Old vs new regime, 80C optimisation, HUF, deductions
Year-round tax planning strategies — old vs new regime comparison, Section 80 deduction optimisation, HUF formation, salary structuring, and advance tax calculations. CA-grade interpretation, real-numbers examples.
43 articles publishedOrdered by publication date — newest first.
From FY 2026-27, children's education allowance is Rs 3,000 a month and hostel allowance Rs 9,000 a month. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad join the 50% HRA list. How much of this is real money, and why it will not arrive automatically.
Revised perquisite valuations effective 1 April 2026 — company car, chauffeur, meals, gifts, free education and medical loans. What did not change for rent-free accommodation, and which table circulating online is wrong.
Section 89(1) is now Section 157 and Form 10E is now Form 39. The seven-step arrears relief computation, availability under both regimes, and the one mistake that gets the relief disallowed outright.
CA-verified guide to Section 58 of the Income-tax Act 2025, which consolidates Sections 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE. The Rs 2 crore and Rs 3 crore limits, the 6% and 8% split, the five-year lock-in, and the non-account-payee cheque trap that catches most small businesses.
CA-verified guide to TDS when the seller is an NRI. Section 393(2) applies, not the 1% resident provision — no Rs 50 lakh threshold, deduction on gross consideration, TAN required until 30 September 2026 and removed for resident individuals and HUFs from 1 October 2026.
CA-verified guide to how the four labour codes (in force 21 November 2025) reshape Indian salary structures. The Section 2(y) 50% wage add-back explained correctly, PF and gratuity impact, EPF Scheme 2026 notified 29 June 2026, and the one condition that decides whether your take-home actually falls.
Form 130 replaces Form 16 from Tax Year 2026-27 under Section 395 of Income Tax Act 2025. Complete three-part structure breakdown, Annexure I & II explained, Form 138 quarterly TDS, multiple employer scenarios, and Form 168 reconciliation guide.
Section 393 of Income Tax Act 2025 consolidates 40+ TDS sections (194C, 194J, 194I, 194Q, etc.) into one. Complete TDS rate chart, payment codes 1001-1092, Section 194T partner payments rule, and operational compliance for businesses.
Section 123 of Income Tax Act 2025 replaces Section 80C with ₹1.5 lakh cap. Complete Schedule XV instrument list — PPF, ELSS, LIC, SSY, NSC, EPF, tax-saver FD, home loan, ULIP — with strategic allocation guide for salaried and business owners.
Income Tax Act 2025 replaces the dual Previous Year/Assessment Year system with a single Tax Year concept under Section 2(105). Complete explainer with examples, Section 536(3) transition rules, and impact on ITR filing.
Income Tax Rules 2026 expand 50% HRA exemption to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad from April 1, 2026. City-wise ROI calculator, Rule 279 explained, new Form 124 disclosure rules, plus children education and hostel allowance hikes.
CA-verified decision guide to ITR-U under Section 139(8A) / Section 263(6). The 48-month window, the four additional-tax tiers, the Finance Act 2026 post-notice route, and worked examples showing exactly what waiting costs.
Complete section mapping of Income Tax Act 1961 vs Income Tax Act 2025. 80C is now Section 123, 80D is Section 126, 87A is Section 156. 100+ sections, organised by category with examples.
Detailed guide to India's new Income Tax Act 2025: 536 sections, Tax Year concept, Form 130 replacing Form 16, Section 123 for 80C, HRA expanded cities, updated return now 48 months. Everything explained in plain language with examples.
CA-verified advance tax guide FY 2025-26. Quarterly installments (15 Jun 15%, 15 Sep 45%, 15 Dec 75%, 15 Mar 100%), Section 234B 1%/month + Section 234C interest on shortfall, Section 207 senior citizen exemption, presumptive 100% by 15 March.
CA-verified guide on Section 80E (education loan interest, no cap, 8-year limit), Section 80G (50%/100% donations), Section 80GG (rent without HRA ₹5K/month), Section 80GGA (scientific research donations), Section 80GGC (political donations). FY 2025-26 limits, eligibility, documentation, old regime only.
CA-verified F&O and intraday tax guide for FY 2025-26. Turnover calculation (absolute P&L not notional), ₹10 crore audit threshold for digital traders, F&O loss 8-year carry forward, speculative loss 4-year, ITR-3 filing rules, expense deductions. Real ₹ examples with audit decision tree.
CA-verified Form 26Q filing guide for FY 2025-26. Applicable sections (194C, 194I, 194J, 194H, 194A), quarterly due dates (31 July, 31 Oct, 31 Jan, 31 May), TDS rate chart, TRACES portal process, penalty for late filing.
CA-verified gift and inheritance tax guide for FY 2025-26. Section 56(2)(x) ₹50,000 threshold for non-relatives, relatives definition (spouse, siblings, lineal ascendant/descendant, in-laws), marriage occasion exemption, inheritance & will tax-free, immovable property stamp duty rule, gift from HUF, NRI gifts.
Complete CA guide to house property income computation. Self-occupied vs let-out vs deemed let-out, ₹2L self-occupied loss cap, ₹30K vs ₹2L interest deduction, 2 self-occupied houses Budget 2019. Old vs new regime impact.
CA-verified HUF tax planning guide for FY 2025-26. Separate PAN, separate ₹1.5L 80C, separate basic exemption — annual savings ₹50K-2L. Formation steps, Karta + coparcener roles, daughter coparcenary rights, ITR-2/3 filing, restrictions on salary transfer, partition dissolution rules.
CA-verified mutual fund tax guide post Budget 2024. Equity MF STCG 20%, LTCG 12.5% above ₹1.25L. Debt MF (post April 2023) taxed at slab rate regardless of holding. Gold ETF/International FoF LTCG 12.5% after 24 months. SIP installment-wise taxation, switching = redemption, IDCW tax.
