What Is Tax Planning

Tax Planning: Know What Tax Planning is and Its Types

You must pay taxes on your income according to the applicable income tax slab rates. The larger your income, the higher your tax liability

Written by : Knowledge Centre Team

2026-01-02

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10 minutes read

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Effective tax planning ensures financial stability, increased savings, and the ability to achieve long-term financial goals. It allows individuals to reduce taxable income, decrease legal problems, increase savings, achieve financial stability, enhance productivity, and manage risks. It is the strategic arrangement of one's financial affairs to minimise tax liability while complying with tax laws. By understanding the provisions of the tax laws, taxpayers can make informed decisions regarding tax payments and take advantage of available legal provisions and exemptions.

Key Takeaways

 

  • Tax planning helps reduce your taxable income through deductions, exemptions, and rebates under the Income Tax Act, allowing you to retain more of your earnings.
  • Strategies include short-term, long-term, purposive, permissive, structural, and marginal tax planning.
  • The old tax regime offers exemptions and deductions, while the new regime provides lower tax rates with fewer exemptions. Choose the right regime based on your income structure and deductions claimed.
  • You should utilise deductions under sections like 80C (ELSS, PPF, NPS), 80D (health insurance), and exemptions like HRA to reduce taxable income.
  • Begin tax planning early in the financial year, assess your current tax status, create a tax-saving plan, and review it periodically to stay compliant with changing tax laws and maximise savings.

What is Tax Planning?

Tax planning refers to financial planning for tax efficiency. It aims to reduce one’s tax liabilities and optimally utilise tax exemptions, tax rebates, and benefits as much as possible. Tax planning includes making financial and business decisions that help minimise the incidence of tax. This helps you legitimately avail the maximum benefit by using all beneficial provisions under tax laws. It enables one to think of their finances and taxes at the beginning of the financial year instead of leaving it to the eleventh hour.

Why Should You Do Tax Planning?

There are some fundamental objectives of tax planning. Tax planning diminishes tax liability by saving the assessee the maximum amount of tax by arranging their financial operations according to tax decisions. It also conforms to the provisions under taxation laws, thereby minimising any litigation. One of the most significant benefits of tax planning is that the returns can be directed to investments. It is the most productive way to make smart investments while fully utilising the resources available due to tax benefits. Investing tax money generates white money to flow through the economy, aiding in the country's economic development. Tax planning, hence, contributes to the economic stability of the individual as well as the country.

Objectives of Tax Planning

Tax planning plays a key role in overall financial management. When you correctly implement tax planning, you can achieve the following objectives:

  1. Reduce Taxable Income: The main goal of tax planning is to minimise your taxable income legally. By claiming deductions, exemptions, and rebates under the Income Tax Act, you can reduce your tax liability and save money on taxes.
  2. Secure Financial Stability: Effective tax planning ensures long-term financial security by encouraging disciplined saving and investing. Strategic tax-saving investments like the Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Pension System (NPS), and insurance policies help build a solid financial foundation for future needs.
  3. Achieve Financial Goals: Tax planning allows individuals and businesses to align their savings with personal financial goals such as buying a house, funding education, or planning for retirement. By investing in tax-saving instruments, you not only reduce taxes but also create wealth over time.

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Tax Planning in India in 2026

There are a lot of tax-saving options available to taxpayers in India. These options provide a variety of exclusions and deductions that help to reduce the overall tax burden. Deductions are provided from Sections 80C to 80U, and eligible taxpayers can claim them. These deductions are applied to the total amount of tax owed. It is totally legal and, in fact, a wise decision when tax planning is done within the boundaries set by the respective authorities. However, employing unscrupulous methods to avoid paying taxes is prohibited, and you could face penalties. Tax avoidance, evasion, and preparation are all ways to save money on taxes.

What are the Types of Tax Planning?

Now that you understand what tax planning is, let’s have a look at the different types of tax planning strategies. Each type serves a specific purpose and can help individuals and businesses reduce their tax liabilities effectively.

  • Short-Term Tax Planning: This involves planning for tax savings at the end of a financial year. It is usually done when the financial year is nearing completion. Taxpayers make quick investments to reduce their taxable income within a short time frame. For example, investing in an Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) or claiming deductions under Section 80C before the financial year ends is considered a part of short-term tax planning.
  • Long-Term Tax Planning: As the name suggests, this type of planning focuses on long-term savings. It is done at the beginning of a financial year (or even earlier). It involves strategic investments in long-term schemes like the PPF, NPS, and tax-saving fixed deposits to minimise tax liability over a period of time.
  • Purposive Tax Planning: Purposive tax planning is done with a specific goal in mind, such as retirement planning, children's education, or wealth creation. Here, taxpayers choose investments that offer tax benefits while fulfilling their personal financial objectives. For example, life insurance can help you achieve both financial protection and tax savings.
  • Permissive Tax Planning: Permissive tax planning is conducted within the framework of the legal provisions provided by the government. It involves availing of all deductions, exemptions, and rebates allowed under different sections of the Income Tax Act. An example would be claiming deductions under Section 80C or taking advantage of exemptions like House Rent Allowance (HRA).
  • Structural Tax Planning: Structural tax planning involves restructuring your financial affairs to maximise tax efficiency. This could include decisions like setting up a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), forming trusts, or splitting income between family members within legal limits to reduce the tax burden.
  • Marginal Tax Planning: Marginal tax planning focuses on minimising taxes on incremental income. It involves using strategies to ensure that any additional income earned falls into a lower tax bracket, such as investing in tax-saving instruments or adjusting income through salary restructuring.

