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Old Regime • HRA Tax Exemption

HRA Exemption Calculator India

Our HRA Exemption Calculator helps you calculate taxable HRA. It serves as a house rent exemption calculator under Section 10(13A) based on basic salary, rent paid, and city tier category.

HRA Exemption Calculator
A tax planning tool designed to calculate taxable HRA and claim tax savings under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act.
House Rent Exemption
The tax-free portion of HRA, computed as the minimum of actual HRA, excess of rent paid over 10% basic salary, or 40/50% of basic salary.
Your HRA details FY 2026-27
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Metro: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai
Fill in your HRA details to calculate

Maximizing Your HRA Tax Exemption under Indian Law

CA
Written by CTC Calculator Editorial Team Reviewed by CA K. Sharma (Chartered Accountant) | Updated: June 15, 2026

What is House Rent Allowance (HRA)?

House Rent Allowance (HRA) is a salary component provided by employers to cover rental housing expenses. Under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act, a portion of your HRA is exempt from income tax if you live in rented accommodation and pay rent.

The Three Statutory Rules for HRA Exemption

Your tax free HRA is the minimum of the following three calculations: 1) The actual HRA received from your employer, 2) The actual rent paid minus 10% of your Basic Salary + DA, or 3) 50% of your Basic Salary for metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) or 40% for non-metro cities.

HRA Claims and the New Tax Regime

HRA exemptions are only available under the Old Tax Regime. If you choose the New Tax Regime, you must give up this benefit. Our tool helps you calculate HRA tax savings so you can decide which regime is better.

Related Tools & Guides: Determine your monthly take-home salary after factoring in HRA tax relief with our CTC Calculator or compare your overall tax slabs under both regimes using our Old vs New Tax Regime Comparison Tool. For detailed rules, read our blog on the Old vs New Tax Regime: Slab Comparison.

Disclaimer: CTC Calculator provides calculations based on standard Indian payroll and tax slabs (Budget FY 2026-27) for educational purposes. Actual structures and deductions may vary based on company policy. Please consult a Chartered Accountant or tax professional for financial decisions.

Calculation Methodology: Calculations run client-side in your browser using pure JavaScript. No personal salary data is transmitted to our servers or stored. EPF calculations default to 12% of basic salary, gratuity is projected at 4.81% of basic, and Professional Tax is based on selected state boundaries.

Calculation Methodology & Statutory Slabs

Our salary intelligence engine runs entirely local client-side scripts in your browser. No private salary figures or professional parameters are transmitted to external servers or logged, guaranteeing absolute data safety. Calculations align with standard Indian corporate payroll systems and regulatory guidelines:

  • Income Tax Slabs (Budget FY 2026-27): Updated to incorporate standard deductions and slabs. Tax calculations default to the New Tax Regime (the national default scheme) but support comparative breakeven projections under the Old Tax Regime. Standard deduction is projected at ₹75,000 for the New Regime and ₹50,000 for the Old Regime.
  • Employees' Provident Fund (EPF): Calculated at the statutory rate of 12% of Basic Salary under the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952. Support is provided for standard capping (restricted to ₹15,000 basic limit, resulting in ₹1,800/month employee contribution) and uncapped contributions.
  • Gratuity Provision: Projected at 4.81% of Basic Salary (equivalent to 15/26 of basic salary per year of service) under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Statutory tax exemption is capped at ₹20 Lakhs.
  • Professional Tax (PT): State-wise slabs are based on the latest boundaries and limits enacted by respective state departments.

For more details, please review our Editorial Policy, read our full Disclaimer, or consult a Chartered Accountant for corporate tax planning.

HRA Calculator FAQs

Quick answers to common questions about House Rent Allowance and rent claims

How is HRA tax exemption calculated?
Your HRA exemption is the minimum of: 1) Actual HRA received, 2) Rent paid minus 10% of basic salary, or 3) 50% of basic salary in metro cities (40% in non-metro cities). The lowest of these three amounts is tax free.
Can I claim HRA exemption under the new tax regime?
No, HRA exemption is not allowed under the new tax regime. You must opt for the old tax regime to claim tax benefits on the rent you pay.
Can I pay rent to my parents and claim HRA?
Yes, you can pay rent to your parents and claim HRA tax exemption. You must have a formal rent agreement, transfer the rent to their bank account, and they must declare it as rental income on their taxes.
Is a landlord's PAN mandatory to claim HRA?
Yes, if your annual rent payment exceeds Rs 1 Lakh, you must submit your landlord's PAN to your employer. If the landlord does not have a PAN, you must submit a signed declaration.
Can I claim both HRA exemption and home loan tax benefits?
Yes, you can claim both HRA tax exemption and home loan interest deductions. This is allowed if you live in a rented house in one city due to work, while your own home is in another city or rented out.
What happens if my rent is less than 10% of my basic salary?
If your annual rent paid is less than 10% of your basic salary, your HRA exemption will be zero. You must pay rent that exceeds 10% of your basic salary to claim any tax exemption.