{"id":40353,"date":"2014-03-24T23:11:40","date_gmt":"2014-03-24T17:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=40353"},"modified":"2026-10-08T19:22:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T13:52:21","slug":"save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Save Tax on Blogging Income in India and Invest It Wisely (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>How do you save tax on your blogging income in India, and where should you invest it? When blogging becomes a real income, tax planning matters as much as traffic. These are the tax-saving and investment options we&#8217;ve learned about over the years as Indian bloggers, updated for the 2026 tax year. Rules change every Budget, so treat this as a starting point to discuss with your chartered accountant.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> Blogging income (AdSense, affiliate commissions, sponsored posts) is taxed in India as business or professional income. First, choose between the <strong>new tax regime<\/strong> (the default, with lower rates and income up to \u20b912 lakh effectively tax-free after rebate) and the <strong>old regime<\/strong> (which allows deductions like PPF under Section 80C and health insurance under 80D). Then claim your genuine blogging expenses, consider presumptive taxation, and invest surplus income in options like PPF, mutual fund SIPs and fixed deposits.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-40356\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/save-tax1.jpg\" alt=\"Save tax on blogging income in India\" width=\"424\" height=\"283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/save-tax1.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/save-tax1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/save-tax1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 424px) 100vw, 424px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Disclaimer: this is general information, not tax or investment advice. I&#8217;m not a tax adviser or financial planner. Check current rules and consult a chartered accountant before making decisions.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aefef58642ec\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aefef58642ec\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#First_old_tax_regime_or_new_tax_regime\" >First: old tax regime or new tax regime?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#1_Claim_your_blogging_business_expenses\" >1. Claim your blogging business expenses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#2_Public_Provident_Fund_PPF\" >2. Public Provident Fund (PPF)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#3_Term_life_insurance\" >3. Term life insurance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#4_Health_insurance\" >4. Health insurance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#5_Mutual_fund_SIPs\" >5. Mutual fund SIPs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#6_Fixed_deposits_and_tax-free_bonds\" >6. Fixed deposits and tax-free bonds<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#7_Donations\" >7. Donations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/03\/save-tax-by-investing-blogging-income\/#Dont_forget_GST_advance_tax_and_TDS\" >Don&#8217;t forget GST, advance tax and TDS<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_old_tax_regime_or_new_tax_regime\"><\/span>First: old tax regime or new tax regime?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since FY 2023-24, the <strong>new tax regime<\/strong> is the default. It has lower slab rates and a rebate that makes income up to \u20b912 lakh effectively tax-free (from FY 2025-26), but it doesn&#8217;t allow most deductions such as 80C, 80D and 80G. The <strong>old regime<\/strong> has higher rates but lets you claim those deductions.<\/p>\n<p>Many bloggers with moderate income and few investments pay less under the new regime. If you invest heavily in tax-saving products, compare both with the tax calculator on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.incometax.gov.in\/iec\/foportal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Income Tax e-filing portal<\/a> or with your CA. Note that a new Income-tax Act, 2025 applies from 1 April 2026, so some section numbers have changed, though the familiar names like &#8220;80C&#8221; are still widely used.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Claim_your_blogging_business_expenses\"><\/span>1. Claim your blogging business expenses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This applies under both regimes, and it&#8217;s often the biggest saving. You pay tax on <strong>profit<\/strong>, not total income. Genuine blogging expenses can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Web hosting, domain names, CDN and email services<\/li>\n<li>Themes, plugins, SEO tools and software subscriptions<\/li>\n<li>Laptops, phones and cameras used for work (claimed as depreciation)<\/li>\n<li>Internet bills, freelance writers and designers, advertising<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep every invoice and receipt. If your turnover is below the limits, <strong>presumptive taxation<\/strong> (Section 44AD for business, or 44ADA for eligible professionals) lets you declare a fixed share of receipts as profit without detailed accounts. Ask your CA which applies to you.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Public_Provident_Fund_PPF\"><\/span>2. Public Provident Fund (PPF)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>PPF remains one of the safest long-term options. You can invest up to <strong>\u20b91.5 lakh a year<\/strong>, and the interest is tax-free. The rate is set every quarter by the government; it&#8217;s <strong>7.1%<\/strong> for October\u2013December 2026. The account runs for 15 years and can be extended in 5-year blocks. Deposits qualify for the 80C deduction only under the old regime, but the tax-free interest benefits everyone.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Term_life_insurance\"><\/span>3. Term life insurance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If blogging is your family&#8217;s main income, a <strong>term insurance<\/strong> plan is essential. It pays a large sum to your family if something happens to you, for a low yearly premium. A common rule of thumb is cover of 10\u201315 times your annual income. The younger you buy, the lower the premium. Premiums count towards 80C under the old regime. Plans that return your premium or pay yearly income give far less cover for much higher premiums.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Health_insurance\"><\/span>4. Health insurance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Self-employed bloggers don&#8217;t have an employer&#8217;s health cover, so buy a family floater policy early, while premiums are low and before waiting periods matter. Under the old regime, premiums are deductible under Section 80D (up to \u20b925,000 for yourself and family, more for senior-citizen parents).<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Mutual_fund_SIPs\"><\/span>5. Mutual fund SIPs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A <strong>systematic investment plan<\/strong> (SIP) invests a fixed amount, such as \u20b95,000, every month, buying more units when markets fall and fewer when they rise. Over many years, diversified equity funds have generated strong long-term returns, but they carry market risk. For equity funds held over 12 months, gains above \u20b91.25 lakh a year are taxed at 12.5% (long-term capital gains). I also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2022\/12\/track-stock-watchlist-portfolio-in-google-sheets\/\">track my stock watchlist and portfolio in Google Sheets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Fixed_deposits_and_tax-free_bonds\"><\/span>6. Fixed deposits and tax-free bonds<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Bank fixed deposits are simple and safe for money you may need soon, though the interest is fully taxable. Keep an emergency fund of 6\u201312 months of expenses, as blogging income can be irregular.<\/p>\n<p>We once bought <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/09\/tax-free-bonds\/\">tax-free bonds<\/a> paying over 9%. The government hasn&#8217;t allowed new tax-free bond issues for years, but existing bonds still trade on the stock exchange.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Donations\"><\/span>7. Donations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Donations to eligible charities and relief funds can be deducted under Section 80G, but only under the old regime. Keep the receipts.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dont_forget_GST_advance_tax_and_TDS\"><\/span>Don&#8217;t forget GST, advance tax and TDS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Advance tax:<\/strong> if your tax for the year exceeds \u20b910,000, pay it in quarterly instalments to avoid interest.<\/li>\n<li><strong>GST:<\/strong> registration is required once your turnover crosses the threshold (generally \u20b920 lakh for services). Income from foreign clients such as AdSense is usually treated as an export of services; your CA can advise on filing a Letter of Undertaking.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check Form 26AS\/AIS:<\/strong> Indian companies may deduct TDS on payments to you, which you can claim back in your return.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the end, it&#8217;s worth hiring a good chartered accountant to assess your blogging income and expenses correctly, choose the right regime and file your returns on time.<\/p>\n<p>How do you manage tax on your blogging income? Share your tips in the comments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you save tax on your blogging income in India, and where should you invest it? When blogging becomes&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":40356,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-40353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogging","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40353"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63681,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40353\/revisions\/63681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}