Key Tax Saving Instruments in India

Financial planning is incomplete without learning and applying tax-saving instruments in your tax strategy. The taxation system has many provisions to save on taxes, helping you secure more for the future. Use them wisely to make the most out of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Some of the key tax-saving instruments in India are given below:

  • One of the most popular tax-saving investments is Equity-Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS), which falls under Section 80C. It has a lock-in period of only three years and offers promising high returns. 

  • Another traditional but still common long-term investment instrument is the Public Provident Fund (PPF), with a lock-in period of 15 years. Its contributions, interest earned, and withdrawals are all tax-free.

  • The premiums for the National Pension System (NPS) fall under the tax benefits of Sections 80CCD(1) and 80CCD(2), helping you secure retirement.

  • Premiums paid for life insurance qualify for tax deductions under Section 80C, while maturity benefits are applicable for Section 10(10D) deductions.  

  • Even health insurance premiums are eligible for Section 80D deductions. Whether you are paying premiums for the health coverage of yourself, a spouse, children, or parents, they are all applicable for tax benefits. 

  • You can also claim deductions for 5-year fixed deposits in the bank. Its interest is taxable, but you can surely claim the deductions under Section 80C for the principal amount.

  • Planning to buy a home? Well, that might be another opportunity for you to save tax! Principal repayments for home loans qualify for deductions under Section 80C, while interests are eligible for Section 24(b) and Section 80EEA deductions for first-time buyers.

  • If you invest in ULIPs, you can enjoy the tax benefits by claiming deductions under Section 80C for the premiums paid. Even the maturity amount of these investment and insurance plans is tax-free under certain conditions.

Common Tax-Saving Strategies in India

Using the right strategies and making smart investments can significantly reduce your tax liability while securing your financial future. Here are some of the most effective tax-saving methods available under Indian tax laws.

Claim Deductions for Eligible Expenses

You can avail any of the following deductions as given under the Income Tax Act to reduce your taxable income:

Section

Eligible Expense

Maximum Deduction Limit

80C

Life insurance premiums, ELSS, PPF, National Savings Certificate (NSC)

₹1.5 lakh

80D

Health insurance premium

₹25,000 (₹50,000 for senior citizens)

80E

Interest on education loans

No upper limit

24(b)

Home loan interest

₹2 lakh

80G

Donations to specified charitable institutions

50% or 100% of the donation amount (varies)

 

Choose the Right Tax Regime in 2026

The Government of India offers two tax regimes: the old one (with exemptions and deductions) and the new one (with lower tax rates but without exemptions). Choosing the right tax regime depends on your income structure and eligible deductions.

The old regime might be more beneficial if you have high deductions like housing loans, health insurance, and investments. On the other hand, if you do not claim many deductions, the new regime could reduce your tax outgo due to lower rates.

Old Regime:

Income Slab

Tax Rate

Up to ₹2.5 lakh

Nil

₹2.5 lakh-₹5 lakh

5% above ₹2.5 lakh

₹5 lakh-₹10 lakh

₹12,500 + 20% above ₹5 lakh

Above ₹10 lakh

₹1,12,500 + 30% above ₹10 lakh

Rates remain the same across financial years

 

New Regime:

FY 2024-25

Tax Rate

FY 2025-26

Tax Rate

Up to ₹3 lakh

Nil

Up to ₹4 lakh

Nil

₹3 lakh-₹7 lakh

5% above ₹3 lakh

₹4 lakh-₹8 lakh

5% above ₹4 lakh

₹7 lakh-₹10 lakh

₹20,000 + 10% above ₹7 lakh

₹8 lakh-₹12 lakh

₹20,000 + 10% above ₹8 lakh

₹10 lakh-₹12 lakh

₹50,000 + 15% above ₹10 lakh

₹12 lakh-₹16 lakh

₹60,000 + 15% above ₹12 lakh

₹12 lakh-₹15 lakh

₹80,000 + 20% above ₹12 lakh

₹16 lakh-₹20 lakh

₹1,20,000 + 20% above ₹16 lakh

Above ₹15 lakh

₹1,40,000 + 30% above ₹15 lakh

₹20 lakh-₹24 lakh

₹2,00,000 + 25% above ₹20 lakh

—

—

Above ₹24 lakh

₹3,00,000 + 30% above ₹24 lakh

 

Invest in Tax-Saving Instruments:

Investments in certain financial instruments can help you save taxes while growing your wealth. You should compare the risk and return elements of all these investments to choose the one that matches your financial goals.

