No compulsion to make the shift, but new tax regime more attractive, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanaddresseda press conference after presenting the Union Budget 2023-24, with itsfocusonempowering women, promotingtourism, PM'sVikas scheme, andgreen growth.Sitharaman spoke to the press and said that the country has been waiting for a direct tax system that is straightforward and simple to follow.

"We are not compelling anybody. Those who want to remain in the old tax regime can still remain there. But, the new one is attractive because it gives a greater rebate. It also provides for simplified and smaller slabs, lower rates of taxation and also slabs which are nicely broken down,” said Sitharaman.

The Budget's proposed reforms would exempt individuals with yearly incomes of up to Rs 7 lakh from paying taxes under the new system, but they would not affect people who continue to pay taxes under the previous system, which offers tax breaks and deductions for investments and expenses like HRA.

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The finance minister in her Budget for 2023–24 permitted a basic deduction of Rs. 50,000 under the new regime, in what is perceived as an attempt to persuade the salaried class to transfer to the new tax system where no exemptions on investments are offered.

An analogous deduction is allowed under the previous tax code, and there is no tax on income up to Rs 5 lakh.

The ultimate interest is to make the simpler (new) regime more attractive," Sitharaman said.

"I propose to extend the benefit of standard deduction to the new tax regime. Each salaried person with an income of Rs 15.5 lakh or more will thus stand to benefit by Rs 52,500," she added.

She added that the Prime Minister has given a vision for “LiFE", or Lifestyle for Environment, to spur a movement of environmentally conscious lifestyle.

Video source: PIB

Sitharaman's also commemorated theAzadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a one-time new small savings scheme and theMahila Samman Savings Certificate whichwill be made available for a two-year period up to March 2025, reported ANI.

The Mahila Samman Savings Patra has a deposit facility of up to Rs 2 lakh with a fixed interest rate of 7.5%.

"One-time new small saving under 'Mahila Samman Saving Patra'. The deposit facility for the women and girls will be for a period of two years with a rate of interest of 7.5 per cent," Sitharaman announced.

On thetechnology and finance front, Sitharaman said that the governmentislooking at a futuristic fintech sector where people will be trained through Industrial Revolution 4.0.

"People will be trained through Industrial Revolution 4.0, we are trying to unleash digital economy in various walks of life," she said in an address to the media.

Sitharaman presented the last full-fledged Union Budget of the Modi government on February 1 before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

(With inputs from agencies)

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