Income Tax Slab for Senior & Super Senior Citizens

Under the Union Budget 2025, the Finance Minister announced a proposal on the rationalization of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS). The threshold of tax deduction on interest income from deposits for senior citizens has doubled from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh. 

Benefits for Income Tax Slab for Senior Citizens above 60 years

Some of the benefits that can be availed by senior citizens under the Income Tax Act are mentioned below:

1. Deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
2. Benefits under the Reverse Mortgage Scheme.

1. Exemptions are provided in the case of advance tax payment.
2. Higher interest rates are offered by banks.
3. Deductions are higher in the case of certain medical treatments.
4. Higher deductions are provided on medical insurance.
5. Tax deductions under Section 87A.

1. Standard deductions.
2. Income exemption limit is higher.

Income Tax Calculation for Senior Citizens FY 2024-25

The income tax for senior citizens is calculated based on the basic salary, house rent allowance, fixed allowances, and other sources of income. However, the senior citizen receives higher exemption limit compared to individuals who are below 60 years old.

In order to calculate the income tax for a senior citizen, all the income is taken into consideration along with the allowable deductions and the income tax slab for FY 2024-25. Once you have all the details, the tax calculator can be used to determine your taxable income.

Under this new tax regime, there is no higher tax exemption limit for senior citizens (between the age of 60 and 80) or for super senior citizens (above the age of 80). Given below are the various tables for the Income Tax Slabs for the FY 2024-25 under the new tax regime:

Senior and Super Senior Citizens Income Tax Slabs for FY 2024-25 (New Tax Regime)

Tax applicable for individuals over 60 years and under 80 years

1. Income tax exemption limit is up to Rs.2.5 lakh.
2. Surcharge is applicable if total income is more than Rs.50 lakh and up to Rs.1 crore: 10% of income tax.
3. Surcharge is applicable if total income exceeds Rs.1 crore: 15% of income tax.

Income Tax Slab for Senior Citizens (Old Tax Regime)

Income Tax Slab for Super Senior Citizens (Old Tax Regime)

Tax Calculation for Senior Citizens above 60 years

In case senior citizens want to calculate the amount of tax that must be paid, the income that is generated from all sources must be added. As per the slabs under the old income tax slabs the below-mentioned exemptions and deductions are allowed:

Income Tax Benefits for Senior and Super Senior Citizen

1. Interest Income
   1. Senior citizens (Indian residents) do not have to pay tax in case they are earning an interest of up to Rs.1 Lakh in a financial year. The benefit is provided under Section 80TTA. Form 15H must be submitted when the ITR is filed.
   2.   Over and above that, there is a deduction of up to Rs.1 Lakh on the interest from post office deposits and fixed deposits.
   3. Banks will take Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) from the interest income of such sources only if it is more than Rs.1 Lakh for the financial year.
   4. For total income that is below the tax exemption limit, Form 15H can be submitted to the bank requesting that TDS is not deducted from that financial year. This interest exemption falls under Section 80TTB. 

1. Advance Tax
   1. Senior citizens do not have to pay advance tax during the year as they do not have business income. They only have to pay the Self-Assessment (SA) Tax which is done after calculation of the final tax liability for the financial year.
2. Reverse mortgage
   1. Senior citizens get special benefits under the reverse mortgage scheme. Under this scheme, their property value can be monetised to get Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs) in return which can supplement their income. This monthly amount that is received by senior citizens is exempt from tax on the side of the senior citizen.

Income Tax Filing for Senior Citizens

The senior citizens are required to file the income tax return to claim their tax refund. The following Income Tax Return (ITR) forms are required to be filled by the senior citizens:

ITR I - Individual whose total Income Includes:

1. Salary or pension
2. Income from house or property (excluding incidents where loss is brought forward from previous financial years)
3. Income from the other sources (excluding income from horse racing or winning lottery)

ITR 2 - Individual whose total Income Includes:

1. Salary or pension
2. Income from house or property
3. Capital gains
4. Income from the other sources (includes winning from horse racing and lottery)
5. Incidents where the income of another individual, such as spouse or other member has to be combined with the income of the individual

Senior Citizens Tax Exemptions

A senior citizen is an individual resident who is 60 years old or more but below 80 years as on the last day of the previous year. Senior citizens at source of income include pension, rental income, interest on savings, fixed deposits, senior citizen saving scheme, reverse mortgage, and post office scheme.

1. Health Insurance: Deductions of up to Rs.50,000 per annum can be claimed by senior citizens towards their health insurance premium and/or medical expenses under Section 80D. In the case of dependent seniors, a deduction of up to Rs.1 lakh can be claimed for critical illnesses that have been specified previously. This falls under Section 80DDB.
2. Pension: For pensions there is a standard deduction of Rs.50,000 per year. This is for pensions in the form of annuity payments which are taxable just like the salaried income. It falls under Section 80D.
3. Interest Income from Deposits:  Maximum of up to Rs.50,000 per annum is Deducted under Section 80TTB.

According to a Central Board of Direct Taxes directive, cases of senior citizens cannot be scrutinised unless an assessment is necessary on the basis of credible information.