The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is a summary of key financial transactions and income for the year. For FY 2025-26, it includes details such as TDS deducted, interest earned on savings and fixed deposits, purchase and sale of shares or mutual funds, high-value transactions like property or vehicle purchases, and more.Key Highlights of Annual Information Statement (AIS)Provides a comprehensive view of your financial transactions, including income, TDS/TCS, taxes paid, and high-value transactions.Covers more information than Form 26AS, such as interest income, dividend income, securities transactions, and foreign remittances.Allows taxpayers to review and provide feedback on any incorrect or mismatched information.Helps ensure accurate ITR filing by enabling easy verification of income and tax details reported against your PAN.What is AIS Income Tax?The Annual Information Statement or AIS is a summary of a taxpayer's information as reported by various organizations from which taxpayers have received any benefit, whether in cash, kind or otherwise. It includes new information – interest, dividend, securities transactions, mutual fund transactions, foreign remittance information, etc. for FY 2025-26.Summary of AIS information is in the form of Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) for ease of filing return (All the information will be pre-filled in your return). Taxpayers will be able to submit online feedback on AIS’s information.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) manages the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), India's mandatory retirement savings scheme for salaried employees. Effective 29 June 2026, the EPF Scheme, 2026 replaced the EPF Scheme, 1952 under the Code on Social Security, 2020. While the scheme modernises the legal and compliance framework, the core EPF benefits, contribution rates, and retirement savings objective remain largely unchanged.As of 2026, the EPFO provides services to over 7 crore members and 147 offices, while offering an EPF interest rate of 8.25% on deposits. EPF Scheme 2026: Key HighlightsParticularsLatest UpdatesSimplified Withdrawal CategoriesMultiple withdrawal provisions have been consolidated into three broad categories – Essential Needs, Housing Needs, and Special Circumstances.Faster Claim SettlementEPFO aims to settle eligible online withdrawal claims in as little as 3 working days through increased automation.Digital-First Withdrawal ProcessMembers can submit and track most withdrawal claims completely online through the EPFO portal and UMANG app.Minimum Balance RequirementCertain advance withdrawals are subject to maintaining the prescribed minimum EPF balance, wherever applicable.Purpose-wise Eligibility ContinuesWhile categories have been simplified, withdrawal limits and eligibility conditions still depend on the purpose of withdrawal.Contribution FlexibilityEmployers may choose to contribute only up to the statutory minimum under the EPF Scheme, 2026, where permitted by their policy, potentially impacting the employee's retirement corpus.No Change in EPF Interest RateThe EPF interest rate remains 8.25% p.a. unless revised by the EPFO.What is EPFO? The Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is a statutory body the Ministry of Labour and Employement, Government of India and is responsible to administering social security schemes for salaried employees. It was established under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 to manage retirement savings through structured contributions.EPF Scheme 2026 Rule ChangesThe Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 has replaced the EPF Scheme, 1952 under the Code on Social Security, 2020.

Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) is a mechanism under which tax is deducted at the time of making specified payments such as salary, rent, interest, commission, and professional fees. The deductor is responsible for depositing the deducted tax online with the government within the prescribed due dates and remitting the remaining amount to the payee.What is Challan ITNS 281?Challan ITNS 281 is the prescribed challan used to deposit Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) with the Central Government. It is used by employers, companies, firms, and other TAN holders to deposit TDS deducted from payments such as salary, contractor payments, professional fees, rent, commission, and interest.From 1 April 2026, the Income Tax Department introduced Challan ITNS 281N under the Income Tax Act, 2025. All TDS payments relating to Tax Year 2026-27 onwards should be made using ITNS 281N, while payments relating to earlier years continue to use ITNS 281.1. When Should You Use ITNS 281 or ITNS 281N?Use the challan for depositing TDS deducted on:Salary paymentsContractor paymentsProfessional or technical feesRent paymentsCommission and brokerageInterest paymentsAny other TDS payment requiring a TAN2.

Experts suggest that Public Provident Fund account holders deposit their contributions before the 5th of every month. It is believed that this is the best way to gain maximum interest from their investment. Now, a lot of investors doubt why they should follow this rule. If you are a PPF account holder, keep reading this article. The investment plan mentioned above will be discussed below in further detail. What is the PPF Interest Rate for FY 2026-27?The PPF interest rate for Q2 FY 2026-27 (July - September) has been retained at 7.1% per annum. Benefits Of Investing In PPF before 5th Of Every Month When you have a PPF account, the government credits your interest income on the 31st of March of each year. However, the calculation of interest occurs on a monthly basis.

The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a government-backed savings scheme that provides tax-free returns and long-term wealth creation. For the second quarter of FY 2026-27, the interest rate continues at 7.1% per annum. Backed by sovereign guarantee, offering compounding benefits, and enjoying EEE tax status, PPF continues to be a highly secure and reliable option for retirement planning and tax savings in India. Key Highlights Interest Rate: 7.1% p.a. (FY 2026–27).Investment Limits: Min Rs. 500, Max Rs.

