 "Arun Jaitley")
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday defended not giving away major relief to the middle class by saying the government has already done enough in the past Budget and will further provide succour in the future depending on fiscal space.
"India has a serious challenge in terms of compliances. India has a serious challenge in term of increasing the tax base and therefore if you analyse the sum total of my last four-five budgets that I have presented, systematically to the smaller taxpayer I have given relief almost in every Budget," he said.
Citing various major announcements done in the past, he said, when the government came in the exemption limit was raised from Rs 200,000, an additional exemption of Rs 50,000 on saving so Rs 100,000 became Rs 150,000 and another exemption Rs 50,000 for housing loan repayments raising it to Rs 200,000 per year.
For professionals like doctors, lawyer, he said, the government made taxation simple for those having income up to Rs five million.
For such category of small taxpayer, income tax was levied on the 50 per cent of their income and remaining 50 per cent were considered as expense under presumptive income scheme, he said at a post Budget event organised by Open magazine.
With regard to traders with a turnover of Rs 20 million (Rs 2 crore), he said six per cent was taken as presumptive income and tax was calculated on that portion only.
Last year, the government reduced the tax on individual earning annual income up to 500,000 from 10 per cent to five per cent, which is the lowest in the world, he said.
Pointing out that revenues are required for building infrastructure, protecting border and social security, Jaitley said, "Today to reduce the tax base by saying the number of taxpayers are being reduced, you don't serve the larger national interest."
The government can serve the national interest by ensuring that people come within the tax net but the smaller body were given concessions in various ways so that they pay less, he said.
"I gave a comparative chart, people in salary circle end up paying up more than those in business and therefore there is a case for bringing back standard deduction ... I am sure there would be an opportunity to expand it further itself," he said.
On the crude oil prices having impact on fiscal maths, the Finance Minister said rising prices are a matter of concern but these are still within the comfort level of the government.
"I think India has got out of high inflation era and the inflation target of four per cent plus minus two per cent is a reasonable figure and it is achievable," he said.
The recent spike in inflation is mainly due to rise in vegetable prices, crude oil prices and allowance given to central government employees, he said.
Asked if the government has put consolidation of public sector banks on the back burner, the Finance Minister said he was committed on the consolidation of banks and privatisation of IDBI Bank by reducing the government stake below 50 per cent promised in the past Budget.
"I stand by both these announcements and will happen at the appropriate time once the financial health of the banks strengthen," he said.
Replying on meeting disinvestment target, the finance minister said this year was significant as it touched the figure of Rs 1 lakh crore.
"Rs 80,000 crore (Rs 800 billion) that I fixed for this year is fairly achievable (for 2018-19)," he said.
