House Rent Allowance (HRA) is one of the most valuable exemptions under the old tax regime. Here is how to calculate yours correctly — with examples for metro, non-metro and edge cases.

The "least of three" rule

Your HRA exemption under Section 10(13A) is the minimum of:

  1. Actual HRA received from your employer
  2. Rent paid minus 10% of basic salary (+ DA if forming part of retirement benefits)
  3. 50% of basic salary if you live in a metro, or 40% if non-metro

Whichever is smallest is the tax-free portion. Anything above that is added back to your taxable salary.

What counts as a "metro"?

For HRA purposes, only four cities qualify as metros: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and others are treated as non-metro at 40%.

Example 1: Mumbai, full HRA claim

  • Basic + DA: ₹60,000/month (₹7,20,000/yr)
  • HRA received: ₹30,000/month (₹3,60,000/yr)
  • Rent paid: ₹35,000/month (₹4,20,000/yr)

Calculating each limb:

  • Actual HRA: ₹3,60,000
  • Rent − 10% of basic: ₹4,20,000 − ₹72,000 = ₹3,48,000
  • 50% of basic (metro): ₹3,60,000

Exemption = ₹3,48,000. Taxable HRA = ₹3,60,000 − ₹3,48,000 = ₹12,000.

Example 2: Bengaluru, non-metro

  • Basic + DA: ₹50,000/month (₹6,00,000/yr)
  • HRA received: ₹20,000/month (₹2,40,000/yr)
  • Rent paid: ₹22,000/month (₹2,64,000/yr)
  • Actual HRA: ₹2,40,000
  • Rent − 10% basic: ₹2,64,000 − ₹60,000 = ₹2,04,000
  • 40% of basic (non-metro): ₹2,40,000

Exemption = ₹2,04,000. Taxable HRA = ₹36,000.

Example 3: Rent below 10% of basic — no exemption

If rent is very low relative to salary, limb 2 becomes zero or negative. Example: Basic ₹80,000/m, Rent ₹6,000/m. Rent − 10% basic = ₹72,000 − ₹96,000 = negative → exemption is ₹0 even if HRA is received.

Example 4: Own house, staying with parents but paying them rent

You can claim HRA while paying rent to your parents — provided the arrangement is genuine. Your parents must declare the rent as their income and you need rent receipts + a formal agreement. Auditable, but legal.

Example 5: Changed cities mid-year

Calculate HRA limb-by-limb for each period separately, then add. If you moved from Bengaluru (40%) to Mumbai (50%) in October, months 1-6 use 40% and months 7-12 use 50%.

Important compliance rules

  • Rent must be over ₹1 lakh/year to require landlord PAN on your declaration
  • Rent cannot be paid to your spouse
  • If you own the home and live there, HRA cannot be claimed
  • The new tax regime does NOT allow HRA exemption — only the old regime does

Skip the math: use our HRA Exemption Calculator.