Tax · Free tool
80C Optimizer
Section 80C caps your deduction at ₹1,50,000 across all eligible instruments. EPF alone often takes most of it. We show you the headroom remaining and where to deploy it. Old regime only.
Auto-deducted 12% of basic.
Up to ₹1.5L/year.
3-year lock-in.
Term + traditional.
EMI principal portion only.
Two children only.
5-year POSB scheme.
5-year lock-in.
For girl child < 10.
How it works
We sum your declared 80C contributions across EPF, VPF, PPF, ELSS, NSC, life-insurance premium, principal repayment of home loan, Sukanya Samriddhi, NPS Tier-I (under 80CCD(1)), 5-yr tax-saver FD and tuition fees for up to 2 children. The cap is a hard ₹1,50,000 — anything beyond is wasted under the old regime, and the entire section is irrelevant if you opt for the new regime.
Worked example
A Bangalore software engineer on ₹18 LPA contributes ₹62,400 to EPF (12% of ₹52,000 basic) and pays ₹18,000 in LIC premium. Headroom = ₹1,50,000 − ₹80,400 = ₹69,600. Splitting that as ₹50,000 ELSS (3-yr lock-in, equity upside) + ₹19,600 PPF (15-yr, 7.1% tax-free) typically beats parking all of it in a 5-yr tax-saver FD at 6.5% with interest taxable at 30%.
When to use this
- Before submitting investment proofs to your HR in January-February
- While picking between ELSS, PPF and NPS for the leftover headroom
- To confirm the old regime is still better than the new regime for you
Pair this with our income tax calculator for an old-vs-new comparison, or read PPF vs ELSS vs NPS for the asset-allocation logic.
FAQ
Does my EPF contribution count under 80C?
Yes — your share (12% of basic salary) qualifies for 80C. Employer's share is separately tax-free under 80CCD. Most salaried employees use ₹50-100k of the ₹1.5L cap via EPF alone.
Can I claim 80C for premiums paid for parents?
For *life insurance* premiums on parents — no, only on self/spouse/children. For *health insurance* premiums on parents — yes, but under 80D, with separate caps (₹25k normal, ₹50k senior).
Does 80C apply under the new tax regime?
No. Switch to old regime to claim 80C / 80D / 80E / HRA / LTA / home loan interest. Compare both regimes with the Income Tax Calculator before deciding.