Income Tax — Guides, Rulings & Planning

The Income-tax Act, 2025 makes the New Tax Regime the default for Hindu Undivided Families from Tax Year 2026-27 under Section 202 — and unlike individuals, HUFs get no rebate under the new regime. Here is what changes and how to opt out if the old regime suits your HUF better.

The tax audit report under Section 44AB for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) is due on September 30, 2026. Here's who is covered — businesses over ₹1 crore, professionals over ₹50 lakh, and presumptive-scheme opt-out cases — and what happens if you miss it.

ITAT Hyderabad has held that a Capital Gains Account Scheme deposit is not compulsory under Section 54 if the taxpayer actually invested the capital gains in a new residential house within the prescribed time. Here is what the ruling covers, what it does not change, and where the exemption still commonly fails.

The CBDT's Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers Disclosure Scheme, 2026 gives eligible taxpayers a one-time window until December 31, 2026 to regularise undisclosed foreign assets. Missing the deadline means facing the full Black Money Act machinery, including a 90% penalty and possible prosecution.

ITAT Bangalore has reaffirmed that capital gains on a property sale arise when possession is handed over under a written agreement to sell, not when the sale deed is later registered. If you handed over possession in FY 2025-26, this affects how and when you must report gains in your AY 2026-27 return.

The Income Tax Act, 2025 extends the ESOP TDS deferral window for startup employees from 48 to 60 months, but the qualifying conditions have not loosened. Only startups holding both DPIIT recognition and IMB certification under Section 140 qualify — DPIIT recognition alone does not trigger the deferral, and employers without IMB certification must deduct TDS at exercise.

Resident individuals and HUFs selling property acquired before 23 July 2024 can choose between 20% tax with indexation or 12.5% without. The CBDT has notified CII 384 for FY 2026-27. Running both calculations before filing is essential—the difference can be lakhs on a ₹2 crore+ sale.

A reassessment notice under Section 148A is only valid if it follows strict procedural rules and falls within legal time limits. The 2026 ITAT ruling in Elegance Reality confirms: notices issued after the 3-year or 10-year window has closed are void from inception. Here's how to spot a time-barred notice and respond correctly.

The Finance Act 2024 changed how long-term capital gains on immovable property are taxed. If you sold property in FY 2025-26 and bought it before 23 July 2024, you can choose between 12.5% without indexation or 20% with indexation. The right option depends on your acquisition cost and holding period.

An ITAT ruling denies capital gains exemption when reinvestment is made in a spouse's name instead of the assessee's. Combined with the Supreme Court's 21 July 2026 clarification on Benami Act jurisdiction, property sellers face dual tax and legal exposure. Understand the statutory language, benami risk, and correct structuring.

The ₹60,000 rebate under Section 87A for AY 2026-27 does not apply to short-term or long-term capital gains taxed at special rates under Sections 111A and 112A. Even if your total income is under ₹12 lakh, you will owe tax on equity mutual fund and share sale profits. This guide explains the compartmentalisation rule and what to check before filing.

After the Finance Act 2024, resident individuals selling property acquired before 23 July 2024 can choose the lower tax between 12.5% (no indexation) and 20% (with indexation). Non-residents and property bought after 23 July 2024 get no option. Understanding this choice can save lakhs on a single property sale.

The Income Tax e-Filing portal has released all ITR utilities for AY 2026-27 (FY 2025-26), including ITR-5 on 7 July 2026. Filing deadlines are 31 July for ITR-1/2, 31 August for ITR-3/4 non-audit, and 31 October for audit cases. No extension has been notified yet.

CBDT Circular 06/2026 (dated 2 July 2026) condones delays in Form 10AB filing for 80G approval where applications were submitted between 1 October 2025 and 31 March 2026. Even rejected applications are revived for merit-based review by 31 December 2026.

HRA exemption under s.10(13A) is only available in the OLD tax regime — under the new regime s.115BAC it is fully taxable. For a ₹12 lakh Mumbai employee the new regime's ₹12 lakh rebate often wins anyway; at ₹18 lakh with HRA plus home loan, old regime can still win by ₹34,840. Here is the break-even.

