Budget
2025-26: More Savings, Less Tax — How It Transforms Your Wallet!
The
Union Budget 2025-26 has sparked widespread interest across households,
businesses, and professionals alike — and for good reason. With a clear focus
on good governance, voluntary compliance, and tax simplification,
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled a tax-friendly budget that
places the common man at its heart.
As
a tax practitioner, I’ve taken a deep dive into the proposals to decode what it
all means for you — whether you're a salaried employee, a senior citizen, a
small business owner, or an investor.
1.
A Middle-Class Bonanza: Higher Income, Zero Tax
The
most striking announcement? An individual earning up to ₹12 lakh annually will pay zero tax under the new
regime.
- New
Tax Exemption Limit:
₹12 lakh (₹1 lakh/month average)
- For
Salaried Individuals:
Limit rises to ₹12.75 lakh with ₹75,000 standard deduction
This
is a massive relief for the middle class, making a significant part of the
workforce virtually tax-free, thereby enhancing disposable income and
encouraging spending.
2.
Relief for Senior Citizens
Senior
citizens with interest income can now breathe easy:
- TDS
threshold on bank/post office interest raised from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000
This
move aims to cut down TDS hassles for elderly individuals, ensuring more
liquidity in hand and reducing unnecessary compliance.
3.
Renters & Landlords: Higher TDS Limit on Rent
- TDS
on rent threshold
increased from ₹2.40 lakh to ₹6 lakh per annum.
This
simplifies life for both landlords and tenants, especially in smaller towns
and for individuals renting out modest properties.
4.
Making Voluntary Compliance Easier
- Updated
ITR time-limit extended from 2 to 4 years.
This
gives taxpayers more room to rectify omissions or update financial
disclosures, promoting transparency without penalties.
5.
Virtual Digital Assets (Crypto) Brought Into the Net
- Mandatory
disclosure of crypto transactions in prescribed statements
- Definitions
aligned with international norms
This
reinforces the government’s intention to bring digital assets into the formal
economy, without stifling innovation.
6.
Small Charitable Trusts: Lesser Burden, Longer Tenure
- Registration
period extended
from 5 years to 10 years
This
move reduces paperwork and instils long-term operational stability for genuine
charitable institutions.
7.
No Tax on Two Self-Occupied Properties
The
earlier restriction on claiming only one self-occupied property as tax-free is
now gone. Homeowners can now:
- Claim
“Nil Annual Value”
for two self-occupied houses without condition.
This
gives relief to families owning more than one house — say, a working home in
the city and ancestral property in their hometown.
8.
TCS Relaxation: Smoother Foreign Remittances
- TCS
under LRS (Liberalized Remittance Scheme) raised from ₹7 lakh to ₹10 lakh
- Delayed
payment of TCS decriminalized
(if paid by due date)
This
eases the process for international travel, education, or investment abroad,
especially for middle-class families sending kids overseas.
9.
Simplified Transfer Pricing for Businesses
- New
block pricing regime
proposed for a 3-year period, instead of annual assessment
- Expansion
of Safe Harbour Rules
This
adds predictability and reduces litigation for companies involved in international
transactions.
10.
More Push for Start-ups, IFSC & Shipping
- Start-up
incorporation deadline extended to April 1, 2030
- Benefits
to ship-leasing, insurance, and treasury units in IFSC
- Tonnage
tax extended to inland vessels
These
steps aim to revive entrepreneurship, boost Make in India, and
make India a global financial hub.
11.
Infrastructure Gets a Capital Boost
- Tax
exemption extension
for Sovereign Wealth Funds and Pension Funds investing in Indian
infrastructure until March 31, 2030
This
will fuel long-term investments into roads, railways, logistics, and
energy sectors, with cascading benefits for employment and GDP.
12.
Capital Gains: Parity for NRIs
- Long-term
capital gains tax parity
introduced for non-resident investors
This
improves investor confidence and aligns with the objective of ease of doing
business globally.
13.
Relief for Small Businesses:
- No
TCS on sale of specified goods
worth more than ₹50 lakh
A
clear signal to support MSMEs and bring informal transactions into the
tax net without creating new burdens.
Final
Thoughts
The
Union Budget 2025-26 doesn't try to be all things to all people — and that's
precisely why it's effective. It shows a clear preference for:
- Tax
simplification
- Trust-based
governance
- Empowering
the middle class
- Ease
of doing business
- Encouraging
voluntary compliance
For
the common man, this translates to less tax, less paperwork, and more peace
of mind.
As
a tax practitioner, I view this budget as a balanced blend of relief and
reform. While it may cost the exchequer nearly ₹1 lakh crore in revenue, the long-term benefits of
increased compliance, transparency, and taxpayer goodwill are immeasurable.
Have
Questions?
Feel
free to reach out or drop your queries in the comments. Whether you're
salaried, self-employed, or retired — let's discuss how this Budget impacts you.