<h1>Tax reforms raise tax-free income limit to Rs 12 lakh, speed up refunds, and introduce faceless assessment system</h1> The government implemented tax reforms raising the tax-free income limit to Rs 12 lakh annually, effectively exempting individuals earning up to Rs 12.75 lakh from income tax after standard deductions. These reforms also expedited income tax refunds, reducing processing time from 93 days in 2013 to 17 days in 2024, while refund amounts increased by 474 percent over 11 years. Additionally, the faceless assessment system, introduced in 2019, eliminates the need for taxpayers to visit tax offices by using a centralized electronic system to select returns for scrutiny based on risk and randomly assign cases to officers nationwide. These measures aim to simplify tax compliance and enhance administrative efficiency.