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[ long-form guides on indian salary, tax, and personal finance ]These articles cite the IT Act, run actual numbers through the engine, and end on a specific point. Written for adults — no hedging, no padding, no SEO fluff. The archive is small now; new pieces land alongside each new calculator.
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How CTC works in India — the complete breakdown
Your CTC says ₹15 lakh, your bank statement says ₹1 lakh a month. Here's where the ₹3 lakh gap goes — basic, HRA, employer PF, gratuity, tax — line by line.
9 min read · May 2026
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HRA exemption explained — the min-of-three rule, with worked examples
HRA exemption is the MINIMUM of three numbers, not the largest. Section 10(13A) math with worked examples for metro and non-metro — and exactly what counts as metro under Rule 2A.
8 min read · May 2026
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New Labour Code impact on your take-home salary — the 50% basic rule, explained
India's four Labour Codes took effect November 21, 2025. Basic must be at least 50% of CTC. What that does to your take-home, PF, and gratuity — with engine-computed math.
9 min read · May 2026
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NPS 80CCD(2) — the tax benefit most salaried Indians miss
Section 80CCD(2) is the only deduction that survives the new regime. At ₹15L CTC with 14% employer NPS, your annual tax drops to ₹0. The math, and the lock-in trade-off.
7 min read · May 2026
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Old vs new tax regime FY 2025-26 — which one to choose
The Finance Act 2025 made ₹12L taxable income tax-free under the new regime. When the new regime wins, when the old still saves you more, and the exact math on both.
10 min read · May 2026