Deductions most people miss
In this chapter: 80C beyond PPF — the full list · 80D for self, parents, and senior parents · 80E (education loan) and 80G (donations) the right way · 80TTA / 80TTB on savings and FD interest
The Old regime's deduction stack is large and most people use only a fraction of it. 80C (₹1.5L cap) is famous for ELSS and PPF, but also covers principal repayment of home loan, life insurance premium, tuition fees for children, and Sukanya Samriddhi. 80D (₹25K self/family + ₹50K parents-senior) covers health insurance and preventive health check-ups. 80CCD(1B) gives an EXTRA ₹50K above 80C for NPS contributions.
Less obvious deductions: 80E covers education-loan INTEREST (not principal) for up to 8 years post-completion of course — claim every rupee. 80G covers donations to approved charities at 50% or 100% (with PAN of donee mandatory; cash above ₹2,000 is no longer allowed). 80TTA gives ₹10,000 deduction on savings-account interest (only); 80TTB gives ₹50,000 to seniors on all interest. 80GG (₹60K cap or 25% of income) is for those without HRA but paying rent. 24(b) home-loan interest up to ₹2L for self-occupied. 80CCD(2) employer's NPS contribution, not capped against 80C, up to 10% of salary (14% for govt employees).
Three commonly-missed angles: (1) HRA and home-loan interest can BOTH be claimed in the same year if you live in a rented house in one city and own a let-out house in another — you do not have to give up one for the other. (2) 80D includes preventive health check-up of ₹5,000 (within the broader limit) — even if no insurance was bought, the check-up alone is deductible. (3) Stamp duty and registration on a new home are 80C eligible in the year paid (within the ₹1.5L cap), often missed by first-time buyers.