One of the defining characteristics of mature consumer markets is not simply the abundance of products, but the quality of consumer decision-making. Across sectors, rising financial awareness, easier access to information and digital discovery are changing what people choose to buy and how they
Imagine reaching retirement with a bond portfolio that works like a staircase. One bond matures this year, another next year, and another the year after, giving you access to money at different points instead of having to unlock the entire investment at once
Augmont Enterprises IPO Day 2: The initial public offering (IPO) of integrated gold and silver platform Augmont Enterprises Ltd is witnessing its second day of bidding today, August 24. So far, the public issue has been subscribed 2.88 times. The Rs 825-crore IPO
Gold prices remain high in India; check 22K, 24K rates in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru International gold prices also climbed to a more than three-month high on Monday. Published on: Aug 24, 2026, 13:46:24 IST By HT News Desk Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Gold prices remained high in India on
Nearly three-fourth of large-cap active funds underperformed a blended (LargeMidCap) benchmark over a 10-year period, according to the 2025 report by SPIVA (S&P Indices Versus Active). In this article, we discuss two reasons that could, perhaps
Indian Stock Market Today, August 24: The domestic equity markets opened higher on Monday, but gains remained measured as investors continued to track elevated crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions in West Asia. At 9:16 am, the BSE Sensex was up 205 points, or 0.26%, at 77,746.06
Businesses from India and the U.S. have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and made proposals to improve the country's investment climate, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has said. Mr. Muktadir’s remarks on Saturday (August 22
Minimalistic retractable door handles became a signature feature of electric vehicles (EVs), but the controversial designs are now at the centre of China's biggest car recall, affecting more than 4 million vehicles. The recall, which includes 2.98 million Chinese-made Teslas
New ITR Deadlines, STT Hike, Revised Return Window Extended: Know Key Income Tax Changes From April 1
New ITR Deadlines, STT Hike, Revised Return Window Extended: Know Key Income Tax Changes From April 1
Income Tax Changes From April 1, 2026: Several key changes in India’s direct tax framework will come into effect from April 1, 2026, with the Income-tax Act, 2025, replacing the six-decade-old Income-tax Act, 1961. The new law introduces simplified language and the proposals announced in the Union Budget 2026 will remain the same.
Tax experts say the changes aim to simplify compliance, rationalise timelines and modify certain tax provisions affecting investors, businesses and individuals.
“The Income-tax Act, 2025 introduces structural, conceptual and procedural changes across the direct tax framework," chartered accountant Suresh Surana said.
One of the key changes under the Income-tax Act, 2025, is the introduction of the concept of a ‘Tax Year’, which will replace the earlier distinction between the ‘previous year’ and the ‘assessment year’ under the Income-tax Act, 1961. According to Surana, this move is intended to simplify the tax framework by aligning the period of income earning and taxation under a single terminology.
Under the new Act, the existing income tax slab rates for individuals under both the old and the concessional tax regime will remain unchanged, ensuring continuity in the personal tax burden.
Another important change relates to the revision of due dates for filing income tax returns. The government has proposed extending the deadline for taxpayers engaged in business or profession whose accounts are not subject to audit, as well as partners of such firms and certain trusts.
Under the revised structure, the due date for these taxpayers will be extended from July 31 to August 31. However, individuals filing simple returns such as ITR-1 and ITR-2 will continue to have a July 31 deadline.
The revised due date framework will broadly be as follows: November 30 for assessees covered under special provisions such as Section 172 cases; October 31 for companies and taxpayers whose accounts require audit; August 31 for business or professional taxpayers not requiring audit; and July 31 for all other taxpayers.
These amendments will apply from Tax Year 2026-27 under the Income-tax Act, 2025, while similar provisions will also take effect from March 1, 2026 under the existing law for Assessment Year 2026-27.
The new law will also extend the time limit for filing a revised return. Currently, taxpayers can revise their return within nine months from the end of the relevant tax year or before completion of assessment, whichever is earlier. The new framework proposes extending this limit to 12 months from the end of the tax year.
However, a fee will apply if the revised return is filed after nine months. A fee of Rs 1,000 will be payable where total income does not exceed Rs 5 lakh, while Rs 5,000 will apply where income exceeds Rs 5 lakh.
The government has also proposed an increase in Securities Transaction Tax (STT) rates, citing rapid growth in derivatives trading and rising speculative activity in the futures and options segment.
Under the revised structure effective April 1, 2026, the STT rate on sale of options will increase from 0.10% to 0.15%, while the tax on sale of options where the contract is exercised will rise from 0.125% to 0.15%. The STT on sale of futures will increase from 0.02% to 0.05%.
