The Hindu Business Line : Raise basic I-T exemption limit

I would like to request the Finance Minister to bring back the standard deduction for salaried employees and also to increase the basic exemption limit as salaried employees bear the brunt of taxes.

Mili Rastogi, Assistant System Analyst, TCS

Hike interest rates on small savings

I request that the Finance Minister to consider an increase in the rate of interest being offered by post offices on various small saving schemes as it is lower than what is being offered by many PSU banks. Increase in the basic exemption of tax limit from the present Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh in view of increasing inflation and doing away with the present system of exemptions other than interest paid on housing loans. Increase in the exemption limit under Sec 80CC from the present Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh as the same can be diverted for infrastructure development.

Ashish Kumar, Andhra Pradesh

Fix uniform fuel charges

Please make sure that all the citizens of India, should be treated same i.e all should pay same rate to petrol, diesel charges and other resources. Road tax, vehicle registration charges should also be same across the country, so that once purchased vehicle can be used in different States without any problems.

Dr Gururaj G. Kulkarni, Pune

Reintroduce Section 80L

I am a senior citizen and a businessman paying tax regularly for more than 40 years. I have a few suggestions: Simplify taxation rules, avoid multiplicity of taxes, service tax should be reasonable and bearable, individuals may be exempted from scrutiny as they do not have army of advisors and auditors like corporates. Reintroduce Section 80 L, which was a boon to retired people and banks were also getting enough deposits without spending money on costly advertisements. If any scheme is withdrawn like Sec 80L, sufficient time should be given to close the accounts / think of alternatives.

Bhasker Shah, Chennai

Enhance educational loan exemption

I have a few suggestions for educational loan under Section 80E. For the financial year 2005-06, we have tax exemption for educational loan (both principal and interest) but in 2006-07, only interest got exemption. I would like to suggest enhancing the same for both principal and interest as like earlier financial year. The limit is restricted to Rs 40,000 which can be increased.

Sivaraja, Asst. Manager, Carraro Technologies, Pune