Smart Tax-Saving Strategies Under the New Regime

The new tax regime simplified slabs but stripped away many deductions — and that has quietly changed how thoughtful investors should plan. With most 80C deductions gone, the levers that remain are fewer but no less powerful.

What still works

• Capital-gain harvesting — booking long-term gains within the annual exemption still resets your cost basis tax-free.
• NPS — the one deduction retained under the new regime, and a powerful one for retirement savers.
• Health insurance — premiums remain deductible under 80D, and the protection is worth more than the saving.

Choosing the right regime

The decision is arithmetic, not sentiment. We compare the tax under each regime every year, because the budget can change the answer. The right regime is whichever leaves more in your pocket — not whichever feels familiar.