Govt may introduce “coronavirus cess”

27 Jan 2021 Editorial Team

The government is likely to introduce a "coronavirus cess" or surcharge on individual taxpayers in the upcoming budget. A Covid cess may be levied on the higher income groups, said, experts. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on 1 February 2021.

The Covid-19 pandemic has severely disrupted economies across the globe in unprecedented ways. To provide relief to the pandemic-battered sector, the government announced an Atmanirbhar Bharat stimulus package. Tax filing deadlines were extended, and several other measures were adopted to protect the economy. The centre also introduced the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) cash voucher scheme to boost spending. To boost growth and the economy ahead, the centre is likely to bring some policies to raise revenues.

The year 2020 has been a challenging one for the government and taxpayers alike. The government has been struggling with poor revenue collections. On the other hand, there is increased pressure to make investments in infrastructure projects to generate jobs and push the economy ahead, said Archit Gupta, Founder and chief executive officer, ClearTax.

4th Indian Cement Review Conference 2021

17-18 March

Click for event info

The centre had started the first phase of a nationwide Covid-19 vaccine drive this month. The government will bear the entire cost of the immunisation drive. Gupta said that it would be unfair to expect any tax reliefs with this backdrop. The government may choose to bring in a covid cess or some other similar cess of between 2-4%, said Gupta.

This cess may be made applicable to higher-income ranges to cover for the money spent on meals and other assistance to the poorest during coronavirus as well as the costs involved to vaccinate everyone in 2021 and further. Businesses may likely face this cess if not individuals, claimed Gupta.

A cess is a form of tax levied by the government on tax with specific purposes until the government gets enough money for that purpose. A cess is imposed as an additional tax besides the existing tax.

Image Source

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

The government is likely to introduce a coronavirus cess or surcharge on individual taxpayers in the upcoming budget. A Covid cess may be levied on the higher income groups, said, experts. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on 1 February 2021. The Covid-19 pandemic has severely disrupted economies across the globe in unprecedented ways. To provide relief to the pandemic-battered sector, the government announced an Atmanirbhar Bharat stimulus package. Tax filing deadlines were extended, and several other measures were adopted to protect the economy. The centre also introduced the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) cash voucher scheme to boost spending. To boost growth and the economy ahead, the centre is likely to bring some policies to raise revenues. The year 2020 has been a challenging one for the government and taxpayers alike. The government has been struggling with poor revenue collections. On the other hand, there is increased pressure to make investments in infrastructure projects to generate jobs and push the economy ahead, said Archit Gupta, Founder and chief executive officer, ClearTax.4th Indian Cement Review Conference 202117-18 March Click for event info The centre had started the first phase of a nationwide Covid-19 vaccine drive this month. The government will bear the entire cost of the immunisation drive. Gupta said that it would be unfair to expect any tax reliefs with this backdrop. The government may choose to bring in a covid cess or some other similar cess of between 2-4%, said Gupta. This cess may be made applicable to higher-income ranges to cover for the money spent on meals and other assistance to the poorest during coronavirus as well as the costs involved to vaccinate everyone in 2021 and further. Businesses may likely face this cess if not individuals, claimed Gupta. A cess is a form of tax levied by the government on tax with specific purposes until the government gets enough money for that purpose. A cess is imposed as an additional tax besides the existing tax. Image Source

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

Infrastructure Transport

05 Sep 2025

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Infrastructure Transport

05 Sep 2025

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..