Step 2 · Salary target
Reverse CTC Calculator: Take-Home to CTC
Enter the salary you want in your bank each month. We work backwards to the annual CTC an employer would need to offer, separately for the new and old tax regimes.
Enter your target and select Calculate. JavaScript is required; the method and example below are available without it.
How the reverse CTC calculation works
Your CTC (cost to company) is what the employer spends on you in a year. Some of it never reaches your bank account. This calculator starts from the take-home you want and adds back each of these layers:
- Employer PF. 12% of basic, capped at ₹3,000 a month by default (12% of the ₹25,000 EPF wage ceiling in force from 17 Sep 2026; it was ₹1,800 on the old ₹15,000 ceiling). It goes into your PF account, not your salary credit. How the new PF limit changes take-home.
- Gratuity provision. 4.81% of basic. It is set aside for a payout after about 5 years of service. You don't receive it each year.
- Employee PF. 12% of basic (same cap), deducted from your pay.
- Professional tax. ₹200 a month by default. Change it to whatever your state actually charges, or 0 if exempt.
- Income tax plus 4% cess. Calculated under each regime's FY 2026-27 slabs, standard deduction and Section 87A rebate.
The calculator searches for the smallest CTC whose annual take-home, divided by 12, reaches your target. It does this once for the new regime and once for the old regime.
Worked example: ₹50,000 a month in hand
A ₹50,000 monthly target is ₹6,00,000 a year. Under the new regime, using the default assumptions:
| Line | Amount (₹/yr) |
|---|---|
| Annual CTC needed | 6,80,863 |
| − Employer PF | 32,681 |
| − Gratuity provision | 13,100 |
| = Cash salary before deductions | 6,35,082 |
| − Employee PF | 32,681 |
| − Professional tax | 2,400 |
| − Income tax (87A rebate brings it to zero) | 0 |
| = Annual take-home | 6,00,001 |
That is ₹50,000 a month after rounding. Under the old regime with no deductions or rent claimed, the same take-home needs ₹7,24,581 CTC, because about ₹38,680 of tax is payable.
In-hand to CTC table: common targets
These use the default assumptions with no rent and no extra deductions. Treat them as starting points, not quotes. Select a target to load it into the calculator above.
| Monthly in-hand target | CTC needed: new regime | CTC needed: old regime (no deductions) | Annual tax: new | Annual tax: old |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹25,000 | ₹3,41,788 | ₹3,41,788 | ₹0 | ₹0 |
| ₹50,000 | ₹6,80,863 | ₹7,24,581 | ₹0 | ₹38,680 |
| ₹75,000 | ₹9,93,516 | ₹11,14,198 | ₹0 | ₹1,18,361 |
| ₹1,00,000 | ₹12,99,401 | ₹15,58,799 | ₹0 | ₹2,54,407 |
| ₹1,50,000 | ₹21,15,593 | ₹24,48,000 | ₹2,00,489 | ₹5,26,500 |
| ₹2,00,000 | ₹29,68,403 | ₹33,37,201 | ₹4,36,891 | ₹7,98,593 |
Read the ₹1 lakh row like this: under the new regime, taxable income stays just under ₹12 lakh after the ₹75,000 standard deduction, so the Section 87A rebate cancels the tax. The old regime only comes out ahead if your HRA, 80C, 80D, NPS or home-loan claims are large enough to close the gap. Enter your rent above to see the HRA effect.
Before you negotiate
- Ask HR how PF is calculated. Is it capped at the statutory wage ceiling (this tool assumes 12% of basic up to ₹3,000 a month each side, the ₹25,000 ceiling from 17 Sep 2026), or charged at 12% of full basic? Uncapped PF can cut your take-home noticeably at higher salaries.
- Separate fixed pay from variable pay. This tool assumes the whole CTC is paid every year. Performance bonus, joining bonus, ESOPs and retention pay are not in the take-home.
- Check the basic %. Some employers set basic at 50% of CTC, which raises PF and gratuity. Change "Basic salary (% of CTC)" to match the offer letter.
- Old regime users: enter your monthly rent. HRA exemption depends on your rent, your basic, and whether your city gets the 50% or 40% limit.
Professional tax is paid in both regimes even though the new regime does not deduct it from taxable income. ₹200/month is an editable assumption, not a universal state rate.
What this calculator does not cover
It covers ordinary salary income for a resident individual. It leaves out capital gains, special-rate income, non-resident rules, foreign tax relief, employer NPS, and state-specific PT slabs. Results are estimates for comparing offers. They are not tax or financial advice. For your actual liability, check Form 16 and your AIS, or speak to a qualified professional.
Sources: slab provisions, resident rebates, employee deductions and HRA, EPF wage ceiling notification S.O. 5109(E), 17 Sep 2026, EPFO wage ceiling FAQs. The ₹25,000 PF ceiling applies from 17 Sep 2026; FY 2026-27 payslips before that used ₹15,000, so this tool shows the forward-looking monthly position.
Next steps
- Don't know your target yet? Work out your monthly living costs first.
- Already have an offer? See the take-home from a CTC.
- Weighing regimes? Compare new vs old regime.
- Was your PF capped at ₹1,800? See the new ₹25,000 PF limit and your take-home.
- Want to know what each line in a CTC means? CTC breakup explained.
- Comparing several offers? Use the Offer Manager.
Frequently asked questions
What is a reverse CTC calculator?
It starts from the monthly salary you want in your bank account and works backwards to the annual CTC an employer would need to offer. It adds back employer PF, gratuity provision, employee PF, professional tax and income tax.
How much CTC do I need for ₹1 lakh in hand per month?
With this calculator's default assumptions (basic 40% of CTC, capped PF, no rent or deductions), about ₹12.99 lakh CTC in the new regime and about ₹15.59 lakh in the old regime. Your figure will differ if your basic %, PF method or deductions differ.
How much CTC do I need for ₹50,000 in hand per month?
About ₹6.81 lakh CTC under the new regime with default assumptions. That covers about ₹32,681 employer PF, about ₹13,100 gratuity provision, about ₹32,681 employee PF and ₹2,400 professional tax. At this salary basic is below the ₹25,000 EPF wage ceiling, so PF is the full 12% of basic. Tax is zero after the Section 87A rebate.
Why is CTC so much higher than take-home pay?
CTC includes money that never reaches your bank each month: employer PF, gratuity provision, your own PF deduction, professional tax and income tax. Variable pay and benefits in an offer letter widen the gap further.
Which tax regime needs a lower CTC for the same take-home?
With no deductions claimed, the new regime needs a lower CTC at every target we tested from ₹25,000 to ₹2,00,000 a month. The old regime can come out ahead only if HRA, 80C, 80D, NPS or home-loan claims are large enough. Enter your rent to see the HRA effect.
Does my city change the result?
Only under the old regime, and only if you enter rent. The city decides whether HRA exemption is capped at 50% or 40% of basic. Professional tax also varies by state, so enter the amount on your payslip.
Is this my exact salary or tax?
No. It is an estimate at FY 2026-27 rates for comparing offers. Actual take-home depends on your employer's salary structure, PF method, variable pay and declarations. It is not tax or financial advice.