Understanding Your Amortization Schedule
How to read your repayment schedule and plan for tax savings.
1. The “Tipping Point” in Loan Repayment
Every reducing-balance loan has a crucial milestone called the Amortization Tipping Point. This is the exact month when your monthly principal repayment exceeds the interest component for the first time. For a 20-year home loan at 8.5%, this tipping point typically arrives around Year 9 or 10. After this milestone, your equity growth accelerates rapidly.
2. Tracking Tax Exemption Thresholds
You can use the Year-by-Year Amortization Table to monitor your tax caps under the Old Tax Regime:
- Section 24(b) Max ₹2,00,000: In early loan years, annual interest easily exceeds ₹2 Lakhs, enabling you to claim the full deduction.
- Section 80C Max ₹1,50,000: In early years, principal repayments are smaller (e.g. ₹60,000–₹90,000), leaving room for PPF and ELSS under your 80C envelope. In later years, principal repayments exceed ₹1.5 Lakhs.