Synopsis: This article examines whether Budget 2026 is likely to increase the standard deduction and expand tax rebates. It also discusses the factors that influence such decisions and brings together expert perspectives to help taxpayers understand what they can realistically expect from the upcoming budget.
As India awaits, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 on February 1, 2026, and the experts anticipate potential changes to standard deduction and tax rebates. Updates on both rebates and standard deduction would meaningfully increase the take- home income of salaried individuals and pensioners. Thus, understanding what standard deduction and tax rebates are and analysing experts’ predictions can equip you to plan better.
What Is Standard Deduction and Tax Rebate?
Standard deduction is the flat amount that is subtracted from the taxpayer’s gross income before calculating the taxable income. At present, under the new income tax regime, the standard deduction limit is ₹75,000.
On the other hand, tax rebates are deductions applied after the tax is calculated. Tax rebates are available under both the old and the new income tax regimes, and the current limits are ₹12,500 and ₹60,000, respectively. Together, they play a notable role in reducing an individual’s tax burden.
Evolution of Standard Deduction and Tax Rebates
The standard deduction was introduced in the 1970s, but was abolished in 2005. Later, it was reintroduced in 2018, with a limit set at ₹40,000. In the 2019 Budget, this was increased to ₹50,000, and in the 2024 Budget, under the new tax regime, the limit for standard deduction was further raised to ₹75,000.
Initially, under the old tax regime, Section 87A provided a rebate to reduce tax liability; however, the limit was ₹12,500 for income up to ₹5 lakh. Later, in FY 2024-25, the new tax regime provided a rebate with a limit of ₹60,000 for income up to ₹12 lakh.
This shows that there is a clear trend of increasing standard deduction and rebates to simplify tax compliance and increase the disposable income of the middle class.
Also read: 8th Pay Commission 2026: Why Govt Employees Haven’t Received Salary Hike Yet
Expectations of the Experts on Union Budget 2026
The real GDP is expected to grow by around 7.4% in FY 2025-26. Besides, the fiscal deficit targeted by the government for FY 2025-26 is 4.4% of GDP. This shows that the government would most likely bring a balanced approach in the 2026 Budget that increases consumption as well as revenue to meet these projections.
As told by Abhishek Soni, CEO and Co-founder of Tax2win, to Upstox, due to rising living expenses, the standard deduction should be increased to ₹1 lakh.
Balwant Jain, a Mumbai-based tax and investment expert, suggested that the government should tie the standard deduction to a percentage of the income with an upper ceiling of ₹1 lakh.
Furthermore, with the enactment of the 8th Pay Commission, the basic pay of central government employees is estimated to spike by approximately 2.86x. Therefore, experts at Motilal Oswal recommend that the budget should align with this rise in income to prevent the lower-income workforce from being dragged into the tax net prematurely.
For pensioners, the standard deduction is the major area to receive tax relief. So, according to experts from Motilal Oswal, the standard deduction limit is expected to increase to ₹ 1.25 lakh, as pensioners do not have the potential for income growth, unlike the working class.
Expected Income Tax Relief Under Budget 2026 (Illustrative)
| Category | FY 2025-26 (Current) | FY 2026-27 (Expected) |
| Basic Exemption Limit | ₹ 4,00,000 | ₹ 5,00,000 |
| Standard Deduction | ₹ 75,000 | ₹ 1,00,000 |
| Rebate Limit | ₹ 60,000 | ₹ 70,000 |
| Effective Zero-Tax Income | ₹ 12,75,000 | ₹ 14,00,000* |
As Budget 2026 approaches, expectations for an increase in the standard deduction and tax rebates are backed by economic reality and recent policy trends. India is projected to maintain strong GDP growth, and the government is committed to fiscal consolidation. Because of this, significant tax cuts may be unlikely. However, the steady increase of standard deductions and rebates in recent budgets indicates that targeted relief is still a possibility.
The final verdict points to incremental changes rather than dramatic ones. Taxpayers should lower their expectations for large concessions, but can still hope for meaningful adjustments that improve take-home income and make compliance easier.
Written by Nila Maria Jacob