Another set of changes involves rationalisation of Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rates on certain transactions. According to Surana, the objective is to simplify the levy and align it with evolving economic and compliance considerations.
The TCS rate on sale of alcoholic liquor for human consumption will increase from 1% to 2%, while tendu leaves will see a reduction from 5% to 2%. The TCS rate on sale of scrap and minerals such as coal, lignite and iron ore will rise from 1% to 2%.
For remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) exceeding Rs 10 lakh for education or medical treatment, the rate will be reduced from 5% to 2%. However, remittances for other purposes will continue to attract 20% TCS.
In the case of overseas tour packages, the current structure of 5% TCS up to Rs 10 lakh and 20% above that threshold will be replaced by a uniform 2% rate.
Importantly, TCS on sale of motor vehicles and other luxury goods will continue at 1%, Surana noted.
The new tax law also expands the scope of exemption for home-to-office commuting benefits provided by employers. Earlier, the value of a vehicle provided by an employer for commuting between residence and workplace was not treated as a taxable perquisite.
Under the Income-tax Act, 2025, the exemption will also cover any commuting expenditure incurred or reimbursed by the employer, thereby widening the scope of the benefit.
Another major change relates to taxation of share buybacks. Currently, the amount received by shareholders in a buyback is treated as dividend income, while the cost of acquisition of the extinguished shares is recognised as a capital loss.
The proposed amendment will instead treat buyback consideration as capital gains income. According to Surana, the change could result in higher effective tax liability for promoters, with an effective tax incidence of about 30%, while promoter companies may face a tax rate of 22%, excluding surcharge and cess.
The new law also proposes a tightening of rules for deducting interest expenses against dividend and mutual fund income.
Under the earlier law, taxpayers could claim a deduction of interest expenditure up to 20% of such income. However, the Income-tax Act, 2025 proposes to fully disallow interest deductions incurred for earning dividend income or income from mutual funds.
Surana said the change may increase taxable income for investors deriving passive income from dividends or mutual funds, although interest expenditure incurred for earning other taxable interest income will continue to remain deductible under general provisions.
Overall, the new tax law represents one of the most significant overhauls of India’s direct tax framework in decades, with the changes set to take effect from April 1, 2026.
Source: News18
Related Posts: Income Tax Changes India 2026, Income-tax Act 2025, new tax framework, tax year concept, income tax slabs, due dates for filing ITR, revised returns, STT rates
Tempsens Instruments India IPO Day 3: The initial public offering (IPO) of temperature sensing and heating solutions provider Tempsens Instruments Ltd is witnessing its final day of bidding today, August 24. So far, the public issue has been subscribed by a strong 31.34 times. The Rs 650-crore IPO
11 hours ago
S&P 500 just hit a level seen only once before in 155 years — could a market crash be next? The S&P 500 CAPE ratio hit 40 for only the second time in 155 years, raising concerns about valuations, future returns and a possible market correction. Updated on: Aug 23, 2026
14 hours ago
Anthropic $2 trillion IPO: Why investors think it could be worth more than SpaceX Anthropic could reach a $2 trillion IPO valuation as revenue surges, raising questions about whether the AI company can be worth more than SpaceX. Published on: Aug 23, 2026
14 hours ago
US President Donald Trump has said Canada wants "the benefits of being a State, without being one" after trade talks between the two countries collapsed late on Friday. In his first comments since negotiations broke down, triggering new 50% US tariffs on a range of Canadian goods
1 days ago
India’s payments sector has raised $5.8 billion across 371 equity funding rounds since January 2021, while producing eight initial public offerings (IPOs) and triggering 25 acquisitions, as the industry increasingly consolidates around a handful of well-funded players
1 days ago
Can Reddit survive in the AI era? It wants more cash for its data—and more of people’s time Published on: Aug 22, 2026, 16:40:48 IST The Economist Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Earlier this summer “Backrooms”, a horror flick, became one of the most successful independent films ever
1 days ago
What with a 250th birthday, Taylor Swift's wedding and the football World Cup, Americans could be forgiven for taking their eye off the ball this summer. But signs of economic trouble have been building. This week they hit the headlines when US national debt passed the $40tn (£29.4tn) mark
1 days ago
Insurance regulator IRDAI has directed Edelweiss Life Insurance and Pramerica Life Insurance, in separate orders on August 20, not to open new place of business for six months for non-compliance with Expenses of Management (EoM) limits in 2024-25
2 days ago
India remains a very attractive destination for global investments and its economic fundamentals form the basis for strong investor confidence, Jyoti Jeetun, the Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning of Mauritius told The Hindu in an interview
