Free tool - FY 2026-27
CTC calculator: the CTC you need for a target in-hand salary
Most calculators turn a CTC into take-home. This one goes the other way. Enter the monthly in-hand you want and get the smallest CTC that delivers it under the new and old tax regimes, with the full breakup, PF on the Rs 25,000 ceiling and variable pay handled.
Built for HR teams and founders designing offers, and for candidates negotiating them.
Find the CTC for your target take-home
New tax regime
₹10,59,891
CTC a year, 10.60 lakh
Old tax regime (PF as only 80C)
₹11,92,320
CTC a year, 11.92 lakh
CTC breakup
| Component | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | ₹44,162 | ₹5,29,946 |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | ₹17,665 | ₹2,11,978 |
| Special allowance | ₹21,373 | ₹2,56,477 |
| Employer PF | ₹3,000 | ₹36,000 |
| Gratuity (provision) | ₹2,124 | ₹25,490 |
| Total CTC | ₹88,324 | ₹10,59,891 |
Beyond this CTC the company also pays EDLI and the EPF admin charge, about ₹250 a month for this employee, before the establishment minimum. Draft the letter with the offer letter generator, and check any offer against it with the in-hand salary calculator.
Quick reference
CTC needed for common take-home targets (FY 2026-27, new regime)
| ₹30,000 a month in-hand | ₹4,23,390 |
|---|---|
| ₹50,000 a month in-hand | ₹6,91,020 |
| ₹75,000 a month in-hand | ₹9,98,412 |
| ₹1,00,000 a month in-hand | ₹13,05,805 |
| ₹1,50,000 a month in-hand | ₹21,26,020 |
| ₹2,00,000 a month in-hand | ₹29,83,033 |
At 50% basic, PF on the Rs 25,000 ceiling, gratuity inside CTC and Rs 200 professional tax. All CTC and no variable pay.
Offer design
Three levers that move the CTC you need
Basic pay split
For ₹1,00,000 a month in hand you need ₹13,05,805 at 50% basic and ₹12,99,401 at 40% basic. The Labour Codes push basic towards 50%, so budget on the higher figure.
Variable pay
Putting 20% of CTC into variable pay moves the CTC for the same ₹1,00,000 from ₹13,05,805 to ₹18,08,914. A candidate comparing only the CTC number will not see that.
The PF ceiling
With the ceiling at Rs 25,000 since 17 September 2026, an offer built on the old Rs 15,000 figure delivers up to Rs 1,200 a month less than promised. Rework any offers issued before then.
Put the final structure in writing with the offer letter format and appointment letter format, and go the other way with the in-hand salary calculator. For a single month's payslip, see the salary slip generator.
Got questions?
CTC calculator: FAQs
CTC from in-hand, basic split, variable pay and the PF ceiling.
- Add back what is deducted or sits outside your bank credit: employee PF, professional tax and income tax, plus the employer PF and gratuity that count in CTC but never reach you. The calculator does this by search: it finds the smallest CTC whose monthly in-hand reaches your target, to the rupee.
- A higher basic raises PF and gratuity, which are inside CTC, so you need a higher CTC for the same take-home. For a take-home of ₹1,00,000 a month the CTC is ₹13,05,805 at 50% basic and ₹12,99,401 at 40% basic.
- Variable pay is in CTC but not in the monthly salary. To keep ₹1,00,000 a month in hand with 20% of CTC as variable, you need a CTC of ₹18,08,914, against ₹13,05,805 if all of it is fixed.
- Yes. It uses the Rs 25,000 PF wage ceiling that took effect on 17 September 2026 (notification S.O. 5109(E)), so at the ceiling employee PF is Rs 3,000 a month, up from Rs 1,800. Calculators that still use Rs 15,000 overstate take-home for higher salaries. Check the notification for your own filings.
- The FY 2026-27 new regime and the old regime with PF as the only 80C deduction. The old regime can come out cheaper only if you claim large HRA, home loan or 80D deductions, which this calculator does not model.
- Yes, as a guide. It shows the CTC that delivers a given take-home so you can compare offers on the same footing. Confirm the structure, the PF basis and any variable pay in the offer letter before you decide.
More free tools
More free HR and payroll tools
Related to payroll and salary, and the rest of the toolkit.
- Salary slip generatorPDF and Excel payslips with PF, ESI, PT and LOP.
- Salary slip format in ExcelThree templates with working formulas.
- Salary sheet format in ExcelEmployer payroll register with challan totals.
- In-hand salary calculatorCTC to take-home, new and old regime.
- Gratuity calculatorGratuity payout with Labour Code wage rules.
- Leave encashment calculatorValue of unused leave on exit.
Designing offers and running payroll for a growing team? Zeba applies PF, ESI, PT and TDS from attendance and issues every payslip.