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Income Tax Expectations Budget 2024: What are the ideal new tax regime slabs, rates for middle class, salaried? TOI Online Survey findings

Budget 2024 income tax expectations: Expectations are high that m... Read More
Income Tax Expectations Budget 2024: The Narendra Modi government has been pushing for the adoption of the new income tax regime that offers concessional income tax rates, but with negligible exemptions. The new income tax regime was first introduced in 2020 and in the 2023 Budget further tweaks were made to popularise it amongst the common man and middle class salaried taxpayers. Further, the new income tax regime was made the default regime, signalling the government's intent to push for it as the main tax regime.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the first Budget 2024 of the Modi 3.0 government on July 23, 2024. Expectations are high that more changes may be brought in the new income tax regime - possibly raising the basic exemption limit, hiking standard deduction, or/and rationalising the income tax slabs and tax rates further.

Also Check | Budget 2024 Live Updates

So what can salaried taxpayers expect from Budget 2024 for the new income tax regime? Times of India Online did an exclusive survey of top personal tax experts. Here’s what they had to say:

What Should Be The Ideal Tax Slabs, Rates Under New Income Tax Regime?


Tax experts are divided on the ideal tax income tax slabs and income tax rates under the new tax regime. However, most agree that the 30% tax slab above an income of Rs 15 lakh is still steep and needs to be implemented at incomes of at least above Rs 20 lakh.

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Aarti Raote, Partner, Deloitte India says that the government may not look at rejigging the tax rates up to 25% slab under the new tax regime. Rather, the government may look to increase the threshold of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for the 30% tax rate under the new tax regime.

“In addition, the basic exemption limit of Rs 3 lakh can be moved to Rs 5 lakh. Additionally, increasing the standard deduction to Rs 1 lakh from existing levels of Rs 50,000 would provide further relief and encourage compliance,” she tells TOI.

Chander Talreja, Partner, Vialto Partners tells TOI, “This year, the government may provide relief to middle income level individuals by tweaking the slab rates further and introducing additional slabs for income ranging between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.” Chander recommends the following income tax slabs and rates for salaried taxpayers under the new income tax regime:

Income range (Rs)

Tax rate

Up to

3,00,000

NIL

3,00,001

6,00,000

5%

6,00,001

9,00,000

10%

9,00,001

12,00,000

15%

12,00,001

15,00,000

20%

15,00,001

20,00,000

25%

20,00,001

above

30%

Preeti Sharma, Partner, Tax & Regulatory Services, BDO India LLP says that the applicable tax rate of 30% on the income of Rs 15 lakh is a very steep increase from 5% at the income level of Rs 3 lakh. “The applicable tax rate on income of Rs 15 lakh should be reduced to 22-25% and another slab may be introduced raising the tax rate to maximum 30% for income level of Rs 25 lakh and above,” Preeti tells TOI.

Also Read | Budget 2024 income tax expectations: Raise basic exemption limit, standard deduction and NPS benefits for taxpayers

“This reduction in tax will leave the government with some loss in the collection of direct tax revenue, at the same time leaving the individuals with more disposable income in their hands. This would also lead to more spending in the economy which will bring more indirect tax collection for the government,” she adds.

Surabhi Marwah, Tax Partner, EY India is of the view that the basic exemption should be raised to Rs 5 lakh. She also advocates reducing the income tax rates in order to provide more disposable income in the hands of taxpayers.

Kuldip Kumar, Partner at Mainstay Tax Advisors says that the number of slabs should be brought down under the new regime. “Currently there are 7 tax slabs under the new regime. These need to be rationalized to 3 or 4 at the most. The government has all the data on income brackets and the respective number of taxpayers falling therein and taxes paid. Changes should be made in such a way that tax burden reduces on the lower and middle income group tax payers,” he tells TOI.

New Income Tax Regime: What Are the Current Income Tax Slabs?


There were significant changes introduced in personal tax for individuals opting for new personal tax regime in the Budget 2023 like surcharge rate was brought down from 37% to 25% for individuals having taxable income more than Rs 5 crores, raising of the basic exemption limit by Rs 50,000, 100% tax rebate on income up to Rs 7 lakh. Accordingly, the government provided benefits for low-income level as well as high income level individuals.

Currently, the income tax rates and slabs for the new income tax regime are:

Income range (in INR)


Rates


Up to 300,000


Nil


300,001 to 600,000


5%


600,001 to 900,000


10%


900,001 to 1200,000


15%


1,200,001 to 1,500,000


20%


Above 1,500,000


30%


The eligibility limit for rebate is Rs 7 lakh, which means a tax rebate of up to Rs 25,000. There is a marginal relief for individuals whose net taxable income exceeds Rs 7 lakh and the incremental income tax liability is higher than incremental income above Rs 7 lakh.

