Tax rate restructuring and incentive reform reshape direct tax liabilities and compliance obligations for taxpayers and intermediaries.

The Finance Act, 1990 restructures income tax and TDS rates, recalibrates surcharge applicability, curtails or phases out selected investment incentives and development allowances, and substitutes deduction based savings reliefs with tax rebate mechanisms. It introduces new measures including Equity Linked Savings and Tea Development Accounts with audit and withdrawal conditions, a deduction for expenditure on handicapped dependants, tighter rules for export incentives and foreign exchange realisation, and procedural changes enhancing assessment, return filing, reopening and penalty administration.

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