New Delhi – Agency
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a significant tax relief for middle-class taxpayers in the Union Budget 2025-26. Individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh annually will not have to pay any income tax, with the exemption limit extending to ₹12.75 lakh for salaried individuals, considering the standard deduction of ₹75,000 ¹.
The new tax regime aims to substantially reduce taxes for the middle class, leaving more money in their hands to boost household consumption, savings, and investment. According to Sitharaman, “To taxpayers up to ₹12 lakh of normal income (other than special rate income such as capital gains) tax rebate is being provided in addition to the benefit due to slab rate reduction in such a manner that there is no tax payable by them.”
The government expects to forgo revenue of about ₹1 trillion in direct taxes and ₹2,600 crore in indirect taxes due to these proposals. Notably, the old tax regime remains unchanged.
New Tax Slabs
The revised tax rate structure is as follows:
- Up to ₹4 lakh: 0% tax
- ₹4-8 lakh: 5% tax
- ₹8-12 lakh: 10% tax
- ₹12-16 lakh: 15% tax
- ₹16-20 lakh: 20% tax
- ₹20-24 lakh: 25% tax
- Above ₹24 lakh: 30% tax
Adhil Shetty, CEO of (link unavailable), welcomed the move, stating that it will substantially reduce taxes for the middle class, resulting in 5% more money in hand and a monthly saving of around ₹9,500. He added that this rationalization of income tax has been long-awaited and will boost economic growth by increasing consumption and savings.
