Emerging Areas — Crypto, ESG & the New Economy

1% TDS applies under s.194S ITA 1961 on VDA transfers above ₹50,000/year for specified persons and ₹10,000/year for others, deducted by the exchange and credited to you via 26AS. Reconcile exchange TDS with 26AS/AIS transaction-by-transaction before filing to avoid a 143(1) demand.

₹1 crore turnover triggers a s.44AB tax audit when VDA trading is your business (₹10 crore where BOTH cash receipts and cash payments are ≤ 5% of totals) — turnover computed like F&O as the aggregate of gains and losses. Most individual investors hold as capital gains and are not audited.

Two tax events apply to mining, staking, and airdrop rewards: receipt (taxed at FMV) and later sale (30% + cess under s.115BBH) — the receipt FMV becomes your cost basis — but CBDT has issued no specific guidance as of August 2026, so every figure needs CA verification.

31.2% (30% + 4% cess under s.115BBH) is the flat rate on crypto gains in both old and new regimes, so the regime choice never changes your crypto bill — only your salary. If VDA gains push tax after employer TDS above ₹10,000, advance tax is due by the March 15 instalment.

30% plus 4% cess is the only correct rate for crypto, reported in Schedule VDA — putting gains in Schedule OS or CG is wrong and risks a s.139(9) defective return; fix it with a revised return u/s 139(5) before the deadline.

s.2(47A) ITA 1961 defines a VDA as any cryptographically generated token of value — expressly including NFTs — but not Indian/foreign currency or any digital asset notified as excluded. The e-Rupee is likely outside it. Stablecoins are likely VDAs, with no express CBDT exclusion.

31.2% applies to every P2P and foreign-exchange VDA sale — converted to INR at the trade-date RBI reference rate in Schedule VDA, with foreign-held VDAs disclosed in Schedule FA, and a FEMA angle on holding abroad that needs specialist review.

30% plus 4% cess is the rate on every VDA gain reported in Schedule VDA of ITR-2 or ITR-3 — with type of VDA, acquisition date, transfer date, consideration, and cost in INR, not in Schedule OS or CG. The AIS shows gross sale consideration, so transaction-level disclosure is what reconciles.

31.2% effective tax (30% under s.115BBH plus 4% cess) applies to every VDA gain in FY 2025-26, regardless of holding period or regime, with no deduction beyond cost of acquisition. Salaried employees must pay advance tax quarterly if VDA gains push tax above ₹10,000 after TDS.

From FY 2024-25, India's top 1000 listed companies face a hard regulatory deadline: BRSR ESG reporting with third-party assurance is now compulsory under SEBI LODR. Scope 3 emissions must be disclosed. Here's what boards and CFOs need to action immediately.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 sets a strict 330-day timeline for Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) completion. This post breaks down the CIRP phases, explains Section 29A ineligibility criteria, and clarifies secured creditor voting mechanics in the CoC.

India taxes crypto and Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) under Section 115BBH with a flat 30% rate, no loss offset against other income, and mandatory TDS under Section 194S. This is not a capital gains framework--it's a standalone levy with strict disclosure and documentation rules.

Real estate taxation in India involves three critical compliance layers: capital gains under Section 45(5A) for joint development projects, TDS obligations under Section 194-IC on land sales, and GST treatment of under-construction flats following the March 2019 rate reduction. This guide unpacks each.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA 2023) has fundamentally reshaped how Indian businesses handle personal data. Non-compliance exposes you to penalties up to Rs.250 crore under Section 33. This guide breaks down consent manager requirements and data fiduciary obligations that every business must master.