Blog
2026: The Year Indian Startups Stop Experimenting and Start Compounding
Indian startups are entering a different phase.The past few years were about testing ideas, chasing growth, and proving adoption.2026 looks like the year those experiments harden into systems. Across finance, manufacturing, commerce, and services, a few clear shifts...
Investing in Direct Mutual Funds for a Child: Process, Documentation and Practical Considerations
Many parents and guardians look to mutual funds to build long-term wealth for a child’s future needs such as education, business capital, or financial security. Direct mutual fund plans, in particular, are often preferred due to their lower expense ratios and better...
Sovereign Gold Bond Series IX (2020–21): Premature Redemption on 5 January 2026 and Tax Implications
The Reserve Bank of India has announced the premature redemption price for Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) 2020–21 Series IX, which completes five years on 5 January 2026. Investors holding this series are eligible to exit at the notified price, which reflects a substantial...
₹500 currency notes remain valid: Clarifying rumours on ATM withdrawal and demonetisation
In recent weeks, messages circulating on social media have claimed that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will stop dispensing ₹500 notes from ATMs, or discontinue their circulation altogether, by March 2026. These claims have led to avoidable concern among the public....
India–Singapore DTAA and mutual fund capital gains: What the Mumbai ITAT ruling means for Singapore tax residents investing in Indian MFs
A recent Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Mumbai ruling has held that capital gains earned by a Singapore tax resident from redemption/sale of units of Indian mutual funds can fall under the residuary capital gains clause of the India–Singapore DTAA, and...
Key Financial and Compliance Changes from January 2026: What Individuals and Businesses Should Prepare For
From 1 January 2026, a series of regulatory and financial changes will come into effect across taxation, employment compensation, banking, digital payments, and consumer finance. While none of these changes are disruptive in isolation, taken together they will affect...
Using an Income Tax Calculator for Investment and Financial Planning Decisions
An income tax calculator is commonly used to estimate tax payable for a financial year. However, when used early and thoughtfully, it can also serve as a practical planning tool. It helps individuals understand how income, deductions, and investments interact, and how...
Income Tax Refunds and Processing Timelines: What Happens If Your ITR Is Not Processed by December 2025
Many taxpayers assume that filing an income tax return completes their obligation. In practice, filing is only the first step. A return attains finality only after it is processed by the Income Tax Department within the timelines prescribed under the Income Tax Act....
Missed the 31 December ITR deadline? Your compliance options narrow from January onwards
The 31 December deadline marks a critical cut-off for taxpayers who either missed the original return filing date or need to correct errors in a return already filed. Once this date passes, the belated and revised return windows close, and taxpayers are left with a...
Income Tax 2025: Relief on Paper, Tighter Scrutiny in Practice
For individual taxpayers, 2025 delivered a clear contrast. The Union Budget provided meaningful relief under the new tax regime, reducing tax outgo for a large segment of salaried taxpayers. At the same time, the Income Tax Department significantly intensified...