Budget 2026: Big relief to middle class from Joint Income Tax Return. Money Live | Budget 2026: Joint Income Tax Return to provide significant relief to the middle class

This time in Union Budget 2026, there can be a big surprise for the middle class. According to reports, the government is considering giving the option of filing Joint Income Tax Return (ITR) to husband and wife. This means that now married couples will be able to file returns by adding their income together. Till now the rule in India was that every person fills separate ITR according to his earnings. But according to the new proposal, this change will provide huge tax relief, especially for those families where there is only one earner. Exemption limit from Joint ITR will be added for both, which may reduce tax liability. Keep in mind, if both husband and wife work and both have high earnings, then the tax liability will not be much. According to ICAI this will be only one option. Couples can choose Joint Return only after seeing their convenience and mathematics. If Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents this framework in the budget, then this step will prove to be a big relief for single income families and the middle class. This will not only save tax but will also make the filing process easier.