"A big gift for the middle class": Uttarakhand CM Dhami on no tax up to Rs 12 lakh announcement in Union Budget

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], February 1 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami thanked Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the announcement in the Budget that no income tax will be payable on income up to Rs 12 lakh, providing significant relief to taxpayers especially the middle class.
"A big gift for the middle class...! Under the visionary and strong leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodiji, an important decision has been taken to make the income of Rs 12 lakh tax free under the Union Budget 2025-26, giving a big relief to the middle class," Dhami said in a post on X.
"Certainly, this welfare decision will benefit the common man of the country including the middle class. This decision will not only encourage economic development but will also bring positive changes in the lifestyle of the people. Thanks for this historic decision-Congratulations to the Prime Minister," he added.
This limit will be Rs 12.75 lakh rupees for salaried tax payers counting Rs 75,000 of standard deduction. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the new income tax regime will be simpler, with a special focus on benefiting the middle class.
But there is a catch, the exemption can be earned only if a tax payer takes relief under various sections of the income tax act like Rs 1.5 lakh exemption under section 80CCC, exemption of Rs 1.5 lakh for paying interest on home loans.
Sitharaman said, "To tax payers up to Rs 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 announcement from the Finance Minister of this big relief to the middle class was met by loud thumping of the desks by the treasury benches led by PM Narendra Modi.
The finance minister announced change in income tax slabs and rates across the board, ensuring a more progressive taxation system.
Sitharaman said, "Slabs and rates are being changed across the board to benefit all tax-payers. The new structure will substantially reduce the taxes of the middle class and leave more money in their hands, boosting household consumption, savings and investment."
Under the new tax slabs income of up to Rs 4 lakh will have to pay Nil tax hiked from Rs 3 lakh. A tax payer in the new regime with an income of Rs 12 lakh will get a benefit of `Rs 80,000 in tax.
A person having income of `Rs 18 lakh will get a benefit of Rs 70,000 in tax. A person with an income of Rs 25 lakh gets a benefit of Rs 1,10,000 under the new tax slabs.
"The total tax benefit of slab rate changes and rebate at different income levels can be illustrated with a few examples, a taxpayer in the new regime with an income of 12 lakh rupees will get a benefit of 80,000 rupees in tax, which is 100% of tax payable as per the existing rates.
A person having income, a person having income of 18 lakh rupees will get a benefit of 70,000 rupees in tax, that is 30% of tax payable as per existing base. A person with an income of 25 lakh gets a benefit of one lakh 10,000 rupees, that is 25% office tax payable as per existing rates," the Finance Minister said.
As a result of these proposals, revenue of about Rs 1 lakh crore in direct taxes and Rs 2600 crore in indirect taxes will be forgone. (ANI)