Optional personal tax regime clarified with default slab rules, restricted deductions, and surcharge plus cess implications.

Existing special-rate provisions for companies and cooperative societies remain unchanged for AY 2023-24 while Part I of the First Schedule prescribes standard slab rates for other assessees; the optional personal tax regime permits eligible individuals and HUFs to elect alternative slab rates with disallowance of most deductions except specified allowances, procedural rules govern exercise and revocation of the option, and surcharge, marginal relief and a fixed health and education cess apply with specified caps and computation rules.

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