Rent to your father for HRA is valid when he owns the property, you pay by bank transfer and he declares the rent in his ITR. The documents you need are a written agreement, monthly transfer receipts, rent receipts signed by your father, and his PAN. Here is the full checklist and the AO red flags that sink the claim.

F&O income in ITR-3 requires Schedule BP (business income), a P&L statement with turnover and expenses, a balance sheet, Schedule DPM/DOA (depreciation), and Schedule GST — even if you are not GST-registered. Salaried traders must also complete Schedule S and Schedule TDS; reporting F&O under Schedule CG instead of BP is a common Section 139(9) trigger.

For FY 2025-26, Bengaluru is NOT a metro city for HRA — only Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai qualify for the 50% cap, so Bengaluru renters use 40% under Rule 2A IT Rules 1962. Here is the 7-metro confusion explained with a worked example and the FY 2026-27 transition.

Convert your broker P&L into ICAI tax turnover for FY 2025-26: download the trade-level CSV (Zerodha Console P&L, Angel One backoffice Trade Book, or Groww Reports), separate intraday equity from futures and options, take the absolute per-trade P&L, add options premium received, and aggregate. Maya's Zerodha export walks through the exact steps.

F&O losses are non-speculative business losses, so Section 73's speculation restrictions do not apply. They set off against other business income in the same year — but never against salary under Section 71(2A) — and can be carried forward 8 years under Section 72. Filing ITR-3 on time is mandatory; a late return forfeits the carry-forward.

Filing F&O income in ITR-1 or ITR-4 is the top Section 139(9) defective-return trigger. The five most common triggers are the wrong form, F&O under Schedule CG instead of BP, misusing 44AD with profit below 8%, a missing Schedule BP, and no P&L statement above ₹25 lakh turnover. You have 15 days to refile in ITR-3.

For FY 2025-26, F&O turnover is the absolute sum of profits and losses on squared-off positions, plus the full premium received on options sold. Ravi's ₹13.5 lakh turnover versus ₹2.5 lakh net profit shows why turnover, not profit, drives the Section 44AB audit test.

Rent receipts are NOT mandatory for HRA when annual rent is ₹1,00,000 or less — a Form 12BB declaration to your employer is enough. Above ₹1 lakh, landlord PAN and rent receipts are required. Here is what Form 16, Form 12BA and an ITR scrutiny actually accept as proof of rent.

Your parent's PAN is mandatory when annual rent exceeds ₹1,00,000 — required by the employer under Form 12BB and CBDT Circular 8/2013 — and parents must declare that rent as income from house property under s.22, not as a gift. Here is what to submit and what the 30% standard deduction under s.24(a) means for their tax.

Only 4 cities are HRA metros at the 50% cap under Rule 2A for FY 2025-26: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. Delhi NCR — Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad — is NOT Delhi and gets 40%, a common employer declaration error. Here is the metro vs non-metro map with worked examples and the pitfalls to check in Form 16.

Yes — paying rent to your parents for HRA is legally valid when the arrangement is genuine, but you need a real rent agreement, a bank-transfer trail and your parents' PAN when annual rent exceeds ₹1,00,000. Here is the legal checklist under s.10(13A), s.269SS and the house-property rules, with a worked example.

GST on F&O applies only to brokerage as a service — your trading profits are not a supply, and the ₹20 lakh GST registration threshold is measured on your services, not your trading P&L. Income-tax turnover under Section 44AB is a completely different number: the absolute sum of trading profits and losses.

No — the 8% (6% digital) Section 44AD presumptive scheme does not apply to F&O trading. Derivative income is excluded from the scheme, so ITR-4 is wrong and ITR-3 with actual books is mandatory; filing ITR-4 with F&O income triggers a Section 139(9) defective-return notice with a 15-day refiling window.

For FY 2025-26, a Section 44AB tax audit is mandatory when F&O turnover exceeds ₹1 crore — or ₹10 crore if cash receipts and payments are each 5% or less of totals, which fully digital F&O traders usually meet. A low declared profit ratio does not remove the audit obligation, and books of account are required.

