Finance Minister’s defensive reply in Parliament: ‘Get rid of the illusion that budget increased taxes’

लगानी न्यूज

५ असार २०८३, शुक्रबार १२:५७June 19, 2026

. Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has said that the notion that the budget has increased tax burden on the citizens is wrong. Responding to the queries raised by lawmakers in the House of Representatives, he said that the government has given many tax exemptions and concessions.

} “We have provided many tax exemption facilities but imposed tax only in a limited area,” he said, adding, “I urge the respected lawmakers to get rid of the illusion that the government has added tax burden on the citizens through the budget.” ’

The Finance Minister clarified that although the government collects tax under various headings, it would be used according to the state’s priorities.TAG_OPEN_div_18 He said the tax amount would be deposited in a single fund and the government with people’s mandate would use it judiciously as per the need.

Giving the example of Rs 43 billion allocated for the compensation distribution of Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, he said that there was no need to keep each tax separately in the fund.TAG_OPEN_div_16 He clarified that the amount collected from the pollution fee is being spent on environment conservation programmes through the bodies under the Ministry of Environment.

Stating that the tax levied in the education sector is targeted at private schools, he said that the tax has been deducted on education expenses up to Rs 25,TAG_OPEN_div_14 000 annually.

He also said that citizens earning up to Rs 10 lakh per annum have been excluded from the tax net and described it as a “revolutionary step” by the government.TAG_OPEN_div_12 He claimed that the system would save millions of rupees to the general public.