Income tax slabs Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leaves old tax regime unchanged

Presenting the Union Budget for 2024-25 on Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced changes to tax slabs and an increase in the standard deduction for taxpayers under the new tax regime. The middle class eagerly awaited income tax reforms that would help them reduce their tax outgo. However, Nirmala Sitharaman made no changes to the old tax regime.

"I have two announcements to make for those opting for the new tax regime. First, the standard deduction for salaried employees is proposed to be increased from ₹50,000/- to 75,000/-. Similarly, the deduction on family pension for pensioners is proposed to be enhanced from ₹ 15,000/- to ₹ 25,000/-. This will provide relief to about four crore salaried individuals and pensioners.

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Second, in the new tax regime, the tax rate structure is proposed to be revised as follows:

0-3 lakh rupees Nil

3-7 lakh rupees 5 percent

7-10 lakh rupees 10 percent

10-12 lakh rupees 15 percent

12-15 lakh rupees 20 percent

Above 15 lakh rupees 30 percent

As a result of these changes, a salaried employee in the new tax regime stands to save up to ₹ 17,500/- in income tax," said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Here is a look at old regime tax slabs

Old regime tax slabs

1) Income up to ₹2.5 is exempt from taxation under the old tax regime.

2) Income between ₹2.5 to ₹5 lakh is taxed at the rate of 5 percent under the old tax regime.

3) Personal income from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh is taxed at a rate of 20 per cent in the old regime

4) Under the old regime, personal income above ₹10 lakh is taxed at a rate of 30 per cent.

In the old tax regime, the income tax exemption limit is ₹3 lakh for senior citizens aged above 60 but less than 80 and ₹5 lakh for super senior citizens aged above 80.

This was Nirmala Sitharaman's record-seventh consecutive budget. The budget session of Parliament began on July 22 and, according to schedule, will end on August 12.