Income tax is the tax that individuals and businesses must pay to the government on the income they earn in a financial year. In India, income tax is governed by the Income Tax Act and is calculated based on income tax slabs, deductions, and exemptions available to taxpayers.Key Highlights of Income Tax for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)New tax regime is the default for individuals and HUFs.Income up to Rs. 12 lakh is effectively tax-free under the new tax regime. Most income is taxed as per slab rates, while some income like capital gains is taxed at special rates.Excess tax deducted as TDS can be claimed as a refund when filing the ITR.What is Income Tax?Income tax means tax levied on the income earned by the taxpayer in the relevant financial year. By definition, it follows the direct tax mechanism, because it is borne by the taxpayer directly, and the tax burden cannot be passed on further, unlike indirect taxes. India follows a progressive tax rate for individuals, meaning the tax rate increases with the assessee's income.

Form 26AS is an annual tax credit statement issued by the Income Tax Department against your PAN. It records all Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), Tax Collected at Source (TCS), advance tax payments, self-assessment tax, refunds and major financial transactions for a financial year. As per the provisions of the new Income Tax Rules, 2026, Form 26AS has been replaced by Form 168, applicable for FY 2026-27. However, for the current filing season, taxpayers should continue to refer to Form 26AS, since it relates to the income earned during the year FY 2025-26.Steps to Download Form 26ASGo to the Income Tax e-filing portal and log in with PAN and password.From “e‑file” choose “Income Tax Returns,” then click “View Form 26AS.”You’ll be redirected to TRACES; check the box on the screen and click “Proceed.”Select “View Tax Credit (Form 26AS),” pick the assessment year and choose HTML.Click “View/Download,” then “Export as PDF.”Form 26AS Latest UpdateForm 168 replaces Form 26AS: Under the Income Tax Rules, 2026, Form 168 has been introduced as the new tax credit statement, replacing Form 26AS.Current filing season: For FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), taxpayers will continue to use Form 26AS, as Form 168 applies from FY 2026-27 onwards.Review your tax credits: Before filing your ITR, verify your TDS, TCS, advance tax, and self-assessment tax details in Form 26AS to avoid mismatches and notices.What is Form 26AS?Form 26AS acts as a tax passbook, which contains all TDS deducted against your income in one place. Its scope has expanded significantly over the years, which now includes details of foreign remittances, mutual fund purchases, dividend income, and even your turnover as reported in GST records.Ignoring Form 26AS while filing ITR can be costly. Even a single transaction reflected in the form that goes unreported in your return can lead to an Income Tax notice.

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) before the due date is essential to avoid penalties, interest, and the loss of certain tax benefits. Timely filing also ensures faster refund processing, easier loan approvals, and compliance with the Income Tax Act.The ITR due date varies depending on the category of taxpayer. Salaried individuals, businesses requiring an audit, companies, and taxpayers subject to transfer pricing provisions have different filing deadlines. Missing the applicable due date may result in a late filing fee, interest on unpaid taxes, and restrictions on carrying forward certain losses.What is the ITR Filing Due Date for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)?ITR filing last date for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) is 31st July and 31st August 2026 as applicable to respective taxpayers based on their income and tax audit applicability. ITR Filing Last Date FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)Taxpayer CategoryDue DateITR-1 & ITR-231 July 2026ITR-3 & ITR-4 (Non-Audit)31 August 2026Audit Cases31 October 2026Transfer Pricing Cases30 November 2026Belated Return31 December 2026Revised Return31 March 2027*Due dates are applicable unless extended by the Income Tax Department.ITR Due Dates at a GlanceReturn TypeApplicable TaxpayerDue DateITR-1 or ITR-2Individuals and HUFs not liable for tax audit31 July 2026ITR-3 (Non-Audit)Individuals and HUFs having business/professional income not liable for tax audit31 August 2026ITR-3 (Tax Audit)Individuals and HUFs having business/professional income liable for tax audit31 October 2026ITR-4 (Non-Audit)Eligible presumptive taxation taxpayers not liable for tax audit31 August 2026ITR-4 (Tax Audit)Presumptive taxation taxpayers liable for tax audit (where applicable)31 October 2026Belated ReturnTaxpayers filing return after the original due date31 December 2026Updated ReturnEligible taxpayers filing an updated returnUp to 48 months from the end of the relevant assessment yearITR Filing Due Dates by Taxpayer Category1. ITR Due Date for Salaried IndividualsThe ITR due date for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) for salaried individuals filing forms ITR-1 or ITR-2 is 31st July 2026. 2.

If your annual salary is Rs. 7 lakh, you generally do not need any additional tax-saving investments under the new tax regime. Since the new regime provides a rebate for taxable income up to Rs. 12 lakh, your tax liability is nil, making it the most beneficial option for most salaried individuals in this income bracket. However, you should still review your salary structure and eligible deductions to ensure you choose the tax regime that offers the maximum benefit.Key Takeaways - Tax Saving Options for Rs.

The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government-backed savings scheme designed to help parents and legal guardians build a financial corpus for a girl child's higher education and marriage. It offers an attractive SSY interest rate of 8.2% p.a., tax benefits under Section 80C, and tax-free maturity, thus making it one of the most popular long-term wealth creation investment options for girl children. Beneficiaries can open an SSY account at a post office or an authorised bank and contribute up to Rs. 1.5 lakh annually.Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana CalculatorUse the ClearTax Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) Calculator to calculate interest and returns on your investment.Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana at a GlanceParticularsDetailsInterest RateLatest interest rate of 8.2% per annumInvestment LimitRs. 250 minimum and Rs.