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HRA Calculator

★★★★★4.8|👁10,000+ uses|📅Updated Apr 2026

Reviewed by CA Ramesh Iyer, CFP

HRA Tax Exemption Calculator — Section 10(13A)

HRA (House Rent Allowance) is one of the biggest tax-saving components in a salaried person's salary structure. Under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act, the HRA exemption is the minimum of three conditions. Any HRA above the exemption is fully taxable as salary income.

Note: HRA exemption is only available under the Old Tax Regime. Under the New Regime (FY 2025-26), HRA is fully taxable regardless of rent paid.

Enter Details

₹50,000
5,00050,00,000
₹20,000
1,00050,00,000
₹18,000
050,00,000

Formula

HRA Exemption = Minimum of:
1. Actual HRA Received
2. 50% of Basic (Metro) / 40% of Basic (Non-Metro)
3. Actual Rent Paid − 10% of Basic Salary

Example Calculations

3 examples

Inputs

Monthly Basic Salary (₹)₹50,000
Monthly HRA Received (₹)₹20,000
Monthly Rent Paid (₹)₹18,000
City TypeMetro City (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata)

Results

Monthly HRA Exemption₹13,000
Monthly Taxable HRA₹7,000
Annual HRA Exemption₹1,56,000
Annual Taxable HRA₹84,000
Condition 1 — Actual HRA₹20,000
Condition 2 — 50/40% of Basic₹25,000
Condition 3 — Rent - 10% Basic₹13,000

Step-by-Step

C1 = ₹20K, C2 = 50% of ₹50K = ₹25K, C3 = ₹18K − 10% of ₹50K = ₹13K. Exemption = min(20K, 25K, 13K) = ₹13,000/month.

Click any example to expand and see step-by-step workings. Use "▶ Load this example" to auto-fill the calculator.

How to Calculate HRA Exemption — 3 Conditions Explained

  1. Condition 1: Actual HRA received from employer per month
  2. Condition 2: 50% of Basic Salary for Metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata); 40% for all other cities
  3. Condition 3: Actual Rent Paid minus 10% of Basic Salary (if this is negative, the exemption is zero — you save nothing on HRA)
  4. HRA Exemption = Minimum of C1, C2, C3
  5. Taxable HRA = HRA Received minus HRA Exemption

You must have a valid rent agreement and rent receipts. Landlord PAN is mandatory if annual rent exceeds ₹1 lakh.

HRA Exemption — Metro vs Non-Metro Cities

City CategoryCitiesHRA % of Basic
Metro (Tier-1)Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata50%
Non-Metro (all others)Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, all other cities40%

Note: Cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune are technically non-metro for HRA purposes under IT Act — despite being major metros. This is a common misconception.

Tips to Maximise Your HRA Exemption

Pay rent to a family member

You can pay rent to parents (not spouse) and claim HRA, provided they declare it as rental income in their ITR.

⏱️

Submit rent receipts on time

Missing the employer deadline means TDS is deducted. You can still claim it while filing ITR.

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Landlord PAN is mandatory

For annual rent above ₹1 lakh, you must submit the landlord's PAN to the employer.

New Regime users

HRA exemption does not apply. If you pay high rent, the Old Regime may still be worth it — compare both using our income tax calculator.

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Self

employed: Cannot claim HRA exemption under Section 10(13A). You may claim rent deduction under Section 80GG instead (max ₹5,000/month).

Frequently Asked Questions

HRA exemption = Minimum of:
1. Actual HRA received
2. 50% of Basic Salary (metro) or 40% (non-metro)
3. Actual rent paid minus 10% of Basic Salary
Any HRA above this exemption is taxable as salary.

More About This Calculator

In-depth guides and tips for getting the most out of this tool.

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