Paisa Stack — personal finance, explained without the jargon

All 19 Guides

Or browse the complete list

Tap any card to expand it.

The new regime is the default since FY 2023-24 — you have to actively opt into the old one.
New regime: lower rates, almost no exemptions, but income up to ₹12L is effectively tax-free via the Section 87A rebate.
Old regime wins if your deductions are large: home loan interest, full 80C (₹1.5L), HRA, 80D health insurance.
Rough rule: if total deductions cross about ₹4–4.5L, check the old regime. Below that, the new regime usually wins.
Don't guess — run both through the calculator above with your real numbers.

Two separate taxable events: vesting (taxed as salary at fair value on the vest date) and sale (taxed as capital gains on the gain since vesting).
Foreign stock from an MNC parent usually means Schedule FA reporting in your tax return, even if you never sell.
Employer TDS on vesting is often under-withheld — check Form 26AS instead of assuming it's fully covered.
The holding period for long-term gains on foreign listed shares differs from Indian shares — check before assuming it's one year.

Buying out your notice period is an out-of-pocket cost, usually not tax-deductible, unless your new employer reimburses it.
In your final settlement: leave encashment is taxable for private-sector employees; gratuity has exemption limits and needs 5+ years of service.
Recoveries — unreturned assets, notice-pay shortfall — get deducted straight from your last payout. Read the settlement statement line by line.

One UAN follows you for life — transfer your PF on every job switch, don't withdraw it.
Withdrawing before 5 years of combined service can make it taxable.
Transfers don't always happen automatically — check your EPFO passbook after each move.
Old, stranded PF accounts from earlier employers are common — they can be merged through EPFO's account-merger request.

Layoff cycles in tech move faster than most other sectors — aim for 6–9 months of expenses, not the generic "3–6 months" advice.
Keep it boring and liquid: a sweep-in fixed deposit or a liquid mutual fund, never equity.
Keep it fully separate from your investment portfolio — its job is to be there instantly, not to earn the best return.

Covered in the calculator above — the part that trips people up is timing: if you're paying a builder in installments, TDS applies to each payment, not just once at registration.
You need the seller's PAN before you pay — no PAN pushes the rate from 1% to 20%.
Keep Form 16B safe. Buyers usually only remember it at resale, when it's needed to prove the seller got credit for the TDS.

Basic salary drives almost everything else — PF, gratuity, and HRA are all calculated as a percentage of it.
Gross salary is bigger than what actually lands in your account — PF, professional tax, and TDS all come out before that.
Take-home is typically 65–75% of (CTC ÷ 12) — use that as a sanity check before accepting an offer.
See the full guide in our Form 16 blog for how this ties into your annual tax certificate.

Rough rule: if your loan rate is above what you'd confidently earn investing instead, prepaying wins mathematically.
Prepaying early in the loan saves more interest than prepaying later — front-loaded interest means early extra payments do more work.
Don't drain your emergency fund to prepay — a paid-down loan doesn't help you if an emergency then forces you to borrow again at a worse rate.
Use the free Loan Prepayment calculator above to see the exact interest saved for your numbers.

Formula: (Basic + DA) × 15/26 × years of service — eligible after 5+ years of continuous service.
Exempt up to ₹20,00,000 — the lowest of actual gratuity, this ceiling, or the formula amount.
Under 5 years? Not eligible under standard rules, except in cases of death or disability.
Use the free Gratuity calculator above to check your exact number before resigning.

Under 1 year: savings account or liquid fund. 1–3 years: FD or short-term debt fund. 7+ years: equity.
Never put a short-term goal's money into equity — you may be forced to sell at a loss right when you need it.
Inflation grows your target over time — a ₹20L goal today needs more than ₹20L in 5 years.
Use the free Goal Planner calculator above to work out the monthly SIP a specific goal actually needs.

GST registration is generally required past ₹20L turnover for services (₹10L in some states) — optional below that.
Section 44ADA lets eligible professionals declare 50% of receipts as taxable income, without maintaining full books.
You cannot legally charge GST unless you're actually registered — check before adding it to an invoice.
Full detail in our Freelancing & GST blog.

Research market rate from 3+ sources before naming a number — anchoring too low costs you, anchoring with no basis costs you credibility.
Lead with value delivered, not personal need — "here's the impact I've had" lands better than "my expenses went up."
If base salary has no room, ask about joining bonus, an earlier review cycle, or additional equity instead.
Never accept on the spot — "let me review this and get back to you by [date]" is always reasonable.

Starting point: 10–15 times your annual income.
Add outstanding loans and future goals (education, dependent care) you're funding alone.
Subtract existing savings and investments that could already cover part of it.
Full breakdown in our Term vs Life Insurance blog.

Tier I is the primary retirement account — locked until 60, with the tax benefits under 80CCD(1B).
Tier II is a voluntary add-on — no lock-in, but also no tax deduction.
Most people only need Tier I; Tier II mainly suits those wanting flexible access within the same NPS ecosystem.
Full comparison in our NPS vs PPF vs EPF blog.

