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Finance Minister P Chidambaram presented the Union Budget in Parliament on Thursday.
While Chidambaram disappointed the middle-class tax payers by keeping the tax slabs unchanged he made many others happy by cutting taxes on some products of daily use.
The finance minister was particularly harsh for the rich as he not only introduced rich tax but also raised taxes on high-end mobile handsets, luxury cars etc.
What has been the impact of this Budget on your daily life?
Find out how what's cheaper and what's costlier after the Budget. . .
1. High-end mobiles: Finance Minister P Chidambaram imposed 6 per cent duty on mobiles that cost more than Rs 2000.
High-end mobile handsets, therefore, will cost more.
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2. Non-taxi SUVs and other luxury cars: The finance minister put 100 per cent customs duty on luxury cars as a result of which luxury cars and non-taxi sport utility vehicles will cost more.
Chidambaram imposed 100 pc tax on high-end vehicles, 60 pc on imported bikes above 800 cc, 25 pc tax on yachts.
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3. Cigarettes: The finance minister raised taxes on cigarettes, cigars, cheroots.
Hence, smokers will have to pay more for that fag.
Specific excise duty on cigarettes and cigars were raised by 18 per cent.
Enough reason to kick the habit?
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4. Eating out at restaurants: Finance minister failed to please the foodies as he raised the service tax on restaurants, thereby making eating out an expensive exercise.
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5. Marble: Plan to deck up your home with marble tiles? Think again as the finance minister raised taxes on marble in this year's Budget.
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6. Silver: After gold, it's the turn of the silver now.
Finance minister raised taxes on silver in this year's Budget as a result of which all silver ornaments will be more expensive now.
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7. Set-top boxes: Finance Minister P Chidambaram raised taxes on set-top boxes in this year's Budget.
Thus television viewing is set to get expensive from April.
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8. Electric hybrid vehicles: Finance Minister's Budget speech emphasised on green energy. Hence, taxes on electric hybrid cars were reduced in this year's Budget.
These cars will be cheaper now.
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9. Leather and leather goods: Have you been planning to buy that leather jacket from the roadside mall? Go ahead.
The finance minister has cut taxes on leather and leather goods in this year's Budget.
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10. Imported yacht and motorboats: The rich and famous millionaires intending to import yachts and motorboats will now have to shell out extra money to get them as finance minister imposed more taxes on them while presenting this year's Budget.
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11. Branded apparels: Are you fond of flaunting branded garments?
Well, Budget this year brought good news for you. With finance minister reducing taxes on them, you can get them at cheaper rates.
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12. Precious stones: Are you drawn by the lustre of precious stones and gems?
Give up window shopping. You can now get them at cheaper prices as the finance minister reduced taxes on them in this year's Budget.
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13. Silk and silk products: Rustle of silk may not be music to your ears any more.
For, Finance Minister P Chidambaram increased the customs duty on raw silk from 5 per cent to 15 per cent in this year's Budget.
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14. Branded non-allopathic medicines: Those who swear by alternative medicines will have something to cheer post Budget.
An abatement of 35 per cent on the excise duty on maximum retail price-based assessment in respect of branded medicaments of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and bio-chemic systems of medicine will drastically bring down their prices.
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15. Imported Jewellery: As the finance minister raised duty-free limit on imported jewellery to Rs 50,000 in the case of a male passenger and Rs 100,000 in the case of a female passenger, he brought smiles on the faces of those who regularly import jewellery from abroad.
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16. Ready-made Garments: Those fond of wearing readymade garments wear a big smile.
For, the finance minister announced zero excise duty' for cotton and manmade sector (spun yarn) at the yarn, fabric and garment stages in this year's Budget.
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17. Home Furnishing products: This year's budget brought in good news for those fond of decorating homes as handmade carpets and textile floor coverings of coir or jute were exempted from excise duty.