You will get to save more tax in FY2019-20

• Even for other taxpayers with taxable income above Rs. 5 lakh, the tax outgo will reduce marginally in FY2019-20
• Here’s how much you stand to gain as compared to what you paid in taxes in FY2018-19

Never has an interim budget tinkered with tax rates: P. Chidambaram

• Interim budget 2019 shows the desperation of the NDA, says P. Chidambaram
• Chidambaram said the budget presented by the NDA govt violated both convention and the spirit of an interim budget

Proposed capex for oil PSUs at 4-year low

• The spending is less than this fiscal year’s outlay of ₹94,438 crore, while it was ₹1.32 trillion in the previous year
• The interim budget proposed a capital outlay of ₹93,639 crore for oil and gas companies for FY19-20 

Income Tax department may become more tech friendly from FY20

• The budget proposed to make filing of returns, assessment and refunds more friendly
•  All tax returns filed will be processed in 24 hours and the refund initiated simultaneously

Pre-election interim budget 2019 has something for everyone

• While those with taxable incomes up to ₹5 lakh will go away the happiest from the interim budget, there is a little bit of good news for everyone
• The increase in standard deduction to ₹50,000 for the salaried class will help individuals save more tax

Budget 2019: Big in sentiment, short in substance

• Over 12 crore farmers, over 3 crore salaried professionals and their families will gain
• This budget has, for now, shifted the focus away from the BJP-led NDA’s acts of omission and commission

This entire idea of direct cash transfer to farmers is stupid: Abhijit Sen

• If you want to give a cash benefit, do it without distinguishing between farmers and non-farmers
• A toothless NITI Aayog is trying to flex its muscles on India’s statistical system. And in doing so, it is destroying its credibility 

Opinion: Another surgical strike, this time it’s on opposition

• No govt has ever provided financial assistance to the unorganized labourers 

Opinion: Socio-economic issues focus area of Budget 2019

The absence of any incentive for healthcare sector has been a major disappointment

More tax benefits for the middle class

• Taxable income up to Rs. 5 lakh tax-free, standard deduction raised
• The budget proposes to increase standard deduction to Rs. 50,000 to bring down your tax liability

Good news for tenants, owners of multiple houses and depositors

• The budget proposes that if two of your properties are self-occupied, you don’t need to pay tax on either
• Currently, whether you own a single property or more than one, only one is considered self-occupied for residential purposes

Opinion | Finance minister serves the needy, but spares the rich

An encouraging proposal was processing of all tax returns online within 24 hours

Opinion | Piyush Goyal digs deep into the poll vault

A Rs. 75,000 crore substantial income support scheme for farmers one of the several key highlights of the budget

Entertainment industry welcomes move to curb piracy in budget

• The single-window clearance system was earlier available only to foreign filmmakers shooting in India
• The entertainment industry is a major employment generator and the move would help the filmmakers from all languages

Opinion: NDA govt’s final budget is a ‘political put option’

• This budget has a unique retrospective component for many policy announcements

Opinion | Budget gives starring role to Middle India, farmers

Full rebate on taxable income below Rs. 5 lakh. This means no tax if your taxable income is Rs. 5 lakh or less

Govt seeks Vote on Account for ₹34.17 lakh crore expenditure for April-July

• Finance Minister Piyush Goyal Friday pegged an aggregate gross expenditure for 2019-20 at over ₹97.43 lakh crore
• Vote on Account is a grant in advance by Parliament, in respect of the estimated expenditure for a part of new fiscal year