Funds 2024 earnings tax: New vs previous tax regime – how FM Sitharaman could make simplified tax regime extra interesting for taxpayers | Enterprise

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Funds 2024 earnings tax: New vs previous tax regime – how FM Sitharaman could make simplified tax regime extra interesting for taxpayers | Enterprise

By Aarti Raote and Poornima G
Funds 2024 earnings tax expectations: The brand new and simplified private earnings tax regime was launched within the Funds of 2020 with the target to simplify tax compliances and supply vital reduction to particular person taxpayers. The new tax regime supplied for considerably lowered earnings tax charges for particular person taxpayers who must forgo sure deductions and exemptions.
Comparability between the common tax regime and the simplified new tax regime
The Funds of 2023, additional elevated the private earnings tax rebate threshold below the brand new tax regime from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh, lowered the variety of tax slabs from six to 5, and elevated the tax exemption ceiling to Rs 3 lakh. The very best surcharge fee was lowered from 37% to 25%, a typical deduction of Rs 50,000 was launched for retirees and salaried people, and a household pension exemption of Rs 15,000 was applied. Nonetheless, as a consequence a taxpayer choosing the brand new tax regime shall forgo deductions similar to Home Lease Allowance, Go away Journey allowance, deduction for curiosity on housing loans, deductions u/s 80C for investments in ELSS, time period deposits, housing mortgage principal and so forth.
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If the tax deductions/ exemptions within the common regime is Rs 2 lakh or extra for a salaried taxpayer having a complete earnings of Rs 7 lakh, then his tax payable could be equal to the tax as per the simplified tax regime. For a taxpayer having a complete earnings of Rs 15 lakh, the quantity of deductions must be roughly Rs 3.75 lakh, to equate the tax quantity as per simplified tax regime. Thus taxpayers with greater ranges of deductions will discover the common regime extra useful. Nonetheless, taxpayers at excessive earnings bands of Rs 5 crore and above, would like the brand new tax regime on account of the decrease surcharge fee relevant.
Whereas the brand new simplified regime was made because the default tax regime, the present tax regime continues to be in place, and a taxpayer has the choice to decide on the most effective appropriate one.
Affect of the simplified tax regime
Based mostly on the statistics shared until FY: 2021-22, the simplified tax regime was not most popular by many taxpayers. Therefore the finance minister, in Funds 2023, added a couple of concessions to make the regime extra engaging. It’s anticipated that for FY 2023-24, at the very least 40% of the taxpayers will go for the simplified tax regime.
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The query that arises is whether or not the simplified tax regime has an impression on the tax financial savings investments made by taxpayers. One of many benefits of the common regime was that it supplied tax deduction for notified long run investments. Thus taxpayers invested within the Public Provident Fund (PPF) or life insurances and in long run mounted deposits, to avoid wasting tax.
As of August 2023, the variety of subscribers below the Nationwide Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) collectively, have grown to greater than 6.62 crore and the whole Belongings Below Administration (AUM) has reached Rs. 10 lakh crore. The contributing members to the Worker’s Provident Fund (EPF) has elevated to 7,62,25,799 during the last one 12 months.
The variety of subscribers to EPF in addition to NPS mirror elevated / rising subscriptions. Nonetheless, one must be careful for future developments provided that it’s anticipated that 40% of taxpayers could transfer to the simplified tax regime. Whereas the simplified tax regime does present taxpayers the pliability to take a position their cash in securities they like, one can’t deny that the funding choices of decrease earnings taxpayers may get impacted as these taxpayers tend to decide on the safer and essentially the most used routes of funding similar to PPF, NPS and insurance coverage premiums, that additionally present a tax break.
Client spending relies on a wide range of components similar to stage of earnings, financial savings, debt ranges, future expectations and so forth., whereas at decrease ranges, there could be marginal advantage of utilizing the simplified tax regime; at greater ranges of earnings the profit is important due to surcharge charges. In such circumstances there’s a greater disposable earnings with taxpayers, thus extra buying energy, which is able to help in boosting demand for items and companies / elevated investments. That can assist stimulate financial development.
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Conclusion
The brand new simplified regime provides simplified tax construction with lowered documentation. The federal government ought to contemplate implementing the modifications regularly and permit time for taxpayers to regulate and plan their taxes higher.
To reinforce the attraction of the brand new tax regime, the federal government must strike a steadiness between simplification, incentivization for financial savings and investments and stimulating client spending, all whereas sustaining fiscal sustainability. Steady monitoring and changes primarily based on suggestions will likely be important for its success.
(Aarti Raote is Companion with Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP, Poornima G with Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP)