Vipin Upadhyay Calls for Tax Certainty, Middle-Class Relief and Calibrated Customs Reforms in Union Budget 2026
Ahead of the Union Budget 2026, tax expert Vipin Upadhyay has outlined key expectations, emphasizing the Budget’s significance as India prepares to transition to the proposed Income Tax Act, 2025. He highlighted that the upcoming Budget presents a critical opportunity to reinforce certainty and investor confidence during this important shift in India’s tax framework.
“From a tax policy perspective, the upcoming Union Budget 2026 presents a critical opportunity to reinforce certainty and investor confidence as India transitions to the Income Tax Act, 2025. On the income tax front, the focus should shift toward ensuring a seamless migration to this new legislative framework, which already promises simplified language and the elimination of hundreds of redundant provisos,” Vipin said.
Addressing individual taxation, he stressed the need for meaningful relief for the middle class in light of persistent inflationary pressures. “Further rationalisation such as increasing the standard deduction to ₹1,00,000 and raising the threshold for the 30% tax slab would provide essential relief against inflation for the middle class. Clarity on the long-term roadmap for the old and new regimes remains vital for predictable financial planning,” he added.
From a trade and customs standpoint, Upadhyay expects the Budget to support India’s broader manufacturing and global competitiveness goals. He noted that “from a customs standpoint, a calibrated duty rationalisation aligned with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘China+1’ strategies is expected to enhance global competitiveness.”
He concluded that a balanced approach combining income tax simplification, targeted relief measures, and strategic customs reforms would strengthen confidence among taxpayers, investors, and industry, while supporting India’s long-term economic and manufacturing ambitions.
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