Tax planning in 2025–26 has taken centre stage, especially after the Union Budget 2025 introduced significant changes, including tax exemption for income up to ₹12 lakh. As a new financial year begins, salaried employees are once again faced with the crucial decision: should they pick the old tax regime with multiple deductions or the new regime with simplified, lower tax rates? Think of it as choosing between two different paths—one full of shortcuts and detours (old regime with deductions) and another with a straight road but fewer stops (new regime…