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CTC to in-hand calculator

Estimate monthly take-home from annual gross using centralized tax + PF logic. If you only know Basic+DA, we can derive PF; if you know PF, enter it directly.

Content reviewed: March 2026FY 2025–26 (AY 2026–27) tax slabs in engineRules aligned: Union Budget 2025 — new regime slabs & Section 87A (≤₹12L taxable); cess 4%

How SalaryExit calculates estimates (methodology, FY scope, and limits).

Output is a modeled estimate from FY slabs + PF rules in code — not your employer’s payroll system. Ambiguous inputs are blocked with an explicit message (see accuracy card).

Required inputs

  • Annual gross salary (₹)
  • Tax regime
  • Annual professional tax (₹)
  • Either employee PF (annual) OR Basic+DA (annual) for PF — not both
Assumption presets

Your taxable gross basis for this simplified model.

Tax regime

Replace the default with your state’s realistic annual PT if known.

Leave empty if you will provide Basic+DA instead.

Used only if PF is omitted — we derive monthly PF wage as (Basic+DA)/12.

Uses the same PT / PF path as above but swaps gross — useful for two offer amounts.

Provide gross salary and PF inputs (one method), then calculate to see estimated in-hand.

Assumptions used by this estimate

  • Tax computed using Financial Year 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) slab settings in code (standard deduction new ₹75,000, old ₹50,000 for other flows).
  • PF: if you omit employee PF, we can derive it from monthly Basic+DA = (Basic+DA annual ÷ 12) using the configured statutory ceiling model.
  • Monthly in-hand spreads annual tax evenly — not identical to monthly payslip TDS in all cases.

Worked example (same engine as live calculator)

Engine snapshot: gross ₹18,00,000/year, new regime, PT ₹2,500/year, Basic+DA ₹9,00,000/year (PF derived). Estimated monthly in-hand ₹1,35,425. Cross-check by entering annual PF from payslips instead of Basic+DA.

FAQ

Why can’t I enter PF and Basic+DA together?

The engine needs a single PF source to avoid double-counting. Use payslip PF if you have it; otherwise use Basic+DA to derive PF under configured assumptions.

Does this include employer PF or gratuity accrual?

No. It uses employee-side deductions and income-tax estimate on gross — adjust gross if your CTC definition differs.

How CTC converts to in-hand salary in India

When an employer offers you a job in India, the number in the offer letter is usually CTC — Cost to Company. This includes everything the employer spends on you: your salary, employer PF contribution, group insurance premiums, and sometimes a gratuity accrual. Your actual monthly bank credit (in-hand salary) is always lower than CTC divided by 12, often substantially so.

Three categories of deductions explain the gap. First, your employee PF contribution — typically 12% of your PF wage (Basic + DA or a capped PF wage, depending on employer policy) — is deducted before any cash reaches you. Second, professional tax (PT) is a state-specific levy, usually collected monthly from payroll and ranging from zero (some states) to around ₹200–250 per month in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka. Third, TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) is your estimated annual income tax spread across 12 months. Under FY 2025-26 rules, new-regime employees with taxable income up to ₹12 lakh pay zero income tax after the Section 87A rebate — but TDS is still computed and spread every month until actual liability is zero.

The regime choice (old vs new) has a direct, sometimes large, effect on in-hand. The new regime offers a ₹75,000 standard deduction (FY 2025-26) and lower slab rates, making it the default for many employees — especially those with fewer deductions. The old regime allows deductions like Section 80C (up to ₹1.5 lakh), HRA exemption, and others that can make it worth more for employees with high rent or large investments. Use the tax regime comparison calculator to see which produces a lower annual liability for your specific numbers.

Common mistakes when reading an offer letter: treating CTC as a monthly number (divide by 12 to get gross, then apply deductions); assuming all components are paid monthly (bonus and variable pay are often paid quarterly or annually); and ignoring PF wage definition differences between employers (the same CTC at two companies can produce different monthly PF deductions and different in-hand).

  1. Identify fixed monthly components versus annual/variable components in the offer.
  2. Clarify whether employer PF is inside or outside the quoted CTC.
  3. Ask payroll for the PF wage definition (Basic+DA vs a statutory cap approach).
  4. Choose your tax regime before the financial year begins — mid-year switches are restricted.
  5. Use this calculator with your actual Basic+DA and state PT for a personalized estimate.

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