The RealSalary Blog
Plain-English guides on Indian salary, take-home pay, income tax, raises, and financial independence — so you actually understand your money.
How Much Tax Do You Actually Pay on ₹12 Lakh in FY 2025-26?
Is ₹12 lakh really tax-free under the New Regime for FY 2025-26? Here's exactly how the Section 87A rebate works, and why your salary can be even higher than ₹12 lakh and still pay zero tax.
Read articleDoes a 30% Hike Really Mean 30% More In Hand?
You got a 30% raise — but your bank account didn't grow by 30%. Here's why the headline hike percentage and your real in-hand increase are almost never the same.
Read articleWhat Is FIRE, and How to Calculate Your Freedom Number in India
FIRE means Financial Independence, Retire Early. Your freedom number is the corpus that lets you stop working. Here's how it actually works for Indian salaries — and how inflation shapes it.
Read articleNew Regime vs Old Regime: Which Saves You More Tax? (FY 2025-26)
The New Tax Regime has lower rates; the Old Regime has deductions. Which one leaves more money in your pocket for FY 2025-26? Here's how to decide — with the real numbers.
Read articleWhy Your In-Hand Salary Is Less Than Your CTC (FY 2025-26)
Your ₹15 lakh CTC never lands as ₹15 lakh in your bank. Here's exactly where the money goes — employer PF, gratuity, income tax, and more — explained in plain English.
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