Guides

Plain-language guides to Indian income tax, salary structure, loans and savings, with worked examples and links to free calculators.

Old vs new tax regime: which one should you choose? – How the old and new income tax regimes compare for salaried people in India, with slab tables, break-even deductions and worked examples.
CTC vs in-hand salary: where does the money go? – A line-by-line walk through a salary structure: basic, HRA, EPF, gratuity, professional tax and TDS, and how to estimate take-home pay from CTC.
SIP vs FD vs PPF: comparing returns, risk and tax – How mutual fund SIPs, bank fixed deposits and the Public Provident Fund differ in returns, lock-in, risk and taxation, with a 15-year comparison.
Home loan prepayment: reduce EMI or reduce tenure? – What happens to your interest bill when you prepay a home loan, why reducing tenure usually saves more, and when prepaying is not the best use of money.