2 days ago
A fresh wave of US tariffs on a wide array of Canadian goods has come into effect as of midnight on Saturday after a last minute break down in trade talks. Announcing the suspension of negotiations shortly before the Friday night deadline, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would impose
2 days ago
TCS Employee Surveillance Row: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services company, on Friday denied reports that it is using monitoring tools to track individual employee activity on company-issued laptops. The IT giant said the purpose of the tools is to monitor the overall
2 days ago
Walmart stock falls 9% as retailer finally brings Apple Pay, Google Pay Walmart stock fell 9% after earnings despite beating estimates and raising guidance. The retailer will add Apple Pay and Google Pay Tap to Pay from August 24. Updated on: Aug 21, 2026
2 days ago
TikTok has agreed to pay $400m (£293m) to the US to end a lawsuit alleging its platform violated children‘s privacy, marking one of the largest ever settlements over the issue. The deal stems from a 2024 suit by the Department of Justice under former President Joe Biden alleging TikTok and its
2 days ago
What’s next for Nvidia after the AI chip boom? Wall Street wants more—here’s what investors need to know Nvidia stock faces high expectations ahead of August 26 earnings as Wall Street watches AI growth, valuation, open-source models and Nvidia's next big story. Updated on: Aug 22, 2026
2 days ago
Costco dividend rises: Why a $10,000 investment pays only $61 yearly A $10,000 Costco investment earns only about $61 a year in regular dividends. Here’s why investors still buy COST for growth and special dividends. Updated on: Aug 20, 2026
3 days ago
Leaving education, getting a job, buying a home and perhaps starting a family: the path previous generations followed may seem a distant dream to many now. But is it getting a bit easier - at least when it comes to getting on the housing ladder? Today's prospective first-time buyers may well feel
3 days ago
Nearly six months after US President Donald Trump vowed a swift victory over Iran, the conflict appears to be at a standstill, with prospects of a military victory or negotiated settlement growing dimmer. To break the deadlock, Trump has vowed an "economic D-Day" under which any country that does
3 days ago
Why US stocks fell today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq drop as oil and bond yields rise US stocks fell as oil prices and Treasury yields rose. Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq dropped as Trump's Iran threat, Walmart and the bond market hit Wall Street. Published on: Aug 20, 2026
3 days ago
Crypto stocks surge as Trump backs Clarity Act: Coinbase, Circle, miners rise Crypto stocks surge as Trump backs the Clarity Act. Coinbase, Circle, Bitcoin miners and other crypto shares rise as investors expect clearer US crypto rules. Updated on: Aug 20, 2026
4 days ago
Stock Market Today, August 20: The domestic equity market snapped its seven-day losing streak and ended sharply higher on Thursday, August 20, as broad-based buying lifted sentiment across sectors after the US Treasury stepped in to contain the surge in global bond yields
4 days ago
The Reserve Bank of India RBI has accorded its approval to Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for acquiring an aggregate holding of up to 9.99% of the paid-up share capital or voting rights in HDFC Bank Ltd., the bank said in a filing with the exchanges on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) night
4 days ago
Customers have shared their outrage after an app used by many businesses to track timesheets and produce invoices hiked bills by as much as 1500%, with one person calling it "daylight robbery". Richard Haldenby, head of UK consultancy firm Salentis
4 days ago
Bitcoin Price Today, August 20: Bitcoin surged to the $70,000 mark on Thursday, recording one of its sharpest gains in recent months as a combination of lower US Treasury yields, a weaker dollar, strong institutional demand and large-scale short liquidations pushed the broader cryptocurrency market
4 days ago
US President Donald Trump has said he will launch tougher economic measures against Iran, as well as any country and that helps or does business with the country. He wrote in all capital letters on Truth Social that he was launching "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any
4 days ago
The domestic equity markets were trading firmly higher on Thursday, August 20, with buying visible across large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap stocks. The gains strengthened through the session, with the benchmark Sensex rising more than 600 points by 1:20 pm
4 days ago
U.S. President Donald Trump will host cryptocurrency executives at the White House on Wednesday as U.S. financial regulators this week prepare to advance their framework for certain digital assets. Trump, who has earned more than $1.4 billion from his family’s crypto ventures
4 days ago
Telecom inflation, chargers and the number 45, and Small Talk ASL app Beyond the regular noise, a closer look at personal technology. 20 August 2026. Published on: Aug 20, 2026, 08:00:58 IST By Vishal Mathur Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Opening thoughts. Josh Staub
4 days ago
