Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Thapa has accused the government of charging more than the amount under various headings even though it appeared to have given tax exemption to the citizens through the budget for the coming fiscal year 2083/84.

He said that although it was claimed to provide relief to the middle-class families, in practice it has taken back more money than the government has given by imposing additional tax on education, health and electricity.

Speaking at the ‘Subarna Shumsher Economic Series’ programme organized at the Nepali Congress central office in Sanepa, Lalitpur on Sunday, Thapa said that the real impact of the budget needs to be seriously reviewed.

According to him, although some relief has been provided by increasing the limit of personal income tax, the imposition of additional fees and taxes from other sectors has created a situation of increasing the expenditure of the citizens.

Thapa commented that the government had shown that it had kept the money in the front pocket but it was quietly taking it out from the back pocket.

According to Thapa, a middle-class person earning Rs 60,000 a month can save around Rs 20,000 annually due to income tax exemption, but due to the additional fees levied on education, health and other services, Thapa said, he would have to pay more than that amount due to additional fees levied on education, health and other services.

“Studying in private schools is not a luxury but a compulsion for most of the families,” Thapa said, adding, “The burden of the equality fee imposed on private schools will ultimately fall on the parents when the public schools are not made effective enough.” ’

Speaking about the health sector, Thapa said that the government has adopted the policy of collecting tax from the patients through the private hospitals at a time when many people are compelled to go to the private hospitals due to lack of adequate services and beds.

“Getting treatment in private hospitals is not an option but a compulsion for many,” said Thapa. It should be withdrawn. Worry about the weakening of the health insurance program you have started.

According to Thapa, the provision of VAT above 50 units on electricity consumption will also increase the monthly expenses of the middle-class families. He also said that the government is aiming to collect a large amount of revenue from the market, which may increase pressure on bank interest rates, loan installments and overall price hike.

“A family will have to spend more money in a year than the benefits of tax exemption when the impact of education, health, electricity and price hike is added,” said Thapa. ’

Stating that the citizens cannot afford the taxes and fees levied in the education and health sectors, he demanded the government to reconsider and withdraw these provisions. He was of the view that private education and medical treatment should be understood as the present need and compulsion of the citizens and not as a luxury.

He was of the view that the middle class would be strengthened only if policies and opportunities were created to uplift the low-income citizens economically. He also urged the Congress MPs to study such aspects of the budget and raise their voice effectively in Parliament.