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Money guides

Straight answers to the questions people ask most about tax, salary, loans, investing and IPOs. Every figure is worked out with our calculators, so you can rerun it with your own numbers.

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The questions we are asked most.

Income tax5 min readIs income up to ₹12 lakh tax-free in 2026-27?Investing6 min readHow much SIP do you need to make ₹1 crore?Loans6 min readShould you reduce EMI or tenure after prepaying a loan?IPOs5 min readHow can I increase my chances of IPO allotment?

Income tax

Regimes, rebates, deductions and the Income-tax Act, 2025.

Income tax5 min readIs income up to ₹12 lakh tax-free in 2026-27?Income tax6 min readOld vs new tax regime: which is better for you in 2026-27?Income tax6 min readCan you claim HRA exemption in the new tax regime?Income tax6 min readWhat changed under the Income-tax Act, 2025?Income tax6 min readAdvance tax due dates for 2026-27 and who must pay

Salary & PF

CTC, in-hand pay, EPF and gratuity.

Salary & PF6 min readWhy is your in-hand salary less than your CTC?Salary & PF6 min readEPF wage ceiling raised to ₹25,000: what it means for your salarySalary & PF6 min readWho is eligible for gratuity, and how much will you get?

Loans

EMIs, interest, prepayment and transfers.

Loans6 min readShould you reduce EMI or tenure after prepaying a loan?Loans6 min readHow is home loan interest calculated?Loans5 min readFlat vs reducing interest rate: which is cheaper?Loans6 min readIs a home loan balance transfer worth it?

Investing

SIPs, lumpsums and tax on mutual funds.

Investing6 min readHow much SIP do you need to make ₹1 crore?Investing7 min readSIP or lumpsum: which is better?Investing6 min readIs a step-up SIP worth it?Investing7 min readHow are mutual fund gains taxed in 2026-27?

Savings schemes

PPF, FDs, SSY and post office schemes.

Savings schemes6 min readPPF vs FD: which is better for you?Savings schemes6 min readHow much will Sukanya Samriddhi give at maturity?Savings schemes6 min readSCSS vs Post Office MIS: which is better for regular income?

IPOs

Applying, allotment, refunds and listing.

IPOs5 min readHow can I increase my chances of IPO allotment?IPOs5 min readWhat happens if I don't get an IPO allotment?IPOs5 min readWhat is the cut-off price in an IPO?IPOs5 min readSME IPO vs mainboard IPO: what is the difference?

Guides are written by the BlogBanking research team from official sources (the Income Tax Department, RBI, SEBI, EPFO and India Post) and checked against our calculators. They explain the rules and are not personal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.