AMCHAM’s Western Region, in collaboration with Ernst & Young, organized a roundtable session on ‘Post Budget Insights 2025’ on February 5^th in Mumbai focused on key takeaways from Union Budget 2025-26. The session brought together esteemed industry leaders, policymakers, and financial experts to provide deep insights into the economic landscape, direct and indirect tax proposals, and their implications for businesses operating in India. Experts analyzed India’s GDP growth, highlighting the role of government capital expenditure in offsetting sluggish private investment and the impact of manufacturing slowdown. Discussions on direct tax reforms covered modifications to the concessional tax regime, corporate tax incentives for IFSC, presumptive taxation for non-residents in electronics manufacturing, and rationalization of TDS/TCS provisions to enhance ease of compliance. Indirect tax proposals included GST reforms such as the introduction of an Invoice Management System (IMS), track-and-trace mechanisms, and changes in customs duty to encourage domestic manufacturing and support key industries like clean energy and infrastructure. The budget’s emphasis on fiscal discipline, regulatory simplifications, and incentives for startups and MSMEs was also a focal point. The session successfully provided clarity on budget implications for businesses and investment strategies.

Key takeaways from the discussion included:

• Government’s Focus on Fiscal Discipline: Reduction in fiscal deficit and increased capital expenditure to drive economic growth
• Tax Reforms for Ease of Doing Business: Significant simplifications in direct and indirect tax regulations to enhance compliance and reduce litigation
• Support for Key Sectors: Strategic focus on domestic manufacturing, clean energy, and infrastructure to boost economic development