Advance tax applies when estimated tax liability exceeds ₹10,000 after TDS. Salaried employees have salary covered by employer TDS, but F&O profits are not — on the ₹4 lakh F&O slice (which straddles the 20% and 25% new-regime slabs for FY 2025-26), Deepak's incremental advance tax works out to about ₹80,500 across four instalments (15 Jun, 15 Sep, 15 Dec, 15 Mar). Missing instalments triggers interest under Sections 234B and 234C.

Section 269SS caps cash loans and deposits at ₹20,000, and while rent is not literally a loan or deposit, cash rent of ₹20,000 or more a month has led ITAT to deny HRA claims for want of proof. The safe practice is to pay rent by bank transfer. Here is the cash-rent risk table and what disqualifies exemption.

Gifts from parents are exempt under s.56(2)(x) because parents are specified relatives — but rent you pay to parents is income to them, not a gift. When 'rent' is quietly returned as a 'gift', the AO can treat the whole arrangement as a sham and deny both the HRA exemption and the gift exemption. Here is how to keep them legally separate.

Under Section 43(5), a speculative transaction is a contract settled otherwise than by delivery. F&O is non-speculative under the proviso, and intraday equity in listed shares became non-speculative from AY 2019-20. Speculative loss sets off only against speculative income, while F&O loss sets off against other business income — but never salary.

The HRA exemption is the LEAST of three amounts — actual HRA received, rent minus 10% of salary, and 50% or 40% of basic + DA. On a ₹12 lakh CTC with ₹6 lakh basic, Priya's exemption is ₹2,04,000 in Mumbai. Here is the full Rule 2A calculation, step by step.

Long-term capital gains on listed equity and equity mutual funds are taxed at 12.5% under s.112A for transfers on or after 23 July 2024, with the exemption raised to ₹1,25,000. What changed, the grandfathering rule, and a worked example.

FY 2025-26 old vs new regime break-even at ₹8L, ₹12L, ₹15L, ₹20L and ₹30L salary — verified slab math with Finance Act 2025 slabs, ₹75,000 standard deduction, and Section 87A rebate up to ₹60,000.

For FY 2025-26 the Section 87A rebate is ₹60,000 in the new regime for total income up to ₹12 lakh (₹12,500 up to ₹5 lakh in the old regime). The rebate does not reduce tax on special-rate capital gains — STCG u/s 111A, LTCG u/s 112A, VDA u/s 115BBH. Worked example inside.

Finance (No. 2) Act 2024 removed indexation on property sold on or after 23 July 2024, but property bought before that date keeps a choice: 12.5% LTCG without indexation or 20% with indexation. Debt funds lost indexation on 1 April 2023. Worked example inside.

The Section 54 and 54F exemption on reinvesting long-term capital gains into a residential house is capped at ₹10 crore per assessee, in force since AY 2024-25 (Finance Act 2023). For FY 2025-26 HNI sellers, the cap creates a taxable residue most reinvestment plans ignore.

Short-term capital gains on listed equity and equity mutual funds are taxed at 20% under s.111A for sales on or after 23 July 2024 — up from 15%. Asset coverage, holding-period rule, and a worked NIFTY 50 ETF example.

The standard deduction is ₹75,000 in the new tax regime and ₹50,000 in the old regime for FY 2025-26 — both under s.16(ia) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. How the split arose, what it saves at each slab, and how Form 16 reflects it.

Section 89A (Finance Act 2021) lets a returning NRI who has become a resident defer Indian tax on foreign retirement account income — 401k, IRA, RRSP, UK pension — to the year of withdrawal. Who qualifies, Form 10-EE, Rule 21AAA, and the RNOR interplay.

Income from virtual digital assets is taxed at a flat 30% plus 4% cess under s.115BBH for FY 2025-26 — no long/short-term split, no deduction beyond cost, no set-off against other income, and 1% TDS under s.194S. Worked example and AIS reconciliation inside.

For FY 2025-26 the new tax regime under s.115BAC allows just seven meaningful deductions — standard deduction, employer NPS, family pension, let-out property interest, VRS, Agniveer and exempt employer PF — while disallowing 80C, 80D, HRA, LTA, 80G, 80E and more. Full table inside.

