When you need more than a salary TDS slip
Most salaried employees in India never touch an income tax calculator — their employer's monthly TDS, reflected on Form 16, covers the entire year's liability. The moment your financial picture gets more complicated, that assumption breaks. A bonus that pushes you into a higher slab, freelance income on the side, capital gains from selling shares or property, RSU vesting at a US-listed company, or crypto trades all create tax that nobody has automatically deducted at source. These calculators exist for exactly that gap: estimating what you owe, when it's due, and what the rules actually say.
The advance tax calculator is usually the first tool people reach for once they realise TDS isn't covering everything. If your estimated tax liability after all TDS exceeds ₹10,000 for the year, Section 208 requires you to pay in four instalments — 15 June, 15 September, 15 December and 15 March. Miss an instalment and Section 234B and 234C interest starts accruing immediately. The Section 234 interest calculator works out exactly how much that costs if you've already missed a date or filed late.
Capital gains, equity compensation and crypto
Listed equity and mutual fund gains are taxed differently depending on holding period and asset type — the capital gains calculator covers both short-term and long-term scenarios for listed shares and property, including the indexation option for real estate. If you work at a startup or multinational, ESOP and RSU calculators split the tax into two events: perquisite tax at exercise or vesting, and capital gains when you eventually sell. Crypto is simpler in structure but harsher in treatment — flat 30% under Section 115BBH with no loss set-off, modelled in the crypto tax calculator.
Freelancers, gratuity and leave encashment
Freelancers and professionals earning up to ₹75 lakh can opt for presumptive taxation under Section 44ADA, where only 50% of gross receipts is treated as taxable income. The 44ADA calculator compares that against regular filing so you can see which route saves more at your income level. On the employment exit side, gratuity and leave encashment calculators work out how much of your terminal benefits is tax-exempt under Sections 10(10) and 10(10AA) respectively — useful when negotiating a package or planning retirement.
All calculators use FY 2026-27 slabs and rates from a single config file, updated when the Finance Act changes. Nothing you enter is uploaded — every calculation runs locally in your browser. For personalised advice on your specific situation, consult a qualified chartered accountant.