Period check: AY 2026–27 concerns FY 2025–26 under the 1961 Act. Tax Year 2026–27 concerns April 2026–March 2027 under the 2025 Act. Familiar old section names below are explanatory labels, not current filing references.
What the familiar investment basket means
The commonly used old “80C” label covers specified eligible payments and investments within a combined ₹1.5 lakh limit. Employee PF contributions can consume part of that limit. The Department maps the old reference to Schedule XV read with section 123 in the 2025 Act; use the current instrument for the specific payment.
Check the tax regime first
A payment that qualifies in the old regime does not automatically produce an ordinary new-regime deduction. Paying more into an investment only for a presumed tax saving can therefore fail the intended purpose. Compare the regimes before deciding how much of the remaining eligible basket matters.
Count employee PF once
If eligible employee PF is ₹36,000 a year, at most ₹1,14,000 remains within a ₹1.5 lakh combined basket before considering other qualifying payments. Employer PF is a different component. Do not add the same employee contribution again as an “other investment” in the salary and TDS calculator.
Validate every payment
Check the eligible person, payment date, lock-in, limits, ownership and any reversal conditions from the governing provision. A product marketed as tax saving is not proof that a particular payment qualifies for your period and facts. Keep receipts and the employer's accepted declaration.
Compare the actual annual outcome
The calculator adds its estimated employee PF to the other eligible investment amount you enter and caps that basket. It does not validate an investment product or recommend a purchase. Other deductions belong in their own verified field, without duplicating HRA or PT.
Official sources and scope
Source review: 2026-10-08. Check the relevant notification and your own records before filing or settling an entitlement.