Everyone says the new tax regime is always cheaper. For most salaried filers it is — but not all. Whether it wins for you comes down to one number: your total deductions. Here is exactly where the break-even falls at every income level for AY 2026-27, with worked math.

Filing the wrong ITR form triggers a defective return notice. With 31 July approaching, this guide tells you which form applies to your income profile — and why NRIs almost never qualify for ITR-1.

Employers routinely miscalculate Section 192 TDS — wrong regime, missed perquisites, ignored job changes. The final tax liability is always yours. Here is how to cross-check Form 16 against AIS before you file.

Missing the CGAS deposit by 31 July costs you the Section 54 exemption entirely — even if you buy a house well within the 2-year window. Here is the full guide to the house sale capital gains exemption.

Unlisted shares are taxed completely differently from listed equity — no STT benefit, no Section 111A or 112A. Section 112 governs at 12.5% after Budget 2024, and the holding period and cost of acquisition rules catch most sellers off guard.

Section 44AD lets small businesses declare a fixed percentage of turnover as profit with no books or audit. But opt in for one year and you are locked in for five. Here is how it works and who should avoid it.

Section 234B and 234C add interest to your tax bill for underpaying advance tax — but most taxpayers confuse them or assume TDS covers everything. Four myths debunked, with a step-by-step calculation.

For AY 2026-27, the Section 87A rebate makes the first ₹12 lakh tax-free for most resident individuals — but the capital gains trap has cost thousands of taxpayers real money. Here is what you need to know before you file.

Every Indian resident who remits money abroad to invest in US stocks, overseas mutual funds, or international bonds is having 20% deducted at the bank counter. Most of them believe they have "paid tax." They have not — they have paid TCS, and it can be claimed back.

Section 80-IAC of the Income Tax Act, 1961 provides a 100% profit deduction for eligible startups for any three consecutive assessment years out of the first ten years from the year of incorporation. Getting to this deduction requires an Inter-Ministerial Board certificate — and most startups do not know what that process involves.

Every ITR filing season, the same error appears across tech employees' returns: the RSU income is reported correctly under salary, Form 16 matches, and the ITR is filed. What is missed is that the shares received on vesting are a foreign asset requiring Schedule FA disclosure.

The tax deferral for startup ESOPs sounds straightforward until you try to explain when the tax actually becomes due. Most advisors say "48 months." That is incomplete in a way that can cost employees real money.

Miss 31 July and you can still file until 31 December 2026 — but with a ₹5,000 fee, interest charges, and permanent forfeiture of capital loss carry-forwards. Here is exactly what changes.

PAN is mandatory for income tax filing, high-value transactions, and opening bank accounts. This guide covers how to apply for a PAN card, when it is compulsory, penalties for not quoting PAN, and how to link Aadhaar — all with specific section citations.

Finance Act 2024 overhauled capital gains tax in India. LTCG on equity is now 12.5% without indexation, STCG is 20%. This comprehensive guide explains every rate, exemption, and grandfathering rule with specific section citations.

If you are a freelancer or consultant earning up to ₹75 lakh, Section 44ADA lets you declare 50% of receipts as profit — no books, no audit. Here is exactly who qualifies and how it works.

You are entitled to a refund the moment excess TDS is deducted. Filing your ITR triggers the process automatically. Here is how refunds work, when interest applies, and what to do if yours is stuck.

Filing your ITR after 31 July 2026 triggers three separate charges under the Income Tax Act. Here is exactly what each one costs and when it starts.

Indian companies with international transactions exceeding ₹1 Cr must file Form 3CEB (a CA-certified transfer pricing report) under Section 92E before 31 October 2026. This guide covers the five prescribed methods, documentation standards, and the penalty structure for non-compliance.

Yes — you can file your ITR even if your employer has not issued Form 16. Your actual tax data is already captured in your AIS and Form 26AS. Here is exactly how to do it.

The new tax regime is the default from FY 2023-24. But defaulting is not the same as optimal. Here is a precise comparison of slabs, deductions, and break-even points to help you decide correctly for AY 2026-27.

Complete guide to advance tax under Section 208: who is liable, how to calculate all four instalments, due dates for FY 2025-26, and Section 234B/234C interest consequences.

