women's commission chief resigns due to her association with a spiritual leader accused of rape. The Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Sena now targets Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Leaders demand action against political followers of such spiritual
13 hours ago
TikTok star Taylor Frankie Paul sat uneasily in her chair during a live interview on ABC's Good Morning America this week, caught between trying to promote her turn in the network's new series of The Bachelorette and addressing fresh domestic violence allegations lodged against her by her
13 hours ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured the minority community of her support during her Eid-ul-Fitr address, criticizing the BJP's alleged deletion of minority names from electoral rolls. She vowed to challenge these actions in the Supreme Court
13 hours ago
In the age of convenience, using frozen, deep-fried or processed meats that are brimming with preservatives is the norm. It makes life easier on days when work and life collide. However, a new study has found that eating too much ultra-processed food may significantly increase the risk of serious
13 hours ago
Mohit Suri on eight-hour shift in film industry debate: ‘Emraan Hashmi shot 24 hours with me’Director Mohit Suri feels improved working hours shouldn’t be reserved only for actors, but must also consider the well-being of the entire crew. Mar 22, 2026
13 hours ago
Cuba’s national power grid suffered a nationwide collapse on Saturday, plunging the island into darkness for the second time in a week as the communist government struggles to maintain electricity supplies for its 10 million residents amid a U.S.-imposed oil blockade and ageing infrastructure
13 hours ago
The National Farmers' Union has warned that food prices in the UK are likely to go up as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. NFU President Tom Bradshaw told the BBC that the price of cucumbers and tomatoes could rise over the next six weeks
13 hours ago
Global intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Mossad, were closely watching during Nowruz on Friday to see whether Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, would uphold his father’s tradition of a New Year’s address. However, the holiday went by without Mojtaba’s address
13 hours ago
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday claimed it had struck an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over central Iran, even as Israel announced fresh overnight strikes on ballistic missile production facilities in Tehran. In a statement carried by Sepah News
13 hours ago
These have been directed by PNGRB to shorten the timeline between the submission of applications and the commencement of gas supply to consumer households and pursue mass awareness initiatives. Also Read :India set to become rich by 2047? How growth
13 hours ago
The combined wealth of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma has increased to Rs 35.16 crore in 2026 from 17.27 crore in 2021, showed the affidavit filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party leader on Friday. Himanta Biswa Sarma had filed the affidavit along with his
13 hours ago
When Liverpool came to Brighton last May, the away end was in party mode at the full-time whistle despite the defeat as they sang and celebrated with inflatables and balloons. By then, Arne Slot's side had won the Premier League title and a trip to the south coast was another excuse to enjoy
13 hours ago
The National Highways Authority of India will use advanced AI dashcams on 40,000 km of highways. This initiative aims to improve road maintenance and safety through data-driven operations. High-resolution imagery will help identify over 30 types of defects
13 hours ago
For most office workers in India, the concept of working out like Bollywood’s “New Age Action Hero" Vidyut Jammwal, who is known for his incredible Kalaripayattu-powered feats, seems absurdly unattainable. The actor is believed to exercise for up to nine hours every day
13 hours ago
In the high-stakes arena of the 2026 Assam assembly elections, observers say Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has deployed a political strategy that is as audacious as it is effective: dismantling the Congress party by absorbing its most influential DNA. On March 19
13 hours ago
Indian man escorted off flight after demanding seat change from US-based techieA United States-based software developer has sparked a discussion on in-flight etiquette after refusing to switch seats with an Indian man on a plane Published on: Mar 22
13 hours ago
India faces an LPG crisis as the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupts shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which supplies 85-90% of the country’s imports. Tanker delays and safety concerns have caused cylinder shortages, rising prices, and rationing, hitting households and eateries hard
13 hours ago
Comprehensive financial planning: Reflect on FY25 and plan for FY26 and beyondThe annual review of the financial year. Updated on: Mar 22, 2026 4:10 AM IST By Gopal Gidwani Share via Copy link The financial year-end is a good time to reflect on what worked well this year and what did not go as
13 hours ago
With the inauguration of the Noida International Airport in Jewar drawing closer, a key concern for travellers across Delhi-NCR is accessibility. While the airport promises to ease pressure on Delhi’s existing aviation infrastructure, its location in western Uttar Pradesh means commute time will
13 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.7 Running watches that actually help you run better in 2026Running watches have changed how people track every mile. Here are seven options that stand out when it comes to performance
13 hours ago
