Net direct tax collections during April 1-September 15 grew just 5% to Rs 4.4 lakh crore, suggesting the government would have to raise more than double this amount over the next six-and-a-half months to meet the Budget estimate of Rs 13.35 lakh crore. For the full year, the Budget has targeted net direct taxes to grow 17.3%.

September 15 is a crucial deadline for direct tax collections as it marks the second — of a total four — instalments for advance tax payment and by when, companies are required to pay 45% of their tax liability. Companies pay 30% and 25% of their liability in the next two installments due December 15 and March 15 respectively.

The government had missed its direct tax targets in the previous financial year by Rs 63,000 crore. In 2018-19, the government had initially estimated direct tax revenue at Rs 11.5 lakh crore, which was revised up to Rs 12 lakh crore. However, the real direct tax receipts for 2018-19 was Rs 11.37 lakh crore.

Following the shortage in direct tax revenue target for 2018-19, the government had reduced the tax targets for the current financial year. Direct tax revenue target has now been pegged at Rs 13.35 lakh crore for the current financial year, Rs 45,000 crore lower than the first estimate of Rs 13.8 lakh crore in the interim Budget presented in February.

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The task force submitted its report last week and recommended that the government increase the number of tax slabs or tax brackets from four to five, but lower the tax rates for many.

There is no change in the first income-tax slab (up to Rs 2.5 lakh a year), which attracts zero tax. The current second slab (Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh) attracts 5% tax. The task force wants to expand this slab (Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh) and have a 10% tax rate, while retaining the available full tax rebate for those earning up to Rs 5 lakh.

“Effectively, people having income up to Rs 5 lakh will have to pay zero tax. Tax will be charged for income between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh at 10% and an individual can save up to about Rs 37,500 a year (at the higher end) under the proposed regime,” one of the persons cited above said. Currently, people earning between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh are taxed at the rate of 20%. The proposed third slab (Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh ) will attract a tax of 20%; it is expected to give a benefit of about Rs 1 lakh to the taxpayer if his or her income is on the upper side, the first person said. People in this slab now pay 30% (the current slab is Rs 10 lakh and above). The panel has proposed a fourth tax slab of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 crore that will attract a tax rate of 30% and the fifth slab, Rs 2 crore and above, will attract a rate of 35%. Under the current regime, the rate is 30% for people whose incomes fall in these slabs. If the proposal of the committee is accepted, a person earning Rs 2 crore will save around Rs 8.5 lakh.

This is, of course, assuming that there are no surcharges on tax. Currently, for instance, people whose incomes fall in the higher tax slabs pay surcharge.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) did not respond to queries. A government official said on condition of anonymity that the report presented by the task force is yet to be evaluated and that it isn’t necessary to accept all recommendations.

The government constituted the task force on the Direct Tax Code in November 2017 to check the existing income-tax legislation and to draft a new direct tax law in consonance with economic needs of the country.

“The recommendations have something for every taxpayer. But, exact benefits can be calculated after one is clear whether the panel proposed to remove cess and surcharge or not,” chartered accountant shravan kumar said. Currently, with surcharges and cess, a person earning over Rs 2.5 crore pays tax at an effective rate of 42.7%.

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