Budget 2027 proposes increasing individual income tax relief from RM9,000 to RM12,000 and widening tax relief to cover expenses such as children's tuition fees and the care of elderly parents and grandparents.

The measures are aimed at easing the financial burden on taxpayers, particularly those juggling the costs of raising children while supporting ageing parents.

However, will the expanded tax breaks offer meaningful relief to the so-called “sandwich generation”, whose household budgets are stretched by rising living costs and the growing expense of caring for both young and old dependents?

For some, the proposals offer welcome breathing room. Others, however, say the actual tax savings may fall far short of their caregiving expenses and that more direct assistance is needed.