Understanding the marginal tax rate is essential when you calculate your tax liability, especially if your income varies across financial years. In India, income tax follows a progressive system where higher income levels attract higher tax rates. This means that different parts of your income are taxed at different rates instead of one flat percentage. Whether you are a salaried employee, freelancer, or self-employed, this concept affects how much tax you ultimately pay. Knowing how marginal tax brackets function can help you plan deductions like PPF, national pension scheme contributions, and tax rebate claims while income tax return filing.
Understanding Marginal Tax Rate
The marginal tax rate is the percentage of tax you pay on the next rupee of income you earn. In India, income is divided into slabs, with each slab taxed at an increasing rate. You do not pay a flat rate on your entire income. Instead, only the portion that falls into a higher bracket is taxed more. For example, if your income is Rs. 9,50,000, only the income above Rs. 9,00,000 is taxed at the 15% rate. This structure ensures progressive taxation, where individuals with higher income contribute more in taxes proportionately.
Marginal Tax Rate – Income Tax Slabs in India (Fy 2025–26)
Income tax in India is applied in a slab format under the new regime. The marginal tax rate increases with each income bracket. You should calculate your tax based on the slab your income crosses into, while only taxing the amount within that slab at the applicable rate.
Please refer to the table below for the marginal tax rates in FY 2025–26:
(See attached table: Marginal Tax Rate Slabs in India (FY 2025–26))
How Does Marginal Taxation Work?
Marginal taxation ensures that only the income exceeding each threshold is taxed at the next higher rate. This tiered approach does not mean your entire income is taxed at the highest rate you reach. For example, if your annual income is Rs. 10,00,000, your tax liability is calculated progressively—first slab at 0%, next at 5%, and so on. This helps avoid penalising people for earning slightly more. You benefit from deductions like PPF, national pension scheme contributions, and eligible tax rebates, which can reduce your taxable income and keep you in a lower marginal bracket during income tax return filing.
Maximum Marginal Tax Rate in India (Fy 2025–26)
Before discussing the example, you must understand what contributes to the maximum marginal tax rate. It combines income tax, surcharge, and cess.
The following points outline the components of the maximum rate:
Base tax on highest income slab
The highest tax slab of 30% applies to income exceeding Rs. 15,00,000 in the new tax regime. This is the base rate on the top income portion you earn.
Surcharge on high-income groups
Surcharge applies if your income exceeds specified limits—ranging from 10% to 25% based on total income. For instance, 25% surcharge applies if your income is above Rs. 5 crore.
Health and education cess
A 4% health and education cess is applied on the total of income tax and surcharge, increasing your overall tax liability marginally.
Importance of marginal tax rate
The marginal tax rate helps you make informed financial and investment decisions, especially when you want to minimise tax burden while staying compliant with the income tax system.
Here are a few reasons this rate is important:
Helps optimise tax planning
Knowing the marginal rate helps you plan investments in PPF or national pension scheme to lower the taxable portion of your income efficiently.
Encourages tax-saving behaviour
It motivates you to explore deductions, exemptions, and tax rebate options—so that your final income tax return filing reflects lower liability.
Affects marginal decision-making
Whether to take additional income or defer it, the rate impacts decisions on salary hikes, bonuses, or freelance work based on the extra tax you will pay.
Marginal tax rate vs. effective tax rate
It is important to distinguish between the marginal and effective tax rate as they represent different aspects of your tax liability. The marginal tax rate tells you how much tax you pay on your last rupee earned, while the effective rate shows what percentage of your total income you pay as tax.
Basis
| Marginal tax rate
| Effective tax rate
|
Definition
| Tax rate on the next rupee of income
| Total tax paid divided by total income
|
Varies across income slabs
| Yes
| No
|
Planning relevance
| Helps plan deductions at slab cut-offs
| Helps assess overall tax burden
|
Calculation basis
| Based on slab crossing
| Based on total tax liability
|
Example of Maximum Marginal Tax Rate Calculation
Let us consider an example to calculate the maximum marginal tax rate for a high-income individual using the new regime. This includes base tax, surcharge, and cess.
Here is the step-by-step breakdown:
Assume income of Rs. 6 crore
This income level places the individual in the 30% tax slab. The base tax on income above Rs. 15 lakh is calculated at this rate.
Apply 25% surcharge
As the income exceeds Rs. 5 crore, a 25% surcharge on the tax amount is added, significantly increasing the tax payable.
Add 4% cess
The final step is applying 4% health and education cess on the total tax + surcharge, resulting in a maximum marginal rate of 39%.
How to lower your tax liability?
If you are concerned about your marginal tax rate, there are legal ways to reduce your taxable income. These deductions help keep you within lower tax brackets.
Here are the ways to consider:
Invest in PPF and national pension scheme
Contributions to PPF and NPS are eligible under Section 80C and 80CCD(1B) respectively. They reduce your taxable income during income tax return filing.
Utilise Section 87A rebate
If your income is below Rs. 7 lakh (new regime), you can claim a full tax rebate under Section 87A, effectively reducing tax liability to zero.
Opt for exemptions and allowances
House Rent Allowance (HRA), Leave Travel Allowance (LTA), and standard deduction from salary help reduce the taxable portion under old regime options.
Conclusion
The marginal tax rate is central to how the Indian tax system works. It affects how each additional rupee of income is taxed, which in turn shapes your investment, savings, and income decisions. Whether you are salaried or self-employed, understanding this rate ensures you optimise tax planning and avoid miscalculations during income tax return filing. Knowing when your income enters a higher slab can help you plan PPF or national pension scheme contributions to stay efficient with your tax outgo. In short, it is not just about how much you earn—but how well you plan your taxes.