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CA Mohammed S Chokhawala

Content Writer

I'm a chartered accountant, well-versed in the ins and outs of income tax, GST, and keeping the books balanced. Numbers are my thing, I can sift through financial statements and tax codes with the best of them. But there's another side to me – a side that thrives on words, not figures. Writing has always been a passion. Maybe it's the desire to explain complex financial concepts in a clear, understandable way, or perhaps it's the joy of crafting a compelling narrative. Whatever the reason, I've recently started putting pen to paper (or rather, fingers to keyboard) and creating articles and blog posts that make the world of finance less intimidating for everyday people.

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The latest articles by CA Mohammed S Chokhawala


How to File ITR-1 with Rental Income?
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 8 min read

ITR-1 is the simplest of all the forms, designed for a simple income structure without business income or capital gains. Exempt capital gains under section 112A can still be filed under ITR-1. Therefore, if you have only rental income, you can file your taxes under ITR-1. Key Highlights ITR would work for rental income unless it is not from a rental business and capital gainsE-verification is mandatory within 30 days of filing, or the ITR would b invalid. Documents required- Form 16 (if salaried), Form 26AS, PAN, other income proof, tenant’s name and PAN, rent receipts/agreement, property, home loan interest certificate. For AY 2026-27, a resident individual having income form up to two house properties can file ITR-1, provided their total income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 50,000,00What is Rental IncomeAs per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, all the rental income derived from buildings are classified as ‘Income from House Property’. Unless the primary business of the assessee is renting out premises or movable assets, the rental income should be disclosed under the following heads:IncomeAppropriate HeadRental income from BuildingIncome from House PropertyRental income from landIncome from Other SourcesRental income from other movable propertyIncome from Other SourcesAny of the three above is the business of the assesseeBusiness IncomeDocuments Required Document  PurposesForm-16                                                                If you have salary income other than rental income Form 26ASSummary document all TDS deductions  against your income Details of other income Bank statement for interest income Rent receipts and rental agreement               To determine the rental incomeProperty tax receiptsFor claiming municipal tax deductionInterest certificate on home loan  paidClaiming interest deduction against house property. Step-by-Step Guide on ITR-1 filing with Rental IncomeLogin to the Income Tax Portal, with your PAN as the login ID and set password.Select the relevant assessment year.


Tax on Inheritance in India
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 9 min read

Inheritance tax is a tax imposed on the estate of the deceased individual, which will be inherited by the beneficiaries named in the will or those determined by intestate succession laws. While many countries impose an inheritance tax on such transfers. At present, India doesn’t levy any tax on inherited assets. However, this does not indicate that inheritance is completely tax-free. When we sell the inherited property from deceased then the property becomes taxable.


Income Tax Clearance Certificate: Meaning, Significance & Steps to Download
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 11 min read

Before you board your flight while planning to leave India, you would need an Income Tax Clearance Certificate which is an official proof from the tax authorities, mentioning tax clearance of all your dues with no pending liabilities. When Indian residents are largely exempt from this requirement non-residents earning income from an Indian sources must secure it before departure. This article cover who needs an ITCC and how to obtain the forms.What is an Income Tax Clearance Certificate (ITCC)?An income tax clearance certificate, as the name suggests, is a statement from the Indian tax authorities that you have cleared all your tax dues and hold no responsibility for paying any taxes. However there may be future tax liabilities depending on future transactions. The revenue department of a state government is responsible for issuing it.


What is ESOP? Full Form, Meaning, Taxation, Benefits & How Does It Work
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 5 min read

The full form of ESOP is "Employee Stock Ownership Plan". Employee compensation has progressed beyond the basic wage package provided by businesses. Employees are now given much more than just pay stubs; one such benefit is the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).What is ESOP?An ESOP (Employee stock ownership plan) refers to an employee benefit plan which offers employees an ownership interest in the organisation. Employee stock ownership plans are issued as direct stock, profit-sharing plans or bonuses, and the employer has the sole discretion in deciding who could avail of these options. However, employee stock ownership plans are just options that could be purchased at a specified price before the exercise date.


