A CTC of ₹18 lakh pays about ₹1,21,097 a month in your bank account in FY 2026-27 under the new tax regime. Full breakdown, old vs new regime, and the PF-capped scenario.
₹18 lakh CTC — monthly in-hand (new regime)₹1,21,097₹14,53,164 a year · 80.7% of CTC
Assumes basic pay = 50% of CTC (the minimum "wages" share under the new labour codes), EPF on full basic, ₹2,500 professional tax (Maharashtra/Karnataka-type states), no gratuity, bonus or variable pay inside the CTC, resident below 60.
New vs old regime at ₹18 lakh
New regime
Old regime
Gross salary
₹16,92,000
₹16,92,000
Standard deduction
₹75,000
₹50,000
Professional tax deduction
—
₹2,500
80C (your EPF)
—
₹1,08,000
Taxable income
₹16,17,000
₹15,31,500
Tax + cess
₹1,28,336
₹2,82,828
Monthly in-hand
₹1,21,097
₹1,08,223
The new regime leaves you ₹12,874 more per month.
The old regime only wins if you can claim about ₹4,95,165 of extra deductions on top of your EPF — for example HRA exemption, 80D health insurance, home-loan interest (section 24b, up to ₹2 lakh) or the remaining 80C room (₹42,000) plus 80CCD(1B) NPS (₹50,000).
Your monthly in-hand in everyday things
8,073×Cutting chai₹15 each6,054×Samosas₹20 each1,513×Masala dosas₹80 each484×Movie tickets₹250 each
What ₹1,21,097 a month could buy. Example prices 2026 (rounded estimates; they vary a lot by city): cutting chai ₹15, samosa ₹20, masala dosa ₹80, multiplex movie ticket ₹250.
If your EPF is capped at ₹1,800 a month
Many employers deduct PF only on the ₹15,000 statutory wage ceiling. Then the employer share inside your CTC is just ₹21,600 a year, so gross pay and take-home are higher (but you save less for retirement):
CTC (cost to company) is everything your employer spends on you, including its own 12% EPF contribution, which goes to your PF account rather than your bank. Out of the gross salary of ₹16,92,000, you then lose your own EPF share, professional tax and TDS on salary. For FY 2026-27 the Union Budget kept the new-regime slabs unchanged: nil up to ₹4 lakh, 5% to ₹8 lakh, 10% to ₹12 lakh, 15% to ₹16 lakh, 20% to ₹20 lakh, 25% to ₹24 lakh and 30% above, plus 4% health and education cess.
Your top slab: taxable income of ₹16,17,000 falls in the 20% slab of the new regime; every extra ₹1 lakh of gross pay adds about ₹20,800 in tax.
Professional tax is a state levy capped at ₹2,500 a year. States such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana do not charge it — add ₹208 a month to the figure above if you work there. It is deductible only under the old regime.
What is the in-hand salary for ₹18 lakh CTC in FY 2026-27?
About ₹1,21,097 a month under the new tax regime, assuming basic pay is 50% of CTC, 12% EPF from both sides and ₹2,500 professional tax. Income tax is ₹1,28,336 a year.
Is the new or old regime better for ₹18 lakh salary?
The new regime: it saves ₹1,54,492 a year compared with the old regime when your only deduction is EPF. The old regime would need about ₹4,95,165 of extra deductions such as HRA, 80D or home-loan interest to break even.
How much income tax is due on ₹18 lakh CTC?
₹1,28,336 a year under the new regime (taxable income ₹16,17,000 after the ₹75,000 standard deduction) and ₹2,82,828 under the old regime, both including 4% cess.