Save on Income Tax in India with a Salary of 6.5 Lakhs

How Can I Save Income Tax in India With a ₹6.5 Lakh Salary?

Learn how to save income tax on a ₹6.5 lakh salary in India by choosing the right tax regime and using deductions.

Written by : Knowledge Centre Team

2025-12-29

1284 Views

8 minutes read

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Filing for and paying income tax to the government is every taxpayer’s responsibility. However, it is also your responsibility as a tax-paying individual to ensure that you do not end up paying more income tax than is due to you. For this reason, the Indian government and the Income Tax Department have made provisions for taxpayers to avail of a variety of options to lower their tax burden.

If you ask, Is there a tax on ₹6 lakh income in India, the answer is yes. However, you can still save significantly on tax.  

If your salaried income amounts to ₹6.5 lakh per annum, there are various ways in which you can save on your overall income tax liability. Let us take a closer look at the methods of tax saving for a ₹6.5 LPA in hand salary.

Must Read - How to Save Tax?

Key Takeaways

  • A salary of ₹6.5 lakh per annum is taxable, but smart planning can significantly reduce your tax liability

  • Choosing between the old and new tax regimes is crucial, as deductions are available only under the old regime

  • Section 80C allows deductions up to ₹1.5 lakh through instruments like EPF, PPF, ELSS, and life insurance premiums

  • Additional tax benefits can be claimed through NPS contributions, donations under Section 80G, and allowances like HRA

  • Term life insurance not only provides financial protection but also helps in saving tax under Section 80C

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Assessing Your Tax Slab

The first step towards tax saving for a ₹6.5 LPA in hand salary is to determine which tax regime works best for you. A new tax regime was introduced in Budget 2020 that provides lower tax rates than the existing tax regime. Under the new tax regime for FY 2025–26, your salary of  ₹6.5 LPA would fall into the ₹4,00,001–₹8,00,000 slab, which is taxed at 5%.

This flat tax rate is far lower than the tax slab that your salary of ₹6.5 LPA would fall under the 20% slab in the old tax regime (₹5,00,001-₹10,00,000 taxed at 20%). However, the important point to consider here is that the new tax regime does not allow taxpayers to avail various common and popular deductions. Hence, your options with tax savings for a ₹6.5 LPA income become limited.

If you want to avail the benefits of some of the highest tax-saving deductions, it is recommended that you opt for the old tax regime. At the end of the day, it is recommended that you calculate your resulting tax burden under both regimes. Subsequently, you can opt for the one that best lowers your tax burden.

Tax-Saving Instruments

The Government of India has made provisions for a number of tax-saving instruments that allow taxpayers to avail themselves of a beneficial facility while saving on their income taxes. There is a wide variety of deductions you can avail for these tax-saving instruments.

Here are some of the most popular options you can choose to save tax on a ₹6 lakh income in India:

One of the most common ways of saving taxes is by availing a deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. With Section 80C, a taxpayer can avail tax deductions of up to ₹1.5 lakh, which lowers their tax burden considerably.

To avail these deductions, you can invest in any of the following instruments:

  • Employee Provident Fund (EPF) Investments
  • Public Provident Fund (PPF) Investments
  • Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS)
  • Tax Saving Fixed Deposits
  • Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
  • National Saving Certificate (NSC)
  • Term Life Insurance Premium

 

  1. National Pension Scheme (NPS) - A government-backed pension scheme that allows public, private, and unorganised sector employees to build a retirement corpus and avail a pension. You can avail a deduction of 10% of salary as employee contribution and avail a deduction under Section 80CCD (1). In addition, you can also avail deductions under 80CCD (1B) for self-contribution and Section 80CCD (2) for Employer contribution to your pension account.
  2. Donations:- You can also avail tax savings for ₹6.5 LPA income while carrying out a noble deed such as a donation to a charity, relief fund, or recognised NGOs. The amount of donations will be exempted from taxation under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.
  3. Others:- In addition to the above, you can also save tax through House Rent Allowance (HRA) if you live in a rented house, interest paid on home loans under Section 24(b), interest on education loans under Section 80E, and investments under schemes like the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS), subject to eligibility and applicable conditions.

Conclusion

Overall, there is a range of tax-saving options available for you to avail tax savings for a ₹6.5 LPA in hand salary. At the end of the day, every taxpayer must determine their financial priorities and opt for the tax-saving instruments and schemes that best fit their portfolio. Having said that, if there is one tax-saving option that is recommended for every tax-paying individual and family, it is that of a reliable term insurance plan.

At Canara HSBC Life Insurance, we offer term plans that not only help you save tax under Section 80C but also provide comprehensive financial protection for your family, ensuring long-term security and peace of mind.

Glossary

  1. Section 80C: A provision under the Income Tax Act that allows deductions up to ₹1.5 lakh on specified investments and expenses
  2. NPS: A government-backed retirement scheme offering tax benefits under Sections 80CCD (1), 80CCD (1B), and 80CCD (2)
  3. Section 80G: A provision that allows tax deductions on donations made to eligible charitable institutions
  4. House Rent Allowance (HRA): A salary component that offers tax exemption for rent paid, subject to conditions
  5. Term Plan: A life insurance plan that provides financial protection to the family and qualifies for tax deductions under Section 80C
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FAQs

The in-hand salary is usually ₹45,000-₹50,000 per month, depending on tax regime, deductions, and PF contributions.

After standard deductions and basic taxes, the take-home salary typically falls between ₹45,000 and ₹50,000 per month.

Tax liability varies by regime; under the old regime, deductions can reduce tax significantly, while under the new regime, tax applies at slab rates after the standard deduction.

No, ₹6.5 lakh is not fully tax-free under either regime, but effective use of deductions under the old regime can lower the tax substantially.

Disclaimer - This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited or any affiliated entity. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the blog for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. You should consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific circumstances before taking any action based on the content provided herein.

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