The honest answer? It's not about which regime is "better" - it's about which one actually works for your specific financial setup.

I've been tracking salary calculations through my tool, and here's what 1,100+ real scenarios from the last month reveal:

The Data:

• 85% go with New Regime
• 15% stick with Old Regime

But that's just surface level. The real pattern emerges when you break it down by income brackets.

Mid-range earners (₹10-25L): 92.5% choose New Regime

Makes sense. At this level, the standard deduction and simplified tax slabs beat the hassle of juggling multiple investment proofs. Unless you're paying significant rent or already deep into 80C investments, New Regime is the cleaner choice.

High earners (₹25L+): Split is 60.9% New, 39.1% Old

This is where it gets interesting. The decision becomes far more nuanced - heavily dependent on your rent, existing investments, and how you structure your finances.

The Rent Variable - Often the Deciding Factor

If you're paying ₹25K+ monthly rent in a metro, Old Regime suddenly becomes compelling. HRA exemption alone can give you ₹2-4L in savings annually. Combine that with standard 80C investments, and you're looking at substantial tax arbitrage.

Real example: ₹40L CTC, ₹40K rent in Bangalore

• HRA exemption: ~₹3.2L
• 80C: ₹1.5L
• Result: Old Regime saves ₹60K+ annually

When New Regime Works:

• Lower rent or no HRA component
• Minimal tax-saving investments
• You value simplicity over optimization
• Prefer higher monthly liquidity

When Old Regime Makes Sense:

• High metro rent
• Already investing in 80C
• Home loan (additional ₹2L deduction)
• Medical expenses that qualify under 80D

My Take:

Don't make this decision based on what others are choosing. The difference between regimes can be ₹30K-₹1L annually - worth the 10 minutes to calculate your actual scenario.

I built In-Hand specifically for this. Plug in your numbers - salary, rent, investments - and you'll see both regimes side-by-side with precise calculations. No guesswork, just data. As you adjust your CTC, investments and Rent the tool will automatically suggest you the optimal tax regime.

Bottom line: The "better" regime is the one that saves you more money based on YOUR numbers, not aggregated trends.