PMEAC chief bats for higher taxes on super rich

Pitching for higher rates of taxes for super rich, Prime Minister's economic advisor C Rangarajan on Saturday said that the forthcoming budget could look at imposing surcharge on income above a threshold.

"... one need not disturb the structure of income tax system as it is now. But add a surcharge for income above particular level. I believe as we go along, we need to raise more revenues and the people with larger incomes must be willing to contribute more," he told reporters on the sidelines of Financial Inclusion Day seminar.

His suggestion comes ahead of the Budget for 2013-14 for which finance minister P Chidambaram has started consultations with different interest groups.

India taxes income at three rates — 10 per cent, 20 per cent and 30 per cent. These rates were fixed in 1997 by then finance minister P Chidambaram.

Interestingly, recently at a lecture to honour Raja Chelliah, Chidambaram had called for a debate on the need of inheritance tax in India, wondering if the country had paid enough attention to accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few.

Earlier this week, the US Congress voted for raising taxes on rich Americans, as part of resolutions of crisis over the so-called fiscal cliff.

ALSO READ

DGCA scrutiny likely for airlines' levy on services

After lull, highway projects see aggressive bid offers

PM: Govt initiating more measures to attract investments

Cautious RBI cuts repo by 25 bps, says little space for more easing