The individuals will have to work out their liability under the old and new tax regime before deciding which one is more beneficial. Therefore, it is not clear as to whether the new personal tax regime will really bring substantial tax savings for most
New Delhi, February 1
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday introduced new slabs and reduced the tax rate for different slabs for an individual income of up to Rs 15 lakh per annum, if a taxpayer opts for foregoing exemptions and deductions.
The new tax regime will be optional and the taxpayers will be given the choice to either remain in the old regime with exemptions and deductions or opt for the new reduced tax rate without those exemptions, she said in the Lok Sabha while unveiling the Budget 2020-21.
Under the proposal, people with an annual income of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh will have to pay a reduced tax rate of 10 per cent; between Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh 15 per cent; between Rs 10 lakh and 12.5 lakh 20 per cent; between Rs 12.5 lakh and 15 lakh 25 per cent; and above Rs 15 lakh 30 per cent, she said.
The proposal would lead to a revenue sacrifice of Rs 40,000 crore per annum, she added. Individuals opting to pay tax under the new personal income tax regime will have to forgo almost all tax breaks they were claiming in the current tax structure. The important tax rebates that will not be available under the new regime include Section 80C (investments in PF, NPS, life insurance premiums), Section 80D (medical insurance premium), deduction on house rent allowance (HRA) and on interest paid on housing loan. Tax breaks for the disabled and for charitable donations also go. Therefore, it is not clear as to whether the new personal tax regime will really bring substantial tax savings for most.
The individuals will have to work out their liability under the old and new tax regime before deciding which one is more beneficial. — Agencies
IMPORTANT REBATES
Taxpayers will have to forgo Following exemptions
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