Metro cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai. All others are non-metro.

HRA Tax Exemption

HRA Exemption for Pune Employees

💡 Pune is a non-metro city — 40% of basic salary HRA rule applies. Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Magarpatta IT park employees all fall under non-metro HRA rules.

Pune is one of India's largest IT hubs but is classified as non-metro for HRA exemption. This means the HRA exemption ceiling is 40% of basic salary — lower than Mumbai or Delhi employees get (50%).

Pune rents have risen significantly in IT corridors (Hinjewadi, Wakad, Baner, Kharadi). Despite high rents, the 40% non-metro cap limits HRA exemption. This makes the old vs new regime comparison important for Pune IT employees.

If your rent is very high relative to your salary, old regime with HRA exemption may still beat the new regime — use this calculator to find your exact exemption amount and then compare regimes.

HRA Exemption Formula for Pune

HRA Exemption = Minimum of:
1. Actual HRA received
2. Rent paid − 10% of Basic
3. 40% of Basic (Pune — non-metro)

Example — Pune IT employee

Basic: ₹35,000/month. HRA received: ₹14,000. Rent paid: ₹18,000.
1. HRA received: ₹14,000
2. Rent − 10% basic: ₹18,000 − ₹3,500 = ₹14,500
3. 40% of basic: ₹14,000
Exemption = Min(₹14,000, ₹14,500, ₹14,000) = ₹14,000/month

⚠️ Rules are for FY 2025-26. HRA exemption only under old regime.

Example Calculation

📋 Pune HRA — IT Salary Scenarios
Basic ₹25KHRA ₹10K, Rent ₹13K → Exemption: ₹10,000/month
Basic ₹40KHRA ₹16K, Rent ₹20K → Exemption: ₹16,000/month
Basic ₹60KHRA ₹24K, Rent ₹30K → Exemption: ₹24,000/month
Basic ₹80KHRA ₹32K, Rent ₹40K → Exemption: ₹32,000/month = ₹3.84L/year

Frequently Asked Questions

Pune is non-metro for HRA exemption. Only Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai are metro. Pune employees get HRA exemption up to 40% of basic salary (vs 50% for metro). This applies to all Pune areas including Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Baner, Wakad, and Magarpatta.

HRA exemption in Pune = minimum of (actual HRA received), (rent paid minus 10% of basic), and (40% of basic salary). For a ₹40,000 basic with ₹16,000 HRA and ₹20,000 rent: exemption = min(₹16,000, ₹16,000, ₹16,000) = ₹16,000/month = ₹1.92 lakh/year.

It depends on your rent and deductions. New regime is simpler with no HRA benefit. Old regime allows HRA exemption (40% of basic) plus 80C (₹1.5L), 80D (₹25K). If your annual HRA exemption + other deductions exceed ₹3L, old regime typically saves more. Use this calculator to find your HRA amount, then use the income tax calculator to compare regimes.

Disclaimer: Results are for informational and educational purposes only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Tax slabs, rates (EPF, PPF, home loan), and rules shown are based on data available in 2025 and may change. Always verify with a qualified professional or official government sources before making financial decisions.