<h1>Pre-Budget talks with IT leaders focus on AI readiness, ESOP taxation and impacts of work visa fee hikes and outsourcing levies.</h1> Finance Ministry held pre-Budget consultations with IT industry leaders focusing on domestic computing capacity, skilling for AI disruption, and tax and incentive measures. Industry raised concerns about the September 2025 H 1B fee increase and the proposed outsourcing levy in the HIRE Act-a 25 per cent charge on payments to foreign workers-warning these developments could shift global talent strategies and affect cross-border service delivery and Budget policy on incentives and capacity building.