Govt may hike exemption limit under new tax regime to Rs 5 lakh; relief unlikely for the rest

The government is looking to give the country's impressive GDP growth a consumption boost to address weaker levels of spending by the middle class. One of the ways being considered is lowering certain personal income tax rates, according to multiple government officials.

The Centre is looking to increase the income limit for individuals before any tax is levied to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 3 lakh currently, in the budget on July 23, one of the officials said. This will be applicable only to those filing returns under the new tax regime and is aimed at leaving more disposable income in the hands of individuals, particularly those in the lower earning bracket.

If the Centre goes ahead with this move, it could lead to a reduction in tax liability by Rs 10,400 (including a 4-percent Health & Education cess) for those with incomes approximately between Rs 7.6 lakh and Rs 50 lakh.

While, for those with incomes above Rs 50 lakh and up to Rs 1 crore, the benefit would be Rs 11,440 (including cess and a 10-percent surcharge), and individuals who earn more than Rs 1 crore and up to Rs 2 crore, the liability would be lower by Rs 11,960 (including cess and a 15-percent surcharge).

And, finally, for those with incomes above Rs 2 crore, the benefit would be Rs 13,000 (including cess and a 25-percent surcharge).

"Increasing the basic tax exemption limit from 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh under the new tax regime will be a good move by the government. It will result in a tax savings of at least Rs 10,000, for all individual taxpayers with income above Rs 5 lakh, except for those already receiving a tax rebate on income up to Rs 7 lakhs. This change will help increase personal disposable income, stimulating spending and investment which are essential catalysts for economic growth," according to Sonu Iyer, Tax Partner, EY India.

Akhil Chandna, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat said that such a change in the tax slab will particularly benefit the large taxpayer class of individuals whose income exceeds the rebate limit under section 87A and who opt for the new tax regime.

Budget 2020 allowed individuals to choose between the existing structure with built-in provisions for a lower tax incidence via specified investments or go in for a new system offering blanket lower tax rates while forgoing most deductions and exemptions.

Under the old tax regime, a taxpayer can avail deductions against investments under certain sections as well as exemptions like house rent allowance and leave travel allowance, among others.

A second official said that the Centre is unlikely to entertain a request from industry representatives to reduce the highest individual income tax slab rate under the new tax regime from 30 percent to 25 percent.

"Changes in higher income tax slabs are unlikely because consumption boost is currently needed for lower-income people," the official added.

The government may not tinker with rates under the old tax regime either despite requests to increase the amount that attracts the highest income tax of 30 percent to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh now. This is to ensure that more people are incentivised to move towards the new regime that discourages exemptions and rebates.

Those who earn more than Rs 15 lakh a year fall under the highest 30-percent tax bracket in the new tax regime, while under the older regime the highest slab kicks in for earnings above Rs 10 lakh itself.

The Centre is giving priority to potentially lower personal income tax rates rather than sharply increasing spending on subsidies and other schemes that are prone to wastage, a third official said.

"Tax rate cuts are a better way to boost consumption in the economy rather than splurging on welfare schemes given that such programmes are impacted by leakages to an extent, thereby leading to a situation where the benefit of the scheme sometimes fails to entirely reach those who need it the most," this official added.

The topic of measures to aid consumption has come up since the country is reeling with lower levels of private consumption growth of around 4 percent, a 20-year low outside the pandemic year. This despite a world-beating GDP growth rate of 8.2 percent in FY24.

(With inputs from Ashwini Sharma)