Tax Net Widened, Tax Liability Of Middle Class Down Under Modi Govt

There has been a 120 per cent increase in returns filed between 2014 and 2024. From some 3.6 crore income tax returns filed in 2014, it increased to 7.9 crore this year.

According to sources in the tax authorities, the maximum increase in tax returns filed were from those earning above 50 lakhs.

Due to the strong anti-tax evasion and black money laws implemented by the Modi government, sources said there has been an almost five-fold increase in returns being filed by those earning above 50 lakh. (from 1.85 lakh in 2014 to 9.39 lakh in 2024).

Income Tax liability by those earning above 50 lakh increased from 2.52 lakh crore in 2014 to 9.62 lakh crore this year.

Data showed that 76 per cent of income tax collected is from those earning above 50 lakh. This, they said, has led to a reduced tax burden on the middle class.

Further, the sources said there has been an increase in Zero Income Tax filings due to increased exemption limit by the current government.

In 2014, all those earning above 2 lakh had to pay tax. In 2024, the exemption limit has been raised to 7 lakhs by the Modi government.

The percentage of income tax collection from taxpayers earning less than Rs 10 lakh was reduced from 10.17 per cent of the total tax paid in 2014 to 6.22 per cent in 2024.

Under the Modi government, those earning up to Rs 7 lakhs have no liability to pay income tax. Even for those earning between 7 lakhs and 10 lakhs, the tax liability was an average of just Rs 43,000 annually as income tax in 2023-2024.

About 2.2 crore income tax returns filed belonged to those earning between 7 lakh and 10 lakh in 3023-2024.

In summation, the sources asserted that there has been a substantial reduction of tax burden on people earning income less than 20 lakhs -- middle-class group. Also, because of better enforcement, the number of returns with more than Rs 50 lakh has increased substantially. (ANI)