Will your Diwali bonus leave you poorer?
On a ₹12.75 lakh salary, a ₹50,000 bonus adds ₹52,000 of income tax. Yes, more than the bonus. Check yours in 10 seconds.
What you keep from your bonus
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One salary, one bonus, no sign-up. We don't store what you enter.
- Bonus
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- Extra income tax
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- You keep
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Your card shows the zone you're in, never your salary or bonus.
In the trap? Talk to someone before payday.
Ask whether part of the bonus can go into your employer's NPS contribution. The new regime allows it as a deduction up to 14% of basic pay plus DA. A real tax expert can check what works for you. The first chat is free.
Income tax only, FY 2026-27 slabs, cess included. Gifts from your employer up to ₹15,000 a year are tax-free.
Questions
How can a bonus leave me with less money?
In the new regime, a salary up to ₹12.75 lakh pays no income tax, thanks to the ₹75,000 standard deduction and the 87A rebate. Just above that line, marginal relief limits your tax to the income above ₹12 lakh of taxable income, so every bonus rupee is taxed. Then 4% cess is added on top. On a ₹12.75 lakh salary, a ₹50,000 bonus adds ₹52,000 of tax.
Which salaries can fall into the trap?
Salaries from about ₹12.73 lakh to ₹13.45 lakh, in the new regime. On ₹12.75 lakh, any bonus up to about ₹73,900 leaves you worse off; on ₹13 lakh, up to about ₹47,700. Far from that line, a bonus is simply taxed at your slab rate plus cess, and you always keep part of it.
Is a bonus taxed differently from salary?
No. A bonus is part of your salary income and is taxed at your slab rate. Your employer deducts TDS on it, usually in the month it's paid.
What can I do if I'm in the trap?
Ask whether part of the bonus can go into your employer's NPS contribution, which the new regime allows as a deduction up to 14% of basic pay plus DA. A tax expert can check what works for you. The first chat is free.
Slabs, rebate, marginal relief and cess are for FY 2026-27 (tax year 2026-27 under the new Income-tax Act, 2025). Check any figure on the Income Tax Department's own calculator. Also try your tax freedom day.