Basic salary

What is basic salary?

A basic salary, also referred to simply as "base salary" or "base pay," is the fixed amount of money that an employee receives as compensation for their work before any additional payments or bonuses are included. It is the core component of an employee's total compensation package and does not include variable elements like overtime pay, bonuses, commissions, or allowances.

How to calculate basic salary?

Calculating the basic salary from the Cost to Company (CTC) involves working backward to determine the basic pay component based on the given CTC and other components of the salary structure. Typically, the basic salary is a fixed percentage of the CTC, with the remaining components like allowances, bonuses, and benefits making up the rest. The exact percentage used to calculate the basic salary can vary between employers and industries.

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Here are two examples of how to calculate the basic salary from the CTC, assuming different percentages for the basic salary component:

Example 1:

Let's say an employee's CTC is ₹800,000 per annum, and the company follows a policy of setting the basic salary at 50% of the CTC.

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In this example, the basic salary is 50% of the CTC, which is ₹800,000.

Example 2:

Now, let's consider another scenario where the CTC is ₹1,200,000, and the company sets the basic salary at 40% of the CTC.

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PF percentage of basic salary

The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contribution in India is typically calculated as a percentage of an employee's basic salary plus dearness allowance (DA), if applicable. The current contribution rates for the EPF in India are as follows:

• Employee Contribution: Employees contribute 12% of their basic salary and DA (if any) towards the EPF.
• Employer Contribution: Employers also contribute 12% of the employee's basic salary and DA (if any) to the EPF. However, out of the employer's 12% contribution, 8.33% is directed towards the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) subject to a maximum limit.

Either 12% or INR 1800, whichever is higher will be the contribution towards EPF.

HRA Percentage of Basic Salary

‍The percentage of House Rent Allowance (HRA) relative to the basic salary can vary depending on your employer's policies and the city in which you work. Typically, HRA is calculated as a percentage of the basic salary to help employees with their rental expenses. The government has defined certain rules regarding HRA calculation for tax purposes, and it can vary as follows:

For employees working in metro cities, HRA is generally 50% of the basic salary.

For employees working in non-metro cities, HRA is usually 40% of the basic salary.

HRA can also be lower than these percentages, depending on your specific employment agreement.

How to Calculate Basic Salary from Gross Salary

‍To calculate the basic salary from the gross salary, you need to know the percentage of the basic salary in the gross salary structure. Typically, the formula to calculate the basic salary from the gross salary is as follows:

Basic Salary = (Gross Salary / (1 + Percentage Deductions))

Here, "Percentage Deductions" includes deductions such as provident fund (PF), professional tax, and other statutory deductions.

For example, if your gross salary is ₹60,000 per month, and the deductions (including PF and professional tax) amount to 20% of the gross salary, you can calculate the basic salary as:

Basic Salary = (₹60,000 / (1 + 0.20)) = ₹50,000

Gross Salary vs. Basic Salary

1. Gross Salary: Gross salary is the total amount of compensation that an employee receives from their employer before any deductions or taxes are applied. It includes various components such as basic salary, house rent allowance (HRA), special allowances, bonuses, incentives, and other benefits.
2. Basic Salary: Basic salary, on the other hand, is a fixed component of the salary structure and is typically the largest part of the gross salary. It serves as the foundation for calculating various other benefits like provident fund contributions, gratuity, and more. Basic salary is subject to statutory deductions like income tax, but it does not include variable elements like allowances or bonuses.