Investment Option

Section

Lock-in Period

Maximum Deduction

ELSS

80C

3 years

₹1.5 lakh

PPF

80C

15 years

₹1.5 lakh

NPS

80CCD(1B)

Till retirement

₹50,000 (additional)

Tax-saving Fixed Deposit

80C

5 years

₹1.5 lakh

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

80C

Until the girl turns 21

₹1.5 lakh

 

Utilise Allowance Exemptions

If you are a salaried individual, you can claim exemptions on various allowances. These exemptions help ease financial burdens related to housing, travel, and education.

Allowance

Condition

Exemption Limit

HRA

Available if living in rented housing

Depends on salary, rent paid, city type

Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)

Travel expenses within India

Actual travel cost (subject to conditions)

Standard Deduction

Available for salaried individuals

₹50,000 (₹75,000 as per Budget 2025 announcement)

Children’s Education Allowance

For school fees

₹100 per month per child (max 2 children)

Hostel Expenditure Allowance

For hostel fees

₹300 per month per child (max 2 children)

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Did You Know?

Anyone earning more than ₹5 lakh annually must file taxes. This procedure remains incomplete until the Central Processing Centre in Bangalore receives a copy

Source: Business Today

1cr term insurance

How to Get Started with Tax Planning?

Anyone can start planning their taxes in a few simple steps:

  • Assess Your Income: Take your total income into account. This is the starting point of the process, and it requires you to assess your annual and monthly income accurately.
  • Analyse Your Tax Liability: Evaluate the taxable aspects of your income. Housing and rent allowances included in the salary on top of base pay are not taxable. However, profits made from investments could add to taxable income. Therefore, understanding one’s taxable income is a requisite to being able to plan taxes.
  • Look out for Ways to Save Tax: Make use of deductions to reduce the total taxable income. This can be done by structuring salaries and properly planning investments. For example, interest from a fixed deposit is taxed at the same rate as income tax, while a debt fund held over the years is taxed at 20%. So if you fall in the 30% tax bracket against the taxable income of 10 lakhs and above, debt funds are a more tax-friendly option. 
  • Devise a Tax-Saving Strategy: Invest in tax-saving instruments. A wide range of deductions is available to eligible taxpayers in Sections 80C through 80U of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Other options, such as deductions and tax credits, are listed under the Income Tax Act of 1961. Investment options include Provident Public Fund (PPF), Equity Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS) in mutual funds, National Saving Certificates (NSC) or 5-year bank deposits. Life insurance, health insurance premiums, and home loan payments can give you tax savings.

A simple example is if an individual’s income is 6.5 lakhs per annum and they invest 1.5 lakhs in the notified schemes, they can bring down their taxable income to 5 lakhs- consequently reducing tax liability to NIL as a person having taxable income up to ₹ 5 L available for rebate of ₹ 12,500 u/s 87A. The savings can then be put to productive use. With a simple assessment of your income and some basic tax rules, planning your taxes can ensure your overall financial security.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance has a unit-linked insurance plan that offers multiple options to invest in savings with the added benefit of a life insurance cover. One can choose between 8 different funds and four portfolio strategies to invest money. Moreover, the funds withdrawn through the plan are exempt from taxation, as are partial withdrawals, making it an ideal tax-saving investment option. 

How to Get Started with Tax Planning?

Anyone can start planning their taxes by following a few simple steps. A proactive approach helps maximise tax savings and ensures financial stability over time.

  • Start Early: The earlier you begin, the better your chances of optimising tax benefits. Starting early allows you to spread your investments throughout the year, avoid last-minute rushes, and make well-informed financial decisions.
  • Evaluate Your Current Tax Status: Analyse your income, deductions, exemptions, and liabilities to understand your current tax situation. Knowing your tax bracket, income sources, and eligible deductions will help you create a more effective tax-saving strategy.
  • Create a Tax-Saving Plan: Based on your evaluation, choose the right tax-saving instruments that align with your financial goals. You can invest in options like ELSS, PPF, or insurance plans while also taking advantage of deductions under sections like 80C, 80D, or 80E.
  • Track and Revise Your Plan Periodically: Tax laws and personal financial situations can change over time. Regularly review your tax plan to ensure it remains effective and compliant with the latest tax rules. Adjust your investments and deductions as needed to maximise savings.

