For many young people, managing bills and budgets can leave very little room for savings, but even small investments in tax-free schemes can significantly contribute to building a secure financial future. These investments act as a foundation for a solid tax strategy, offering benefits under the old tax regime with annual investment limits. Section 80C Under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, you can invest in options like the Public Provident

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made a significant change to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system by enabling UPI payments between verified digital wallets, also known as Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs), and third-party UPI applications. This new directive will allow users of digital wallets to make and receive UPI payments via any third-party UPI app, rather than being limited to the wallet’s own mobile application. The move is aimed at enhancing interoperability within t

Between April and November 2024, the Indian government dispersed Rs 3.08 lakh crore in income tax refunds, reflecting a significant 46% increase compared to the same period last year. As of November 22, about 98.35% of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) filed have been e-verified, with a record-breaking 69.93 lakh ITRs submitted on a single day, July 31. The total number of ITRs filed by November 22 stands at 8.50 crore, a 7.32% increase from the previous year. The introduction of innovation

 A Bengaluru software engineer was defrauded of Rs 11.8 crore over the span of just 18 days in a sophisticated "digital arrest" scam. The victim, a 39-year-old tech professional, filed a complaint with the North-East CEN police station on December 12 after realizing he had been tricked. The scam began when an individual posing as a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) officer contacted the victim, falsely claiming his Aadhaar-linked SIM card was involved in illegal acti

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 55th GST Council meeting in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on Saturday, December 21. This meeting will focus on several important discussions related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. The agenda includes deliberations on taxability issues concerning food delivery platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato, and potential changes to GST rates on products like health insurance premiums, life insurance, wristwatches, shoes, and apparel. The cou

India introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 to simplify the tax structure and reduce the tax burden. Recent data shows that the gross GST collection for October 2024 rose by 9% to ₹1.87 lakh crore, a record second-highest figure. However, a recent proposal by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST Rates Rationalisation suggests a new 35% GST slab on products like aerated drinks and tobacco, which has raised concerns. The proposal aims to target 'sin' products such as thos

Bangladesh's interim government has accused Adani Power of breaching a multi-billion-dollar agreement related to the supply of electricity from its coal-fired plant in India. The dispute centers on Adani Power withholding tax benefits that the power plant was entitled to under the agreement. The Indian company signed a deal with Bangladesh in 2017 to supply power from the Godda plant, but Dhaka claims that Adani Power failed to pass on the tax exemptions it received from the Indian govern

US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he had granted a pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who was convicted of making false statements on a gun background check and illegally possessing a firearm. Hunter Biden had also pled guilty to federal tax charges, admitting to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. President Biden expressed that his decision to pardon his son came after years of what he described as unfair, politically motivated prosecution. Biden stated that he had pr

The Finance Ministry is set to review the windfall tax on fuel exports, including petrol, diesel, and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), following the stabilization of global crude oil prices. The tax, introduced in July 2022, was implemented to address the substantial profits earned by oil refiners exporting fuel, which had an impact on domestic supplies. The review will assess the tax’s effectiveness and the revenue it has generated, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas already re

In a positive sign for the Indian economy, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for September 2023 increased by 6.5% year-on-year, totaling ₹1.73 lakh crore. This marks a rise from ₹1.63 lakh crore collected in September of the previous year. The net GST collection after refunds stood at ₹1.53 lakh crore, showing a growth of 4% compared to ₹1.47 lakh crore in September 2022. So far this fiscal year, the government has recorded a gross GST revenue of ₹10.87 lakh cro

In a decisive move to safeguard citizens' sensitive information, the Indian government has blocked several websites found to be exposing personal identifiable information, including Aadhaar and PAN Card details. This action follows a report from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which identified significant security flaws on these sites. The official statement highlighted the government's co

A panel of state ministers, established by the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, is set to convene in Goa on September 24 and 25. This six-member group, led by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, will review the implications of rate rationalization on at least 100 items. The discussions aim to analyze potential changes in GST slabs and rates, particularly focusing on essential goods. During the two-day meeting, the panel will explore various

Koratala Siva, a renowned filmmaker in the Telugu film industry, recently drew attention with his remarks about taxpayer privileges during a podcast hosted by former IAS officer Jayaprakash Narayanan. Known for his successful directorial career, Siva shared a personal anecdote about an incident at the airport where he felt entitled to special treatment due to his high tax contributions. During the podcast, Siva recounted an experience where, due to a tight schedule,