Question 174 marksSection A

$Differentiate between the two types of taxes indicated in the above text, with suitable examples.$

Q: Differentiate between the two types of taxes indicated in the above text, with suitable examples.

Direct taxes and indirect taxes differ mainly in incidence, shiftability and rate structure, as reflected in the passage's mention of income/corporate tax versus GST/customs duty. **Direct Taxes** - Levied directly on the income or profit of a person/entity. - Liability to pay and the burden of the tax fall on the same person — cannot be shifted. - Generally progressive — the rate rises with income, reducing income inequality. - Example (from passage): income tax and corporate tax, projected to grow 12.7% in FY 2025-26. **Indirect Taxes** - Levied on goods and services, i.e., on production, sale or consumption, not directly on income. - The person who deposits the tax (seller) can shift the burden to another (buyer) — liability and burden fall on different persons. - Generally regressive in effect, since rich and poor pay the same rate on a given good. - Example (from passage): GST and customs duties, projected to grow 8.3% in FY 2025-26.

Government Budget and the Economy

Direct Tax vs Indirect Tax

Official answer

Direct taxes and indirect taxes differ mainly in incidence, shiftability and rate structure, as reflected in the passage's mention of income/corporate tax versus GST/customs duty. Direct Taxes Levied directly on the income or profit of a person/entity. Liability to pay and the burden of the tax fall on the same person — cannot be shifted. Generally progressive — the rate rises with income, reducing income inequality. Example (from passage): income tax and corporate tax, projected to grow 12.7% in FY 2025-26. Indirect Taxes Levied on goods and services, i.e., on production, sale or consumption, not directly on income. The person who deposits the tax (seller) can shift the burden to another (buyer) — liability and burden fall on different persons. Generally regressive in effect, since rich and poor pay the same rate on a given good. Example (from passage): GST and customs duties, projected to grow 8.3% in FY 2025-26.

direct tax

indirect tax

income tax

corporate tax

GST

customs duty

progressive tax

tax incidence

Marking scheme

1. $1 mark: correct meaning of direct tax (levied on income/profit, non-shiftable).$
2. $1 mark: correct meaning of indirect tax (levied on goods/services, shiftable).$
3. $1 mark: at least one correct example each from the passage (income/corporate tax; GST/customs duty).$
4. $1 mark: an additional distinguishing feature stated with clarity (progressive vs regressive, or basis of levy).$

Hint

$Use the shiftability-of-burden test: can the payer pass the tax on to someone else?$

Quick oral answer

$Direct taxes like income tax are paid and borne by the same person and cannot be shifted, whereas indirect taxes like GST are collected by a seller from a buyer, so the burden shifts to the final consumer.$

Common mistakes

1. $Confusing 'who pays the tax to the government' with 'who bears the burden' — GST is deposited by the seller but its burden is shifted to the consumer.$
2. $Giving only one example instead of both examples cited in the passage.$
3. $Omitting progressivity/regressivity as a distinguishing feature, reducing answer depth.$

Analysis and explanation

This case links a routine 'distinguish between' question to a live Economic Survey data point, testing whether students can apply the direct/indirect tax classification to real figures. Concept The key distinguishing test in CBSE answers is shiftability of the tax burden, not just 'who writes the cheque to the government'. Direct taxes cannot be shifted; indirect taxes can be, and usually are, passed on to the final consumer. Exam trap Students often only give definitions without linking to the passage's specific examples (income/corporate tax vs GST/customs duty), losing marks meant for application. A 4-mark case question expects both the general distinction and its grounding in the given data. Real-world link The passage's own numbers — 12.7% direct tax growth versus 8.3% indirect tax growth — are themselves evidence of the distinction: direct tax growth depends on incomes/profits and compliance, while indirect tax growth tracks consumption and GST administration.

Interesting facts

$As per the Economic Survey 2024-25, direct tax revenue for FY 2025-26 is projected to grow faster (12.7%) than indirect tax revenue (8.3%), a reversal of the pre-GST era when indirect taxes dominated India's tax collections.$

$India's direct tax-to-GDP ratio crossed 6.64% in FY 2023-24, its highest level in over two decades, reflecting improved compliance through faceless assessment and expanded TDS/TCS.$

$GST, introduced on 1 July 2017, subsumed 17 different central and state indirect taxes (excise duty, VAT, service tax, etc.) into a single indirect tax.$

Question details

Q17 of 37 questions

Board: CBSE
Class: Class 12
Subject: Economics
Year: 2026
Section: Section A
Marks: 4
Chapter: Government Budget and the Economy
Topic: $Direct Tax vs Indirect Tax$
Bloom's level: understand
Syllabus topic: $Unit 5: Government Budget and the Economy — Direct and Indirect Taxes$
Author: CBSE
Reviewed by: Padhantu Academic Team

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Frequently asked questions

$What is the key difference between direct and indirect taxes?$

$Direct taxes are levied on income/profit and cannot be shifted (e.g., income tax), while indirect taxes are levied on goods/services and can be shifted from seller to buyer (e.g., GST).$

$Why are direct taxes considered more equitable than indirect taxes?$

$Direct taxes are usually progressive — higher income earners pay a higher rate — reducing income inequality, while indirect taxes are regressive since rich and poor pay the same rate on a purchased good.$