Mismatched TDS between what you declare and what Form 26AS/AIS shows — always reconcile before filing.
Choosing the wrong ITR form for your income type — salary plus freelance income needs a different form than salary alone.
Forgetting to report exempt income, foreign assets, or crypto gains — these still need disclosure even if the tax is zero.
Filing at the last minute with no time to fix an error before the deadline.

Read the notice section number first — it tells you exactly what's being asked, not just "the department wants money."
Many notices are routine mismatches (a TDS gap, an unreported small income) that need clarification, not a dispute.
Respond within the given window — most notices have a specific deadline, and silence is worse than a late-but-honest response.
For anything beyond a simple mismatch, get a professional to review it before you respond.

24-month holding period splits short-term (taxed at slab rate) from long-term.
Property bought after 23 July 2024: 12.5% flat, no indexation. Bought before: choose 12.5% (no indexation) or 20% (with indexation), whichever is lower.
Sections 54 and 54F can defer this tax if you reinvest in another residential property — conditions apply.
Use the free Capital Gains calculator above for an estimate on your specific numbers.

20s: let EPF run automatically, lean into NPS's equity allocation for the extra 80CCD(1B) deduction.
30s–40s: balance PPF and NPS roughly evenly alongside EPF, building both guaranteed and growth exposure.
50s: shift NPS allocation toward debt, lean more on PPF/EPF's guaranteed returns as the horizon shortens.
Full breakdown in our NPS vs PPF vs EPF blog.

Basic salary affects PF, gratuity, and HRA cap simultaneously — it's not just "a number," it's a lever.
Some components (meal cards, LTA, telephone reimbursement) can be more tax-efficient than an equivalent cash allowance.
This is worth discussing with HR at senior levels or smaller companies where CTC structure has more flexibility.
Always run both regimes with your actual structure using the free Income Tax calculator above.

What people say

Real feedback from real users

A few words from people we've actually worked with.

★★★★★

"I've been working with Paisa Stack for my income tax filing and investment planning for the last few years. My financial profile includes salary, RSUs, foreign assets, and investments, and every return has been handled with great attention to detail. What I appreciate most is the prompt communication and the ability to explain complex tax matters in a simple way. It's reassuring to know that my finances are being looked after by someone who genuinely cares about accuracy and long-term wealth creation."

Pankaj Soni

Senior Scientist, Adobe Inc.

★★★★★

"I wanted a tax advisor who could go beyond just filing my ITR, and that's exactly what I found with Paisa Stack. From tax planning to investment guidance, every discussion has been practical and personalized. The process is smooth, documents are handled professionally, and every query is answered patiently. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for reliable financial and tax advice."

Yukta Arora

Manager, NatWest Bank

★★★★★

"Managing personal finances becomes difficult with a busy schedule, but Paisa Stack has made it completely hassle-free. They have been handling my tax compliance and advising me on investments with a long-term perspective. Their knowledge, responsiveness, and transparent approach have given me confidence that my financial matters are in safe hands. It's been a great experience working with them."

Vipin Basia

Director, Porter

★★★★★

"I got my full income tax refund by using Paisa Stack income tax return filing services. Thank you team for the guidance."

Rushal Saini

Delhi State Level Cricketer

★★★★★

"Working with Paisa Stack has been a seamless experience. Their team combines strong technical expertise with practical financial advice, making even complex tax and investment matters easy to understand. What impressed me the most is their responsiveness, attention to detail, and commitment to acting in the client's best interest. Whether it's tax planning, compliance, or wealth management, they deliver with professionalism and integrity. I would confidently recommend Paisa Stack to anyone looking for a reliable financial partner."

Muskan Saini

Director, Equibalance Advisors Pvt Ltd

★★★★★

"I've been working with Paisa Stack for my income tax filing and investment planning over the last few years, and the experience has consistently been excellent. My financial profile includes salary income, RSUs, Indian and foreign stock investments, foreign assets, and dividend income, making my tax filings fairly comprehensive. Despite this complexity, every return has been handled with great attention to detail and accuracy."

Shrestha Kumar

Software Engineer

★★★★★

"Thanks for helping file ITR2 for my mom."

Anushree Sengupta

Tech Lead

★★★★★

"Was a wonderful experience with the team. They were exceptionally cooperative, attentive, and took the time to address every query with remarkable patience and professionalism."

Kanika Narula

Business Analyst

Used a calculator, an ebook, or a service?

Tell us what you thought — the good and the honest. A few lines is enough. We review every submission and add real ones here with your name and permission.

✓ Thank you — your feedback has been received. We review every submission before it goes live.

— or —

Message us on WhatsApp instead

Master your money with free calculators, guides, and real tax help.

Spin the wheel, get a free answer

—

Find the calculator you actually need

Taxation

Loans & Property

Salary & Retirement

Investing & Goals

Read up, by category

Taxation

Investing & Markets

Personal Finance & Protection

Short answers, by category

Tax & Filing

Salary & Career

Money & Retirement Planning

Or browse the complete list

Real feedback from real users

Used a calculator, an ebook, or a service?

Get a straight answer to your specific situation

Why this exists