How to use the advance tax calculator
- Enter your expected business or professional income, salary and other income for the year.
- Enter the TDS and TCS you expect, from Form 26AS, the AIS and your payslips.
- Choose your age, tax regime and whether you use the presumptive scheme.
- Read the amount due in each instalment and the next due date.
- Turn on payment tracking and enter what you paid to see any interest.
How advance tax is worked out
Advance tax = tax on estimated income for the year − TDS and TCS
Estimate your income for the whole year, work out the tax with cess, subtract tax already deducted, and pay the rest in instalments. If your estimate changes, adjust the later instalments.
Advance tax due dates for 2026-27
Example: a consultant with ₹20,00,000 of professional income, ₹1,00,000 of interest and ₹40,000 TDS owes ₹2,34,000 in the new regime, so ₹1,94,000 is due as advance tax:
| Due date | Cumulative | Pay in instalment | Paid by then |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2026 | 15% | ₹29,100 | ₹29,100 |
| 15 September 2026 | 45% | ₹58,200 | ₹87,300 |
| 15 December 2026 | 75% | ₹58,200 | ₹1,45,500 |
| 15 March 2027 | 100% | ₹48,500 | ₹1,94,000 |
Under the presumptive scheme the whole amount is due by 15 March 2027.
Interest on late advance tax
If the same consultant skips the December instalment and catches up in March, the December shortfall of ₹58,200 attracts 1% for 3 months: ₹1,746 under Section 425 (earlier 234C). Paying nothing until filing would instead cost ₹9,797 under Section 425 plus ₹7,760 under Section 424 (earlier 234B).
| Section | When it applies | Interest |
|---|---|---|
| 425 (234C) | An instalment is short | 1% a month: 3 months for June, Sept, Dec; 1 month for March |
| 424 (234B) | Less than 90% paid by 31 March | 1% a month from April until paid |
| 423 (234A) | Return filed late | 1% a month on unpaid tax from the due date |
Unsure of your total tax? Work it out on the income tax calculator, and for capital gains use the capital gains calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Who has to pay advance tax?
Anyone whose tax for the year, after TDS and TCS, is ₹10,000 or more (Section 404 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, earlier 208). This usually means freelancers, business owners, investors with large capital gains or interest, and salaried people with big income outside salary. Resident senior citizens (60+) with no business or professional income are exempt.
What are the advance tax due dates for 2026-27?
15 June 2026 (15% of the year's tax), 15 September 2026 (45% cumulative), 15 December 2026 (75%) and 15 March 2027 (100%). If you use the presumptive scheme under Section 58 (earlier 44AD/44ADA), you can pay the whole amount by 15 March 2027.
What interest do I pay if I miss an instalment?
Under Section 425 (earlier 234C), 1% a month simple interest on the shortfall: for 3 months on each of the first three instalments and 1 month on the last. No interest applies on the first two if you have paid at least 12% by 15 June and 36% by 15 September. The shortfall is rounded down to the nearest ₹100.
What is interest under Section 424 (earlier 234B)?
If the advance tax you paid by 31 March is less than 90% of your tax after TDS, you pay 1% a month on the unpaid amount from 1 April until you pay it, counting part of a month as a full month. Paying the balance by 31 July means 4 months of interest.
Do salaried people need to pay advance tax?
Usually not, because the employer deducts TDS on salary. You need to pay it if you have other income, such as interest, rent, capital gains or freelance fees, and the tax on it after TDS is ₹10,000 or more.
How do I pay advance tax?
Online through the e-Pay Tax service on the income tax e-filing portal, choosing advance tax (minor head 100) for tax year 2026-27, by net banking, UPI, card or at a bank. Keep the challan details for your return.