1Which tax regime is better for armed forces personnel?
Whichever gives the lower tax after totalling your deductions. With strong provident fund, NPS and service allowances, the old regime often wins — but compare both each year.
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ArticleArmed forces personnel earn salary with a set of service-specific allowances and pension benefits, some of which carry special exemptions. Here's how defence personnel can save tax and claim everything they're entitled to.
Reviewed by CA Harika Chebolu, FCA · Last updated 2026-06-13
Quick answer
Defence personnel are salaried with specific allowance and pension exemptions, plus the usual regime, 80C and NPS levers. Here's how to use them.
The new regime gives a Rs 75,000 standard deduction and nil tax up to Rs 12,00,000 with few deductions; the old regime wins only when your allowances, 80C, NPS and 80D together beat that. With service pay structured in components, compare both each year.
Certain defence allowances carry specific exemptions within prescribed limits. Review your pay structure so genuinely exempt allowances aren't taxed as ordinary salary — this is where service pay often leaks tax if not handled carefully.
Your provident fund contribution already counts toward the Rs 1,50,000 80C limit, so check what room is left and top up with PPF, ELSS or insurance. Children's tuition fees and home-loan principal also qualify.
If you're under NPS, the Rs 50,000 under 80CCD(1B) sits above your 80C limit, and the employer contribution under 80CCD(2) is separately deductible — the 80CCD(2) benefit even survives in the new regime.
Certain pensions — including disability pension for armed forces personnel and pensions of gallantry-award winners — carry specific exemptions. As you approach pension, confirm which benefits are exempt so they aren't taxed in error.
Whichever gives the lower tax after totalling your deductions. With strong provident fund, NPS and service allowances, the old regime often wins — but compare both each year.
Certain defence allowances carry specific exemptions within prescribed limits; others are taxable. Review your pay structure so genuinely exempt allowances aren't taxed as ordinary salary.
Certain pensions, including disability pension for armed forces personnel and gallantry-award pensions, carry specific exemptions. Confirm which apply to you so exempt benefits aren't taxed in error.
Serving or recently retired from the forces? Write to the firm and we'll make sure every allowance and pension exemption is claimed.