Common Tax Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Tax saving and planning are always appealing - after all, everyone wants to keep more of their hard-earned money. But in the rush to save, common mistakes can lead to missed opportunities or even penalties. Here are some key pitfalls to avoid:

  • Last-Minute Tax Planning: Many people rush into tax-saving instruments during the eleventh hour without any prior research and end up losing more than winning. Be smarter than that! Start planning at the beginning of the financial year so that you have enough time and information to contemplate what’s best for you.
  • Ignoring Section 80D Benefits: A lack of knowledge and awareness is the primary reason people fail to utilise the tax-saving instruments they already possess. Many people are familiar with section 80C, but there are also other sections, such as section 80D, which anyone with health insurance can claim. These insights can help save tax as well as build a promising future.
  • Overlooking Tax-Free Investment Options: PPF, EPF, and ELSS offer tax-free returns, which many people are not aware of, and these investments are already profitable. It means that on top of tax savings, you can also accumulate wealth with these plans.
  • Not Diversifying Investments: Some people only rely on insurance, while others fixate on FDs. Relying too heavily on one method is hardly beneficial. Diversify by investing in equity, debt, and fixed-income investments that also offer better returns, along with tax efficiency.
  • Misunderstanding Deductions and Exemptions: Many taxpayers have half-information about the deductions and exemptions and confuse deductions with exemptions or fail to claim available deductions. Understanding key deductions like Sections 80C, 80D, 80E, and 24(b) can help you maximise your savings effortlessly.
  • Failing to Consider Inflation and Future Goals: Low-yield tax-saving options feel safe sometimes but may not be as profitable in the long run when that value is, in turn, lower than your invested amount. If there is no sufficient return, it only brings you back to where you started. Therefore, consider the role of inflation in aligning investments with financial goals while adjusting your return.
  • Not Keeping Proper Documentation: A simple step, yet it is missed by many! Keep the receipts and documents of every single translation carefully, whether it is a payment receipt of your insurance premium or proof of investment. These records allow seamless tax filing and reduce the chances of audits and unnecessary tax liabilities.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, tax planning is a crucial aspect of financial management that everyone should prioritise. By understanding the concept of tax planning and its various types, individuals can effectively minimise their tax liabilities and maximise their financial gains. Whether it's income tax planning, wealth tax planning, or estate tax planning, each type offers unique benefits that can significantly impact one's financial well-being. By incorporating tax planning into their financial strategy, people can ensure a more secure and prosperous financial future.

Glossary

  1. Tax Diversification: An investment strategy that spreads investments across different types of accounts and assets while considering their tax implications, helping to balance tax efficiency and long-term returns.
  2. Litigation minimisation: Minimising litigation in tax planning involves strategies and practices that help individuals and businesses avoid disputes with tax authorities, reducing the likelihood of ending up in court over tax matters. 
  3. Tax Loss Harvesting: Tax loss harvesting is a strategy that reduces tax burden by selling investments whose value has decreased or is in decline.
glossary-img
Uncertain About Insurance

FAQs

Tax planning meaning can be comprehended better with these tax planning examples:

  • Tax Diversification
  • Tax Gain or Tax Loss Harvesting
  • Social Security Income Can Be Taxable – Up to 85%!
  • Charitable Giving as a Tax Savings Opportunity
  • Multi-Year Tax Planning

The mony paid as tax is the primary source of revenue for the government. This money is used to pay for essential costs associated with health care, infrastructure development and upkeep, government employee salaries and pensions, law enforcement, and judiciary services, among other things.

Tax planning guarantees tax savings and complies with all legal standards set forth in the Income Tax Act of 1961. The main idea behind tax planning is saving money and reducing one's tax burden.

High earners can invest up to ₹1.5 lakh in financial instruments that offer deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act under the previous tax regime, such as provident funds, National Savings Certificates, life insurance, Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) mutual funds, and others, to lower their tax liability.

Every citizen has a duty and responsibility to engage in wise tax planning. All Indian taxpayers are required under the Income Tax Act to file income tax returns if their income in India exceeds the basic exemption limit.

Currently, under the old tax regime, the exemption limit is:

  • ₹2.5 lakh for individuals below 60 years,
  • ₹3 lakh for senior citizens (60–79 years), and
  • ₹5 lakh for super senior citizens (80 years and above).

Under the new tax regime (FY 2025-26), the exemption limit has been raised to ₹4 lakh for all individuals, regardless of age. Beyond these thresholds, income becomes taxable as per the applicable slab rates.

Since both tax regimes offer distinct benefits and trade-offs, it is important to evaluate them carefully and choose the one that best suits your financial situation. If employees do not inform their employer of their preference, TDS will be deducted under the new tax regime by default. However, taxpayers still have the option to select the old regime while filing their income tax return.

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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