Between the rich and the poor, the middle is stuck

The income-tax-paying Indian—the even smaller fraction that pays a meaningful amount within the already small pool of those filing returns—has become the cash cow for the government

- Monika Halan

As yet another budget rolls up, the usual expectation of a tax cut has reared its head again among the Indian middle-class that continues to seek a cut in the burden that they carry disproportionately for all those who don't. Personal income taxes, paid by less than 5% of the total population, pulled 19% of the almost ₹45 trillion total budget burden in 2023-24, or just over 30% of the total tax revenue and over half the direct taxes collected. But other than a small tinkering with slabs and rates, don't expect anything drastic in this budget or future ones, and from this government or future ones.

Because if you don't pay, who will? And because you don't vote as a block, get ready to keep paying no matter who is in the seat of power. There is no alternative for middle India. We are the Boxers of Animal Farm who will work harder to keep paying for all those who don't. For those who persistently stay outside the tax net. For those who are the recipients of subsidies and State largesse—of cash handouts, free electricity, free water, free bus rides, free and more free. For all the behan, didi, mahila, akka, amma or whatever schemes that are the flavour of the season. But there is never a free lunch—you and I are disproportionately paying for all this. And in return, other than when a crisis hits, we get subpar government services. So, pay.