Income tax slabs for FY 2020-21 (AY 2021-22)
The old and new regime income-tax slabs that applied to income earned in FY 2020-21, filed in AY 2021-22. Every figure below — slabs, standard deduction, section 87A rebate, surcharge and the 4% cess — is taken from Finance Act, 2020 and the Income Tax Department, and was last checked on 28 October 2026.
FY 2020-21 at a glance
| Financial year | FY 2020-21 (income earned 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021) |
|---|---|
| Assessment year | AY 2021-22 (the year you file and are assessed) |
| Default regime | Old / normal regime |
| Governing law | Finance Act, 2020 |
| Standard deduction (salary/pension) | none in the new regime, ₹50,000 old regime |
| Health & education cess | 4% on tax plus surcharge |
The financial year is when you earn the income; the assessment year is the next year, when you file the return and the income is assessed. The slabs on this page are the FY 2020-21 slabs — match them to the year you earned the money, not the year you file.
New regime slabs (section 115BAC) — FY 2020-21
The new regime offers lower slab rates in exchange for giving up most deductions and exemptions (including, this year, the standard deduction). It was optional this year; the old regime was the default unless you elected this one.
| Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹2,50,000 | Nil |
| ₹2,50,001 to ₹5,00,000 | 5% |
| ₹5,00,001 to ₹7,50,000 | 10% |
| ₹7,50,001 to ₹10,00,000 | 15% |
| ₹10,00,001 to ₹12,50,000 | 20% |
| ₹12,50,001 to ₹15,00,000 | 25% |
| Above ₹15,00,000 | 30% |
Standard deduction: not available in the new regime this year. Section 87A rebate: Up to ₹12,500, available where total income is at most ₹5,00,000.
Old (normal) regime slabs — FY 2020-21
The old regime keeps the deductions the new regime gives up — section 80C, HRA under section 10(13A), the home-loan interest deduction and the rest. Whether it beats the new regime depends on how much you actually claim. These slabs are for a resident individual below 60.
| Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹2,50,000 | Nil |
| ₹2,50,001 to ₹5,00,000 | 5% |
| ₹5,00,001 to ₹10,00,000 | 20% |
| Above ₹10,00,000 | 30% |
Senior citizens (60 to under 80) get a higher basic exemption of ₹3,00,000, and super-senior citizens (80 and over) ₹5,00,000 — the bands above are otherwise the same. Standard deduction: ₹50,000 on salary or pension. Section 87A rebate: Up to ₹12,500, available where total income is at most ₹5,00,000.
Surcharge and cess
10% on income over ₹50 lakh, 15% over ₹1 crore, 25% over ₹2 crore and 37% over ₹5 crore, in both regimes. On the special-rate income in sections 111A, 112, 112A and on dividends the surcharge is capped at 15%. Marginal relief applies at each threshold.
The 4% health and education cess is then added to the tax plus any surcharge.
Capital gains
Before 23 July 2024: listed equity and equity mutual funds — short-term gains (section 111A) at 15%, long-term gains (section 112A) at 10% on the amount above ₹1 lakh a year. Other long-term capital assets at 20% with indexation.
Estimate a sale with the capital gains calculator.
Tax audit and return due date
Tax audit (section 44AB): Business: accounts must be audited under section 44AB where turnover exceeds ₹1 crore, raised to ₹10 crore where cash receipts and cash payments are each ≤5% of the total. Professions: ₹50 lakh of gross receipts.
Return due date: 31 July 2021 for non-audit individuals, extended by the CBDT (to 10 January 2022 for AY 2021-22) amid the pandemic.
Advance tax is payable in instalments where the liability for the year is ₹10,000 or more — see the advance tax calculator.
What changed in FY 2020-21
- The optional new regime under section 115BAC was introduced: seven slabs at lower rates, in exchange for giving up most deductions and exemptions and the standard deduction.
- The old/normal regime was unchanged and remained the default.
- Dividend income became taxable in the shareholder’s hands (the dividend distribution tax was abolished).
Introduced by Finance Act, 2020 (Union Budget 2020).
Other years and tools
- Income tax slabs for FY 2021-22 (the next year)
- All financial years
- Compare old vs new regime with the income tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What are the new regime income tax slabs for FY 2020-21?
Under section 115BAC for FY 2020-21 (AY 2021-22): Up to ₹2,50,000 — Nil; ₹2,50,001 to ₹5,00,000 — 5%; ₹5,00,001 to ₹7,50,000 — 10%; ₹7,50,001 to ₹10,00,000 — 15%; ₹10,00,001 to ₹12,50,000 — 20%; ₹12,50,001 to ₹15,00,000 — 25%; Above ₹15,00,000 — 30%. A 4% health and education cess is added to the tax.
Is there a standard deduction in the new regime for FY 2020-21?
No. The new regime had no standard deduction in FY 2020-21; it was first allowed in the new regime from FY 2023-24. The old regime's ₹50,000 standard deduction applied as usual.
What is the section 87A rebate for FY 2020-21?
New regime: Up to ₹12,500, available where total income is at most ₹5,00,000. Old regime: Up to ₹12,500, available where total income is at most ₹5,00,000. The rebate does not apply to tax on special-rate income such as capital gains.
Which was the default regime in FY 2020-21?
The old (normal) regime was the default in FY 2020-21. The new regime was optional and had to be elected; it became the default only from FY 2023-24.
When was the income tax return for FY 2020-21 due?
31 July 2021 for non-audit individuals, extended by the CBDT (to 10 January 2022 for AY 2021-22) amid the pandemic. The AY 2021-22 return reports income earned in FY 2020-21.
Sources
Every figure on this page is taken from the official sources below. Finance Acts change slabs and thresholds — check the source before you rely on a number. This is general information, not tax advice.
- Union Budget 2020-21 (indiabudget.gov.in)Introduction of the optional new regime under section 115BAC (seven slabs, no standard deduction), effective FY 2020-21.
- Income Tax Department — Tax rates (incometaxindia.gov.in)Individual slab rates for the old/normal regime and the new regime (section 115BAC), the section 87A rebate, surcharge bands and the 4% health & education cess, by assessment year.
- Income Tax Department — Finance Acts (full text, all years)The enacted Finance Act for each year — the legal source for every slab, rebate and surcharge change recorded below.
- Income Tax Department — section 44AB (tax audit), Income-tax Act 1961₹1 crore business turnover audit threshold, the ₹10 crore threshold where cash receipts and payments are each ≤5% (Finance Act 2021, from AY 2021-22), and the ₹50 lakh professional-receipts threshold.
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