Estimate the net liability first
Advance tax is based on estimated tax remaining after applicable TDS/TCS and eligible credits. Regular instalment targets are cumulative: 15% by 15 June, 45% by 15 September, 75% by 15 December and 100% by 15 March. Eligible presumptive taxpayers use the March-payment schedule.
For net liability of ₹1.5 lakh, the regular cumulative targets are ₹22,500, ₹67,500, ₹1,12,500 and ₹1,50,000. The second figure is the amount that should have been paid in total by September, not another payment of ₹67,500 after June.
Enter payments consistently
The planner’s payment fields are individual instalment payments. It sums them into cumulative paid amounts. Do not enter a cumulative September total in the September field if June has already been entered separately.
Interest is a scoped illustration
Legacy 234C interest has June and September tolerance thresholds, while the instalment target percentages remain 15% and 45%. A triggered shortfall calculation and the target itself therefore are not identical. The planner distinguishes them and uses a simplified rounding convention.
Income that could not reasonably have been anticipated, particular capital-gain timing, relief and other provisions can affect the actual interest. The tool does not calculate 234B or prepare a return. Verify the current tax-year provisions and actual payment dates before filing. A resident senior without business or professional income may have an advance-tax exemption; selecting the option does not establish eligibility.