As the time for the presentation of the Union Budget comes near, the Indian middle class, particularly the salaried people, pin their hopes for a fairer treatment but feel cheated year after year. They can do nothing but pay according to one of the highest tax regimes in the world. Even though their contribution to the direct tax kitty is a significant percentage of the total collection. They are paying far more than what the corporate sector is paying. According to Mr. Jairam Ramesh, the income tax collections from this segment of the Indian populace stood at Rs 3.61 lakh crores whereas the gross corporate tax collections were Rs 2.65 lakh crores from April 1 to July 1, 2024. While the corporates got a reduced taxation rate in 2019, the middle class has been left pining for a similar gesture since 2014.