NEW DELHI: Tax burden on individuals earning less than Rs 20 lakh a year, broadly described as middle class, has come down during the 10 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led govt, while there has been a substantial increase in taxes paid by those having annual income above Rs 50 lakh, sources said on Wednesday.
As per the income tax return (ITR) filing data, the number of individuals showing annual income of over Rs 50 lakh has gone up to over 9.4 lakh in 2023-24, a five-fold jump from nearly 1.9 lakh in 2013-14. Also, the income tax liability of those earning above Rs 50 lakh has gone up 3.2 times, from over Rs 2.5 lakh crore in 2014, to Rs 9.6 lakh crore in 2024. A source said that 76% of income tax collected is from those earning above Rs 50 lakh a year. This has led to reduced tax burden on the middle class.
Also, the increase in number of people filing ITRs with annual income above Rs 50 lakh is due to “strong anti tax evasion and black money laws implemented by the Modi govt”, the source added. The source further said that in 2014, individuals earning above Rs 2 lakh a year had to pay income tax. However, because of various exemptions and deductions announced by the Modi govt, individuals earning up to Rs 7 lakh need not pay any taxes.
The percentage of income tax collection from taxpayers earning less than Rs 10 lakh has reduced, from nearly 10.2% of the total tax paid in 2014, to around 6.2% in 2024.
According to the source, the income tax liability of those earning between Rs 2.5 and Rs 7 lakh was an average Rs 43,000 in 2023-24, which is around 4-5% of their income.
