Income Tax Payers in the initial slabs may be benefited by implementation Direct Tax Code

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Once Direct Tax Code bill is passed in the Parliament, Income tax payers in the initial slabs viz., persons with the income of up to Rs. 3 lakhs and income from Rs.3 to 10 lakhs as Finance Minister Mr.P.Chidambaram has assured ia press conference conducted recently to the effec that Government would abide by the recommendations of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Direct Tax Code for the purpose of tax structure and personal income tax exemptions under Direct Tax Code.

The parliamentary panel, headed by former finance minister Mr. Yashwant Sinha, had recommended the DTC increase income tax exemption limit to Rs 3 lakh a year, against the Rs 2 lakh proposed in the Bill for DTC. Currently, the exemption stands at Rs 2 lakh.

The Commitee also suggested a 10 per cent income tax rate be applicable for annual income of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. The DTC Bill had proposed this rate on income of Rs 2-5 lakh. Currently, too, 10 per cent income tax is imposed on the Rs 2-5 lakh slab.

The panel also suggested 20 per cent income tax be paid by those earning Rs 10-20 lakh a year. The Bill had proposed this rate for the Rs 5-10 lakh segment (the current segment).

It also wanted the government to impose a peak rate of 30 per cent on annual income of more than Rs 20 lakh, against the Bill’s provision of more than Rs 10 lakh (the current scenario).

Substantial changes in tax exemptions on long-term savings, medical insurance and social security contributions were also suggested by the committee. It wanted the government to increase the long-term savings limit for exemption from income-tax from Rs one lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.

It recommended contribution to social security such as pension be exempted up to Rs 1.5 lakh a year; medical insurance up to Rs one lakh; medical insurance for dependent parents up to Rs 50,000 and professional studies and education Rs 50,000.

The panel did not suggest any change in the corporate tax rates imposed. The finance minister did not specify a date for the implementation of the DTC, which would replace the archaic Income Tax Act of 1961.

Initially, DTC was scheduled to be introduced from April 1. However, the standing committee had submitted its report to Parliament only in March. The government would now table the revised DTC Bill in Parliament.

Source: www.business-standard.com