Income Tax
Section 80C Deductions: Full List, ₹1.5 Lakh Limit & Best Options
Taxwapsi Editorial Team7 June 2026 3 min read
Section 80C is the most popular tax-saving deduction in India — it lets you reduce your taxable income by up to ₹1.5 lakh a year. Note: 80C is available only under the old tax regime, so weigh it against the new regime first (see our regime comparison).
Full list of 80C investments & expenses
- ELSS mutual funds — 3-year lock-in, market-linked, shortest lock-in of all.
- PPF — 15-year, tax-free, government-backed.
- EPF — your provident fund contribution.
- Life insurance premiums — for self, spouse, children.
- 5-year tax-saving FD with banks.
- NSC and Sukanya Samriddhi (for a girl child).
- Home loan principal repayment.
- Children's tuition fees (up to 2 children).
- Stamp duty on a new home purchase.
Which should you pick?
- Want growth + short lock-in: ELSS.
- Want safety + tax-free returns: PPF.
- Already paying home loan/insurance/EPF: you may hit ₹1.5 lakh without new investment.
Beyond 80C
Stack additional deductions: 80D (health insurance), 80CCD(1B) (extra ₹50,000 in NPS), and 24(b) (home loan interest). These multiply your savings.
FAQs
Is 80C available in the new regime? No — only the old regime.
Can I claim more than ₹1.5 lakh? Not under 80C, but other sections add to it.
File with Taxwapsi and we'll maximise every deduction you're eligible for.