CA-verified NRI tax guide for FY 2025-26. Section 6 residential status (182 days / 60+365 days / 120 days modified rule), Schedule FA mandatory for foreign assets >₹10L, DTAA via Form 67, NRE/NRO/FCNR account taxation, repatriation rules, TDS rates for NRIs, Black Money Act.
CA guide to TCS on LRS Section 206C(1G). 20% on non-education/medical remittances above ₹10 lakh (raised from ₹7L in Budget 2024). 5% education/medical, 0.5% education loans, overseas tour packages. Claim TCS as credit in ITR.
Complete DIY CA guide to TDS on property purchase u/s 194-IA. 1% TDS, ₹50L threshold (consideration OR stamp duty value), step-by-step Form 26QB filing on incometax.gov.in, Form 16B from TRACES, multi-buyer/seller rules, NRI seller exception. Form 141 transition from April 2026.
Discover how salaried individuals can earn up to ₹13.7 lakh COMPLETELY tax-free under new tax regime FY 2025-26. ₹12L rebate + ₹75K std deduction + 14% employer NPS = ₹13.7L tax-free. CTC structuring playbook for AY 2026-27.
Complete CA guide to advance tax interest under Sections 234A (late filing), 234B (default), 234C (deferment). Due dates 15 June/15 Sept/15 Dec/15 March, 12%/36%/75%/100% milestones, senior citizen exemption.
Complete reference: Income Tax Act 1961 → 2025 section number mapping. 80C → 105, 80CCD → 124, 80D → 109, 87A → 203, 234A/B/C → 421/422/423, 54 → 82. What changes structurally vs cosmetically.
Complete CA guide to NPS Vatsalya scheme launched 18 September 2024. ₹50,000 deduction per minor child under Section 80CCD(1B), eligibility, account opening, auto-conversion at 18, withdrawal rules — effective AY 2026-27.
Complete CA guide to Section 87A marginal relief in New Tax Regime FY 2025-26. ₹60,000 rebate up to ₹12L income, marginal relief between ₹12L-₹12.75L. Math explained with examples, when relief applies, IT Act 2025 Section 203.
Complete CA guide to surcharge marginal relief at ₹50L (10%), ₹1Cr (15%), ₹2Cr (25% new/30% old), ₹5Cr (37% old only). Formula, examples for HNI tax planning. What most calculators miss.
Complete CA guide to latest TDS amendments effective 2025-26. Section 194I monthly ₹50K threshold, 194-IB rate cut to 2%, 206AB simplified to 1-year, 194-O e-commerce, 194Q goods purchase. Forms 26Q/26QB/24Q updates.
CA-verified NPS guide for FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27. Section 80CCD(1) + 80CCD(1B) ₹50K extra + 80CCD(2) 14% employer (both regimes). Tier 1 vs Tier 2 differences, fund manager selection, withdrawal rules, ₹13.7L tax-free salary structure in new regime.
Budget 2025-26 ne tax math poori badal di — ₹60,000 rebate, ₹12.75L tax-free, ₹4L basic exemption. CA-verified case studies at ₹10L, ₹15L, ₹20L, ₹30L salary with Income Tax Act 2025 transition timeline.
CA-verified Section 80C deep comparison for FY 2025-26. ₹1.5 lakh limit unchanged since 2014. PPF 7.1% EEE, ELSS 12-18% market-linked, Tax Saver FD 7-7.5% taxable interest, ULIP often suboptimal, Sukanya Samriddhi 8.2%, SCSS 8.2%. Mathematical comparison + optimal allocation across age groups.
CA-verified Section 80D health insurance deduction guide FY 2025-26. ₹25K self + ₹50K senior parents = ₹75K max combined. Preventive ₹5K within limit, medical expenditure for parents without insurance, super top-up plans, critical illness riders, IT Act 2025 Section 126 transition.
CA-verified senior citizen tax guide for FY 2025-26. ₹3L/₹5L old regime exemption, ₹12L new regime 87A rebate, 80TTB ₹50K interest deduction, 80D ₹50K medical, 80DDB ₹1L diseases, Section 194P pension exemption 75+, Form 15H, no advance tax provisions.
CA-verified home loan tax optimization for FY 2025-26. Section 24(b) ₹2L interest deduction, Section 80C ₹1.5L principal, Section 80EE ₹50K extra (old loans), 80EEA ₹1.5L affordable housing, joint loan double benefits, let-out vs self-occupied math, new regime restrictions.
CA-verified deep dive on Section 44ADA presumptive taxation for freelancers and professionals. ₹75L digital receipts limit, 50% deemed income, ITR-4 Sugam filing, 100% advance tax by 15 March, audit threshold rules. CBDT clarification on influencers/YouTubers included.
CA-verified HRA exemption guide post Budget 2026 — Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad now qualify for 50% (joining Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata). Mandatory landlord-tenant relationship disclosure under new Form 124. Rent to parents documentation, ₹1L PAN threshold, HRA + home loan combo optimization.
CA-verified ESOP/RSU taxation guide for FY 2025-26. 2-stage taxation under Section 17(2)(vi) perquisite + capital gains, FMV under Rule 3, Budget 2024 STCG 20%/LTCG 12.5% rates, foreign company stock Schedule FA + Form 67, Section 80-IAC 48-month startup deferral.
CA-verified FBP guide for FY 2025-26. LTA 2 trips/4-year block, meal coupons ₹26,400/year, telephone reimbursement, fuel allowance, books/L&D — full breakdown with exact tax-saving math. Why FBP works in old regime only, common bill-submission mistakes, real ₹ examples.