RSU vs ESOP Taxation: What Are the Differences and Which One Is Better?
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 9 min read

Employers often grant different benefits to their employees throughout employment to keep them motivated and attract new talent. These benefits can sometimes come in the form of company shares as well. Such shares are granted either in the form of RSU or ESOP. As a salaried employee, it is crucial to understand these employment perks to make the most out of them.In this article, we have covered what each means and a detailed comparison to help you choose between them. What is ESOP?Employee Stock Option Plan or Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a company's way of rewarding its employees. It gives an employee the right to buy company shares on a future date at a predetermined price. Once an employer grants ESOP, they do not immediately transfer it to that employee.


Procedure for Issue of Employee Stock Option Plan
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 9 min read

The Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) is an employee benefit plan. It is issued by the company for its employees to encourage employee ownership in the company. The shares of the companies are given to the employees at discounted rates. Any company can issue ESOP. All companies other than listed companies should issue it in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and Companies (Share Capital and Debentures) Rules, 2014.


What Is RSU, Full Form, Meaning, Taxation In India And How Do Taxes Work With RSUs?
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 13 min read

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are company shares granted to employees as part of their compensation, usually at no cost. These shares are subject to vesting conditions such as completing a certain period of service or achieving performance targets. In India, RSUs are taxed twice, first as salary at the time of vesting based on the fair market value, and later as capital gains when the shares are sold. Understanding how RSUs work, their vesting schedule, and their tax treatment can help employees plan their taxes and manage their equity compensation effectively.What Are Restricted Stock Units?Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are a form of equity compensation offered by companies as part of an employee’s salary or incentive package. RSUs represent company shares granted at no upfront cost, but ownership is transferred only after specific vesting conditions are met, such as completing a service period or achieving performance milestones.Once Restricted Stock Units vest, the employee becomes the legal owner of the shares and can choose to hold or sell them. RSUs are commonly used by startups and multinational companies to attract talent, reward performance, and align employee interests with shareholder value.1.


Income Tax Customer Care Number: Helpline, Toll Free Number & Email ID
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 5 min read

If you are searching for the Income Tax customer care number, the main official helpline numbers for e-filing, refund, rectification, and CPC related support are 1800 103 0025 and 1800 419 0025. International callers can use +91-80-46122000 and +91-80-61464700. These are listed on the official Income Tax Department Contact Us page.Income Tax Helpline Number 2026The official income tax helpline number for most return filing and refund-related issues is:1800 103 00251800 419 0025+91-80-46122000+91-80-61464700Quick answerIf you searched for income tax customer care, income tax helpline number, or income tax toll free number, these are the main numbers to call first:1800 103 00251800 419 0025Official Income Tax Customer Care NumbersQuery TypeHelpline NumberTimingsEmail IDe-Filing, refund, rectification, CPC issues1800 103 00251800 419 0025+91-80-46122000+91-80-6146470008:00 hrs - 20:00 hrs (Monday to Friday)NAAIS, TIS, e-Campaign, e-Verification1800 103 421509:30 hrs - 18:00 hrs (Monday to Friday)NATRACES, Form 26AS, Form 16, TDS statements1800 103 0344 +91-120-481460010:00 hrs - 18:00 hrs (Monday to Saturday)NAOutstanding tax demand1800 309 0130 +91 821 6671200 +91 821-715151508:00 hrs - 20:00 hrs (Monday to Friday)09:00 hrs - 18:00 hrs (Saturday)taxdemand@cpc.incometax.gov.inITR-related helpNANAITR.helpdesk@incometax.gov.inTax audit report helpNANATAR.helpdesk@incometax.gov.ine-Pay Tax supportNANAepay.helpdesk@incometax.gov.inOther portal issuesNANAefilingwebmanager@incometax.gov.inWhat can you contact Income Tax customer care for?You can contact the Income Tax Department helpline for help with:income tax return e-filingrefund-related issuesrectification and intimation queriesAIS and TIS issuesForm 26AS and TRACES issuesTDS-related queriese-Pay Tax supportoutstanding tax demand follow-upIncome Tax Toll Free Number for Refund and E-FilingFor most taxpayers, the income tax toll free number they need is the CPC/e-filing helpline:1800 103 00251800 419 0025These numbers are meant for issues related to:income tax return filingrefund delaysrectification requestsportal-related supportCPC communicationsIncome Tax Helpline Number for AIS and TISIf your issue is related to AIS, TIS, SFT response, e-Campaign response, or e-Verification, use: 1800 103 4215Income Tax Helpline Number for TRACES, TDS and Form 26ASFor issues related to TRACES, Form 26AS, Form 16, TDS statements, or Form 15CA, use:1800 103 0344+91-120-4814600Income Tax Customer Care for Tax Demand QueriesIf you have an issue related to outstanding tax demand, the official contact details are:1800 309 0130+91 821 6671200+91 821-7151515Email: taxdemand@cpc.incometax.gov.inPAN and TAN Helpline NumberFor PAN and TAN application or correction issues through NSDL, the commonly listed support number is: +91-20-27218080Income Tax Department Email IDITR.helpdesk@incometax.gov.in – for ITR-related issuesTAR.helpdesk@incometax.gov.in – for tax audit report issuesepay.helpdesk@incometax.gov.in – for e-Pay Tax issuesefilingwebmanager@incometax.gov.in – for other portal-related issuestaxdemand@cpc.incometax.gov.in – for tax demand supportIncome Tax Helpline TimingsHelpline timings can vary depending on the support category. The official Contact Us page provides timings issue-wise, including CPC/e-filing, TRACES, AIS, and tax demand support. Users should check the official page for the latest operating hours before calling. Which Income Tax helpline number should you call?Use this shortcut:For income tax return filing, refund, rectification, CPC issues: 1800 103 0025 / 1800 419 0025For AIS or TIS issues: 1800 103 4215For TRACES, Form 26AS, TDS, Form 16: 1800 103 0344For tax demand issues: 1800 309 0130For PAN/TAN issues: +91-20-27218080Important Note Before Sharing any DetailsThe Income Tax Department does not ask taxpayers to share sensitive information such as passwords, OTPs, or card details through suspicious messages.


