No income tax for Rs 12 LPA: 'Middle class' celebratory memes flood internet on Budget Day

Screengrabs from memes doing rounds on X after the Union Budget 2025 presentation.

Minutes after Nirmala Sitharaman announced during her Union Budget speech that no income tax would be payable on income up to Rs 12 lakh, social media began to flood with memes showing the middle-class taxpayers celebrating the significant relief. The finance minister also stated that the new income tax regime will be simpler, with a special focus on benefiting the middle class.

Here are some of the best ones:

Middle Class Celebration after the Budget 2025 announcement by Nirmala Tai #Budget2025 #NirmalaSitharaman #GOT7_NESTFEST_Day1 #TRUMP#ChampionsTrophy2025pic.twitter.com/bA6nDjeobS
M.Chandra (@mastermorality_) February 1, 2025

Middle class friendly Union Budget #IncomeTax #MiddleClass pic.twitter.com/EeF68SUd3Z Akanksha Parmar (@iAkankshaP) February 1, 2025

Middle-class after Budget pic.twitter.com/cnJZullt6U
Rudraksh Dixit (@rudrakshdixit1) February 1, 2025

Middle Class today. #Budget #NirmalaSitharaman. #BudgetWithET | #IncomeTax #BudgET2025 https://t.co/RcXQY2dN96 #BudgetWithET #BudgET2025#Budget2025 #unionbudget2025live #ViksitBharatBudget2025 #unionbudget2025live pic.twitter.com/s1D7wc9pTS (@supermanamh) February 1, 2025

Sitharaman also announced that income tax slabs and rates are being revised across the board, ensuring a more progressive taxation system. Individuals earning up to Rs 25 lakh will receive a tax benefit of up to Rs 1.1 lakh, further easing the financial burden on the middle-income group.

Under the revised New Income Tax Regime 2025, no income tax will be payable on income up to Rs 12 lakh, and with the inclusion of the standard deduction, the tax-free income limit extends to Rs 12.7 lakh.

For incomes beyond this threshold, the new tax rates will apply progressively. Income up to Rs 4 lakh will remain completely tax-free (NIL), while those earning between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8 lakh will be taxed at 5 percent. For income between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 12 lakh, a 10 percent tax rate will be applicable, whereas those earning between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 16 lakh will be subject to a 15 percent tax. Individuals falling in the Rs 16 lakh to Rs 20 lakh bracket will pay 20 percent tax, while those with income ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 24 lakh will be taxed at 25 percent. Any income exceeding Rs 24 lakh will attract the highest tax rate of 30 percent.