Beyond 80C, the old regime offers several smaller deductions that often go unclaimed. For a typical middle-income family, adding 80D + 80CCD(1B) + Section 24 can reduce taxable income by another ₹3-4 lakh, sometimes deciding the old-vs-new regime choice.

Section 80D — health insurance premiums

Premium paid for self, spouse, dependent children, and parents:

• Self + family (all below 60): up to ₹25,000
• Self + family (self or spouse above 60): up to ₹50,000
• Parents below 60: additional up to ₹25,000
• Parents above 60: additional up to ₹50,000
• Maximum combined: ₹1,00,000 (when both you and parents are seniors)

Includes preventive health check-up up to ₹5,000 within the above limits. Payment must be by cheque, card, UPI, or net banking — not cash (except for preventive check-up).

Section 80CCD(1B) — additional NPS

An additional ₹50,000 deduction for NPS Tier-1 contribution, over and above the ₹1.5 lakh 80C ceiling. This is the single most under-claimed deduction. Pure no-brainer if you are in the 20% or 30% slab and old regime — saves you ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 in tax annually.

Section 24(b) — home loan interest

• Self-occupied property: up to ₹2 lakh per year
• Let-out property: full interest deductible against rental income (no cap), but loss capped at ₹2 lakh against other income
• Under-construction property: pre-EMI interest claimable in 5 equal instalments from year of possession

Section 80E — education loan interest

• Interest (not principal) on a loan for higher education of self, spouse, or children
• No upper limit on amount
• Available for up to 8 years from the first year of interest payment
• Loan must be from a recognised financial institution or approved charity

Section 80G — donations

• 50% or 100% deduction depending on the recipient organisation
• PM CARES Fund, PM National Relief Fund: 100% without limit
• Most NGOs with 80G registration: 50%, often capped at 10% of gross total income
• Donations above ₹2,000 must be via non-cash mode
• Get and keep the 80G receipt; AIS now auto-populates many donations

Section 80EEA / 80EE — first-time home buyer

• Additional ₹1.5 lakh deduction on home loan interest for first-time buyers (over and above Section 24)
• Conditions: loan sanctioned in eligible window, stamp duty value within prescribed limit

Section 80TTA / 80TTB — savings interest

• 80TTA: ₹10,000 deduction on savings account interest (for individuals below 60)
• 80TTB: ₹50,000 deduction on all interest (savings, FD, RD) for senior citizens

Section 80DD / 80DDB / 80U — disability and specified diseases

• 80DD: ₹75,000 or ₹1,25,000 for medical treatment of dependent with disability
• 80DDB: up to ₹40,000 (₹1 lakh for seniors) for specified diseases like cancer, neurological disorders
• 80U: ₹75,000 or ₹1,25,000 deduction for self if disabled (no expense proof required)

HRA exemption (under old regime)

If you receive HRA from employer and pay rent, exemption equals the minimum of:

• Actual HRA received
• 50% of basic salary (metro) or 40% (non-metro)
• Rent paid minus 10% of basic salary

Rent receipts mandatory; if annual rent > ₹1 lakh, landlord's PAN required. Paying rent to parents in their own name is legal if real money moves and parents declare the rent income.

Putting it together — a worked example

A 35-year-old salaried earner with ₹15 lakh gross, paying ₹3 lakh home loan interest, ₹50k health insurance for self and parents, ₹50k NPS:

• Standard deduction: ₹50,000
• 80C (PPF/EPF/ELSS): ₹1,50,000
• 80CCD(1B) NPS: ₹50,000
• Section 24 home loan interest: ₹2,00,000
• 80D: ₹50,000 (assuming parent below 60)

Total deductions: ₹5,00,000. Old-regime taxable income: ₹10 lakh. New-regime taxable income: ₹14.25 lakh. Old regime saves significantly here.

Next chapter: capital gains in detail — equity, debt, and the post-2024 indexation overhaul.