Detailed guide to calculating HRA exemption under Section 10(13A) with metro/non-metro examples, landlord PAN rules, rent-to-parents strategy, and documents required.

A CA's guide to income tax notices under Sections 139(9), 143(1), 143(2), 148, and 245. Includes response timelines, document checklist, and what happens if you ignore a notice.

Complete TDS deduction rate chart for FY 2025-26 covering Sections 192, 194C, 194J, 194H, 194I, 194Q. Includes thresholds, payment deadlines, and return filing dates.

Your ITR shows ₹10 lakh income. The government's AIS shows ₹14 lakh. A Section 143(1)(a) notice follows automatically. Here is why AIS errors happen and how to prevent them before you file.

Detailed breakdown of all investments qualifying for Section 80C deduction up to ₹1.5 lakh, with lock-in periods, taxability of returns, and optimal investment strategy.

A data-driven comparison of the new and old tax regimes for FY 2025-26. Worked examples for different income slabs and when to choose each.

A step-by-step guide to filing your ITR for AY 2026-27 on the Income Tax e-filing portal, including document checklist, deadlines, and common mistakes to avoid.

Section 115BBH taxes crypto gains at 30% with zero loss set-off — not against other crypto profits, not against any income. Here is why this framework is uniquely punishing and what Indian traders must know.

From 2012 to 2024, Section 56(2)(viib) treated startup fundraising as taxable income. Over 1,500 companies received notices. Here is exactly how it worked and what it cost the Indian ecosystem.

The British left in 1947. One of their taxes is still deducting from your salary every month. Here is why Professional Tax exists, why it makes no sense, and why nobody has killed it.

A step-by-step explanation of how Tax Collected at Source applies to LRS remittances after the Finance Act 2023 changes, with worked examples and ITR credit guidance.

A complete tax reference for Indian residents receiving US company RSUs — covering perquisite treatment at vest, capital gains on sale, Form 67 FTC filing under Rule 128, and Schedule FA disclosure obligations.

A practical walkthrough for NRIs and foreign professionals on claiming DTAA benefits on Indian-source income, from the s.90(2) most-favourable rule to Form 10F online filing.

Who must file Schedule FA, the 7 most-missed disclosure situations, penalties under the Black Money Act 2015, and how to remediate missed filings through ITR-U.

A planning guide for returning NRIs on using the RNOR window to manage 401k/IRA withdrawals, convert NRE accounts to RFC, and understand exactly what income is and is not taxable during the transition period.

Advance tax must be paid in four instalments during the financial year. Missing instalments attracts interest under Sections 234B and 234C. Here is how to compute and pay advance tax.

Non-resident Indians have different residential status rules, TDS rates, and filing obligations. This guide covers DTAA benefits, NRO vs NRE taxation, and how to file ITR-2 as an NRI.

A home loan gives you tax deductions on both interest (Section 24b) and principal (Section 80C). Here is how to maximise your tax savings on home loan repayment for AY 2025-26.

Choosing the wrong ITR form is a common mistake that leads to a defective return notice under Section 139(9). Here is the definitive guide to selecting the correct form for your income profile.

Section 80C allows a deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh per year from taxable income. This guide covers all eligible investments and payments — ELSS, PPF, LIC, home loan principal, and more.

Filing your ITR is not complete until you e-verify it. Under Rule 12(3) of the Income Tax Rules, e-verification must be done within 30 days of filing. An unverified return is treated as not filed.

Budget 2024 revised capital gains tax rates significantly. Long-term capital gains on equity are now taxed at 12.5% (up from 10%) and short-term at 20%. Here is the complete guide.

The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is more comprehensive than Form 26AS. Mismatches between your records and AIS can trigger notices. Here is how to reconcile them before filing.

The new tax regime is the default for AY 2025-26 with revised slabs and a higher rebate limit. Here is a structured comparison to help you decide which regime saves you more tax.

Form 16 is your TDS certificate from your employer. This guide explains Part A, Part B, what to verify, and how to use it for accurate ITR filing.

The due date for filing your Income Tax Return for AY 2025-26 (FY 2024-25) is 31 July 2025 for non-audit individuals. Here is a complete guide to deadlines, extensions, and penalties.