A post by chartered accountant Pratibha Goyal has highlighted a basic but important personal finance problem: earning well does not always mean having enough liquid cash. She said one of her IITian clients, despite making more than Rs 1 crore a year for five years and owning three houses, had to borrow Rs 15,000 to pay income tax and complete his ITR filing.
The case underlines the difference between income, assets and liquidity. A person may have a high salary and valuable property, but still run into trouble if most of the money is tied up in loans, investments, real estate or regular spending. In such situations, even a relatively small immediate expense like tax payment can become difficult to manage.
Goyal’s account points to a wider financial lesson for high earners: cash-flow planning matters as much as wealth creation. Property ownership and a strong annual income can create the impression of financial security, but without a cash buffer, tax deadlines and other mandatory payments can quickly expose weak financial planning.
The broader takeaway is that emergency funds and timely tax provisioning are essential, regardless of income level. The story has drawn attention because it shows how a person can appear wealthy on paper yet struggle with short-term obligations when liquid funds are missing.