How To Save Tax When You Miss The Income Tax Proof Submission Deadline
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 9 min read

Missing the Income tax proof submission deadline may result in TDS deduction from your salary, reducing your take-home pay. However, even if your deductions and investments are not reflected in Form 16, you would still be able to claim eligible exemptions and deductions while filing your income tax return and receive a tax refund, if it is applicable.Claim HRA Exemption in your Return Did you forget to submit rent receipts to your employer on time? Don’t worry! If you live on rent and have made rent payments, you can claim a deduction on the House Rent Allowance at the time of filing your return. All you need is your rent receipts and PAN of your landlord (where rent payments are more than Rs 1,00,000 per annum). Here is our HRA calculator you can use to find out how much HRA will be exempt from tax. This calculator is built into clear tax under the salary section. The exempt HRA is calculated and reduced from the taxable salary.It is advisable to avoid payment of rent in cash, and suggest having a written agreement with the landlord.If an individual does not receive HRA from the employer but pays rent for accommodation, such individuals also claim deduction of rent paid under section 80GG of income tax act with certain conditions.It is to be noted that deduction of HRA and section 80GG is not available If the individual opting to the new tax regime 115BAC.


Form 16 Download, Meaning, Issuance Date & TDS Guide for Salaried Employees
Updated on Jun 19th, 2026 | 19 min read

Form 16 is a TDS certificate issued by an employer that shows the tax deducted from your salary and a detailed breakup of your income, exemptions, deductions, and taxable amount for the financial year. It is an important document for salaried taxpayers to verify TDS and file their income tax return accurately, and can be downloaded from the employer or payroll portal once issued.This blog explains in detail about Form 16, which is applicable for FY 2025-26 and preceding years. Form 16 Renamed as Form 130Under the Income Tax Act 2025, Form 16 has been renumbered as Form 130 effective from Tax Year 2026-27 (April 1, 2026) and onwards. For FY 2025-26, your employer will still issue Form 16 as usual.  What is Form 16?Form 16 is a TDS certificate issued by the employer containing TDS deducted on salary, the salary income during the financial year. It serves as a handy document for ITR filing process as it contains various information related to employer, the taxpayer, TDS deducted, income estimate, deductions claimable etc. It is issued under section 203 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.Form 16 is divided into 2 parts: Part A and Part B.


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