Also Read | Income Tax Expectations Budget 2024: What can the salaried, individual taxpayers expect? Top points

A surcharge is levied on the income tax if total income exceeds Rs 50 lakh. The rates of surcharge are:

Income (in INR)


Surcharge Rates under regular/ old tax regime


Surcharge Rates under New Tax Regime


Above 5,000,000 but less than 10,000,000


10%


10%


Above 10,000,000 but less than 20,000,000


15%


15%


Above 20,000,000 but less than 50,000,000


25%


25%


Above 50,000,000


37%


25%


Income Tax Calculator 2024-25: Which is better Old or New Regime?

Income Tax Calculator 2024-25: It’s the start of the financial year and if you are confused between the new and the old income tax regime, then we have you covered. While the old tax regime allows for exemptions and deductions like Section 80C, House Rent Allowance, Leave Travel Allowance etc., the new tax regime offers lower tax rates and multiple slabs. Standard deduction is available under both regimes. We take a look at different income levels and common exemptions and deductions you may want to claim, to calculate and analyse the best income tax regime for you. This analysis has been done by Akhil Chandna, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat. It is important to note that the analysis in the tables is broadly indicative. Each individual should choose their beneficial tax regime on a case-to-case basis. The analysis cannot be standardised.

Income Tax Slabs 2024-25 Old Regime: The tax slabs and income tax rates in the table are applicable for individuals (residents below 60 years of age, NR and NOR). Under the old tax regime, resident individual taxpayers are eligible for a tax rebate of Rs 12,500 or actual tax payable whichever is Lowe, if the total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh. A health and education cess is levied at the rate of 4%, for all individuals on the income-tax and surcharge (if applicable).

Income Tax Slabs 2024-25 New Regime: In this table, you can see the income tax slabs and income tax slabs for the new income tax regime. Under this regime, the rebate eligibility limit is Rs 7 lakh. This means a tax rebate of up to Rs 25,000 will be available to taxpayers. A marginal relief is also available to resident individuals whose net taxable income exceeds Rs 7,00,000 and the incremental income tax liability is higher than incremental income above Rs 7,00,000.

Income Tax Calculator New Versus Old Regime: In this table, a gross salary level of Rs 7 lakh has been taken. Assuming that the salaried individual chooses to claim only a standard deduction of Rs 50,000 which is available both under the new and the old income tax regime, it would clearly be beneficial to opt for the new income tax regime. While under the old tax regime the tax outgo would be Rs 44,200, it would be nil under the new tax regime.

Income Tax Calculator New Versus Old Regime: In this table, a gross salary level of Rs 15 lakh has been taken. Again, assuming that only a standard deduction of Rs 50,000 availed, the salaried individual will find it beneficial to choose the new tax regime. This is because under the new income tax regime, a lower tax rate would be applicable at that income level.

Income Tax Calculator New Versus Old Regime: In this table, a gross salary level of Rs 30 lakh has been taken. Even at income levels as high as Rs 30 lakh, it is more beneficial to opt for the new income tax regime versus the old tax regime, if the only deduction or exemption that the salaried individual is claiming is the standard deduction.

Income Tax Calculator New Versus Old Regime: In this table, a gross salary level of Rs 7 lakh has been taken. What has changed in this scenario is that we are assuming that the individual claims the Section 80C deduction limit of Rs 1.5 lakh. It’s interesting to note that if standard deduction and Section 80C is availed, then the tax outgo under both the old and new tax regime is nil. Hence, if as a salaried individual you invest in mutual funds, PPF etc. opting for the old regime is equally beneficial for you.

Income Tax Calculator New Versus Old Regime: In this table, a gross salary level of Rs 15 lakh has been taken. Again, we are assuming a scenario where standard deduction and Section 80C benefits are availed. What changes here is that with a higher taxable income, the salaried individual is not eligible for a rebate under Section 87A, also a higher tax rate kicks in compared to the new tax regime. Hence, in such a scenario, the new income tax regime makes more sense.

Income Tax Calculator New Versus Old Regime: In this table, a gross salary level of Rs 30 lakh has been taken. If a salaried taxpayer opts for the old tax regime while availing only the standard deduction and Section 80C limit, the individual will have to dish out more tax. The new tax regime would be more beneficial even at a salary level of Rs 30 lakh.

Income Tax Calculator New Versus Old Regime: In this table, a gross salary level of Rs 7 lakh has been taken. However, we are now looking a scenario where an individual gets salary exemptions like HRA, LTA etc. In this case too, because the income level is at Rs 7 lakh, the tax outgo under both regimes would be zero, irrespective of whether you have HRA and LTA as a part of your salary. Given the proof that you need to furnish for these exemptions. The new tax regime may be less cumbersome.



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Smriti Jain

Smriti Jain is a business and economy journalist with over 13 yea... Read More
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