MUMBAI: CNN-IBN, continuing with its legacy of empowering the common man, delivered once again on the budget expectations of the people through its unique initiative - Axe the Tax. This award-winning initiative of the channel started in 2007 as special programming showcasing five tax laws, which the Indian taxpayer would like to see changed; and has since become a unique campaign to take the common person’s voice to the government.
For eight years now, CNN-IBN has presented these suggestions to the Finance Minister to consider as laws to be “axed” or adjusted. This year too, CNN-IBN presented five suggestions that were gathered from viewer feedback on CNN-IBN’s website www.IBNLive.comand from tax experts across the country.
3 out of 5 recommendations made by the channel were selected by the Finance Minister and implemented in the Union Budget 2015 presented by him. The suggestions that were implemented in this budget are:
· Increase in the limit of deduction on account of Health Insurance premium from Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000.
· Doubled the Transport Allowance exemption from Rs.800 per month to Rs.1,600 per month.
· Cap on savings to be raised for saving for old age - Additional deduction allowance of Rs. 50000 under 80CCD for the National Pension Scheme
CNN-IBN yet again proves that it is not only India’s best English news channel but is also, India’s channel of Impact.