Ah, Budget Day! That glorious time of the year when the middle class sits in front of the TV, hoping for a miracle—only to be handed a gentle slap instead. Every year, we dream of a tax-free utopia, but reality drags us back like a rejected credit card application.
Expectation: "0% Tax! Middle Class Deserves a Break!"
The middle-class taxpayer, the backbone of the economy (or so we’re told), sits eagerly, fingers crossed, hoping for that magical announcement: "Income up to ₹20 lakh? zero tax! You deserve it, champ!"
Finance Ministers over the years have showered love on various groups—corporates, farmers, MSMEs—but hey, this time it’s our turn, right? Right?!
Reality: "New Cess Introduced. Because… Well, Why Not?"
The budget speech begins, and within minutes, our dreams are mercilessly crushed. Instead of tax relief, here comes a new cess! "For infrastructure." Or "for health." Or "for development." Or maybe just "for fun." Who knows? All we know is that it’s coming out of our pockets.
Expectation: "Income Slabs Will Be Revised!"
"Oh, they’ll definitely increase the basic exemption limit!" The ₹2.5 lakh limit was set when petrol was ₹60 per liter. Now it’s ₹100, and we’re still begging for scraps. Maybe this time they’ll be kind!
Reality: "Tax Slabs Are Fine! Why Fix What’s Broken?"
The Finance minister smiles and moves on to another topic. Tax slabs remain untouched because, clearly, the middle class is enjoying life on a budget that was last revised when nokia 1100 was a luxury phone.
Expectation: "Standard Deduction Increase = More Savings!"
"Surely, they will increase the standard deduction from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000! We have rising expenses, EMIs, school fees, and whatnot!"
Reality: "Be Grateful We Didn’t Remove It."
"Standard deduction remains the same," they announce, as if they’re doing us a favor. Well, at least they didn’t take it away and introduce a "salary stability tax" instead.
Expectation: "Gold & Real Estate Taxes Will Be Relaxed."
gold is our emotional investment, and real estate is our dream. Maybe they’ll reduce capital gains tax on property? Maybe they’ll ease taxation on gold?
Reality: "Tax on gold and Real Estate? Upgraded!"
Nope. They increase import duty on gold instead. Because why should the middle class afford to save in gold when they can just stare at pictures of it? As for real estate? The capital gains exemption cap is revised to make sure your dreams remain just that—dreams.
Expectation: "Relief for the Common Man!"
The grand finale—some bold reforms that finally make life easier. Maybe fuel price cuts? Maybe GST relaxation? Maybe cheaper essentials?
Reality: "Subsidies Cut. LPG, petrol, Everything Up!"
Instead of relief, we get a polite smile and a new way to pay more for the same things. The price of LPG cylinders is hiked, petrol stays sky-high, and GST on daily items remains untouched—because how else will the government function without middle-class money?
The cycle Continues
Every year, we hope. Every year, we expect. And every year, we are reminded that the budget isn’t designed for us—it’s designed for everyone else while we hold the economy together with sheer optimism and tax deductions on PPF investments.
But hey, there’s always next year! Right? RIGHT?!
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