Pre Budget - Income Tax payers may get relief

Income Tax payers are likely to get a major relief in the budget 2008-09, as the government prepares itself to please the middle class in the election year.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram can give a marginal but visible relief to personal income tax assesses this year, as tax collections have substantially improved over the past three years, sources said.

With buoyant tax collections in 2007-08, there is significant pressure on Chidambaram to reduce the effective rates. The minister himself has acknowledged that with better tax compliance, there could be a case for cut in rates.

The minimum income threshold limit for income tax payer could be raised from Rs 1,10,000 to Rs 1,25,000 or Rs 1,30,000, sources said.

Similarly, the income threshold for 30 per cent tax rate could be raised from the current Rs 2,50,000 per annum, sources said, adding that this had been kept constant since fiscal year 2005-06.

Tax payers would get a relief of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 even if the Finance Minister decides to raise the minimum income threshold limit of income tax by Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 to offset the impact of inflation and submission of sixth pay commission report later this year.

An announcement on the new income tax code is also expected in the budget.

The Finance Minister had earlier said that the code, aimed at simplifying the tax laws, would be put for public comments shortly.