Budget 2026 Alert: Will Nirmala Sitharaman Ease Tax Burden Again?
Budget 2026 Alert: Will Nirmala Sitharaman Ease Tax Burden Again?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the country’s budget on February 1. People all over India are eagerly waiting to see if there will be any changes that make paying income tax simpler.
Earlier, Finance Minister introduced a new tax system for people who don’t want to claim deductions and exemptions. Since then, the government has been trying to make this system more appealing so more people choose it and find filing taxes easier.
Big tax relief announced in Union Budget 2025
In the Union Budget 2025, the government gave a big relief to taxpayers. Now, if your annual income is up to Rs 12 lakh, you won’t have to pay any tax under the new tax system. This is a huge change and makes life easier for many people.
They also changed the tax slabs and increased the basic exemption limit to Rs 4 lakh. But all these changes are only for those who choose the new tax system, not the old one.
Earlier, in 2024, the government had already increased the standard deduction for salaried employees to Rs 75,000 under the new system. However, this benefit is only for people who earn a salary, not for other types of income.
New tax regime: Possible deductions
Tax experts say the old tax system hasn’t changed much in recent years. To make the newer tax system more attractive, the government might let people keep some of the popular deductions that are currently only available in the old system. For example, deductions for term life insurance, health insurance premiums, and home loan interest could be included. Experts believe that adding just these three deductions could make a lot more people interested in switching to the new tax system.
Government May Focus on Tax Administration and Compliance
This year, the finance minister is likely to make paying and managing taxes easier for everyone. The government may announce ways to process tax returns faster, give refunds more quickly, and make it simpler to resolve tax-related issues. Experts think that if taxes become easier to handle, more people will follow the rules, which could increase government revenue.
Right now, a lot of money is tied up in ongoing tax disputes. If the government introduces a scheme to settle these disputes, it could help both taxpayers and the government.