After the Union Budget 2025, the revised income tax slabs under the new regime for FY 2025-26 increased the senior and super senior citizen exemption limit to ₹4 lakhs under the new tax regime, effective April 1, 2025.
However, under the old tax regime, the senior citizen income tax exemption limit is up to ₹3 lakhs, and for super senior income tax exemption limit is up to ₹5 lakhs under the old tax regime in a financial year.
Here are some more common senior citizen tax deductions and benefits that individuals aged 60 and above can avail of for FY 2025-26.
1. Standard Deduction
Pensioners above 60 years can claim a senior citizen standard deduction of up to ₹50,000 under the head 'Income from salaries’ on their pension only. Family pensioners can also claim a standard deduction of up to ₹15,000.
2. Deduction Under Section 80DDB
Under Section 80DDB, senior citizen deduction of up to ₹1 lakh is allowed for dependent citizens above the age of 60. This senior citizen medical bills tax exemption is available if they undertake any treatment for a specified disease/critical illness in a financial year.
3. Health Insurance
The 80D exemption for senior citizens above the age of 60 on payment of the health insurance premium is up to ₹50,000. For taxpayers under 60 years of age, this limit is ₹25,000.
Additionally, the super senior citizens who are not medically insured can also enjoy this benefit. For super citizens, under the 80D exemption for senior citizens, the deduction for the payment of medical premiums, as well as the actual expenses incurred on their treatment, is allowed.
4. Interest From Savings
This senior citizen deduction under 80TTB considers interest earned in the savings bank account, deposits in a bank, and/or deposits in the post office.
The senior citizen deduction limit on such income is ₹50,000 for citizens above the age of 60. Also, when filing their Income Tax Return (ITR), senior citizens must fill the form 15H.
Also, after Budget 2025, senior citizens over the age of 75 will continue to be taxed as per the applicable tax slab. This means that taxpayers belonging to such category who only have pension income and interest income from the scheduled bank in which the pension income is received, shall be exempt from filing ROI (Return of Income).
5. Higher TDS Threshold
After Budget 2025, senior citizens who are residents of India also enjoy the benefit of a higher TDS deduction on interest earned up to ₹1 lakh annually, which was earlier ₹50,000.
Further, the budget also hiked the TDS threshold from ₹2.4 lakh to ₹6 lakh annually, for rent paid for land/building, effective from April 1, 2025.
6. Tax-free NSS Withdrawals
Senior citizen deduction also includes withdrawals from NSS (National Savings Scheme) accounts after August 29, 2024, which are exempt from taxes under the amended Section 80CCA.
Earlier, this senior citizen income tax exemption was allowed only when the withdrawals were made to close the NSS account due to the death of the account holder.
7. Reverse Mortgage Scheme
Under this scheme, the regular instalments senior citizens receive upon mortgaging their home for life, while the ownership and possession remain with them, are entirely exempt from income tax.
Thus, with such income tax benefits, the government has tried to reduce the tax burden on the country's senior and super-senior citizens. So, before you pay your income taxes, know the applicable income tax slab for senior citizens above 60 years, exemptions, and subsequent tax benefits to ensure you live a financially independent life in your golden years.