The income tax slab for senior citizens differs only in the old regime: a resident aged 60 to 79 pays nothing up to ₹3 lakh, and a super senior aged 80 or more pays nothing up to ₹5 lakh. The new regime has a single table for every age, but its ₹4 lakh nil band and ₹12 lakh rebate limit usually leave pensioners better off there.
Age is counted at any time during the financial year, so a person who turns 60 in March is a senior citizen for that whole year. The higher limits are for residents only. Below are the slabs for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), examples on pension and deposit interest, and the TDS rules banks follow.
Quick facts
Senior (60 to 79), old regime
Nil up to ₹3,00,000Super senior (80+), old regime
Nil up to ₹5,00,000New regime
Nil up to ₹4,00,000 for all agesTDS on bank interest
Only above ₹1,00,000 a yearNo TDS declaration
Form 15H; Form 121 from tax year 2026-27Advance tax
Not needed without business income
Income tax slab for senior citizens under each regime, FY 2025-26
| Taxable income | Aged 60 to 79, old regime | Aged 80 and above, old regime | Any age, new regime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹3,00,000 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| ₹3,00,001 to ₹4,00,000 | 5% | Nil | Nil |
| ₹4,00,001 to ₹5,00,000 | 5% | Nil | 5% |
| ₹5,00,001 to ₹8,00,000 | 20% | 20% | 5% |
| ₹8,00,001 to ₹10,00,000 | 20% | 20% | 10% |
| ₹10,00,001 to ₹12,00,000 | 30% | 30% | 10% |
| Above ₹12,00,000 | 30% | 30% | 15% rising to 30% |
Under the old regime a rebate of as much as ₹12,500 is allowed if taxable income stays within ₹5 lakh, so a senior with ₹5 lakh pays nothing. Under the new regime the rebate reaches ₹12 lakh. Cess of 4% applies on any tax due. These rates continue unchanged for tax year 2026-27. Note that a senior citizen tax slab in the new regime does not exist as a separate table; the senior citizen income tax slab with higher limits is an old regime feature.
Income tax for senior citizens pensioners: two worked cases
Retired teacher, 68. Pension ₹9,00,000 and FD interest ₹1,50,000. Gross ₹10,50,000.
- Old regime: less standard deduction ₹50,000, 80TTB ₹50,000 and 80D ₹50,000. Taxable ₹9,00,000. Tax: 5% of ₹2,00,000 (₹10,000) plus 20% of ₹4,00,000 (₹80,000) = ₹90,000; with cess ₹93,600.
- New regime: less standard deduction ₹75,000. Taxable ₹9,75,000. Slab tax ₹37,500, fully covered by the rebate. Tax nil.
Retired officer, 82. Pension ₹7,00,000. On the old slabs, his taxable income is ₹6,50,000 and the 20% band catches ₹1,50,000, giving ₹30,000, or ₹31,200 once cess is added. On the new slabs, ₹6,25,000 is taxable and the slab tax of ₹11,250 is cleared by the rebate. Tax nil.
Compare your own figures with the regime calculator.
TDS on FD interest for senior citizens
| Depositor | No TDS if yearly interest is up to | Rate above the limit |
|---|---|---|
| Senior citizen | ₹1,00,000 | 10% (20% without PAN) |
| Anyone else | ₹50,000 | 10% (20% without PAN) |
The limit is per bank, counting all branches. A senior whose tax on total income is nil can give the bank Form 15H at the start of the year to stop TDS even above ₹1 lakh. For income of tax year 2026-27, the declaration is Form 121 under the Income-tax Rules, 2026. More detail is on TDS on FD interest and Form 121.
Income tax exemptions and reliefs for senior citizens
- 80TTB (old regime): deduction up to ₹50,000 on interest from bank, post office and cooperative bank deposits.
- 80D (old regime): up to ₹50,000 for health insurance or, where there is no policy, medical spending on a senior.
- Advance tax: a resident senior with no business or professional income need not pay it.
- Section 194P: a resident aged 75 or more whose only income is pension and interest from the same specified bank can give a declaration; the bank deducts the full tax and no return is needed.
- Form 16 for pensioners: the bank that pays the pension issues it for FY 2025-26 if it deducted TDS. For tax year 2026-27 the certificate is Form 130.
What changes under the Income-tax Act, 2025
| Point | FY 2025-26 | Tax year 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Income-tax Act, 1961 | Income-tax Act, 2025 |
| Slabs | As in the table above | Same rates |
| Rebate section | 87A | 156 |
| No TDS declaration | Form 15H | Form 121 |
| Pension TDS certificate | Form 16 | Form 130 |
Errors seniors and their families often make
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Assuming the new regime gives ₹3 lakh or ₹5 lakh nil bands | Those limits exist only in the old regime |
| Giving Form 15H when tax is not nil | Only give it if tax on total income is nil; otherwise accept TDS and claim the credit |
| Not checking AIS for interest from several banks | Add up all interest before filing |
| An NRI parent claiming senior limits | Higher old regime limits are for residents only |
We explain the general rules here and cannot advise on any one family's tax. Limits change from time to time, so a chartered accountant or the income tax e-filing site is the place to confirm yours.
Sources we checked
- Income-tax Act, 1961, section 194A
- Income-tax Act, 1961, section 80TTB
- Income-tax Act, 1961, section 194P
- Income-tax Rules, 2026, Form 121
- Finance Act, 2025, First Schedule
Frequently asked questions
What is the income tax slab for senior citizens above 60 years?
Under the old regime, the first ₹3 lakh is free of tax, the slice up to ₹5 lakh is taxed at 5%, the slice up to ₹10 lakh at 20%, and the rest at 30%. Under the new regime the standard table applies to them, and the rebate removes tax up to ₹12 lakh.
Is there a separate income tax slab for senior citizens above 70 years?
No. There is no separate band at 70. A resident aged 60 to 79 uses the senior citizen slab, and 80 or more uses the super senior slab.
What is the super senior citizen tax slab for those above 80 years?
A resident who is 80 or older and stays in the old regime pays no tax on the first ₹5 lakh. Income between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh bears 20%, and anything over ₹10 lakh bears 30%. The 5% band disappears for this age group.
What is the senior citizen TDS limit on FD interest?
For FY 2025-26, banks deduct TDS only when a senior's interest from that bank goes above ₹1,00,000 in the year. The rate is 10% with PAN.
How much income is tax free for senior citizens?
A pensioner in the new regime owes nothing until pension reaches ₹12.75 lakh, which is ₹12 lakh after the standard deduction. A senior in the old regime owes nothing while taxable income stays at ₹5 lakh or less, because the rebate covers the tax. A calculator helps for incomes near these figures.