The National Pension Scheme (NPS) is one of India’s most accepted pension-oriented products. Investing in NPS will give you an edge over fixed-income schemes and allow you to avail tax benefits up to Rs.1.5 lakh under Section 80C and Section 80CCD of the Income Tax Act, 1961. It also allows you to choose the allocation of investments. While the active choice will allow you to determine the plan and investment percentage, the auto choice will allocate your investments based on your age and risk profile.Pension Fund ManagersAt present, there are 11 NPS pension fund managers in the country.SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd.LIC Pension Fund Ltd.UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd.HDFC Pension Management Co. Ltd.ICICI Prudential Pension Fund Management Co.

Once the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) introduced the UAN in 2014, accessing EPF accounts became increasingly easy for all registered members. The Universal Account Number (UAN) helps an employee maintain a single PF account throughout their career, even when switching jobs. In addition, one can check their EPF account balance only after completing their UAN activation. Therefore, knowing the procedure for UAN card download is critical. It allows you to keep both physical and digital copies of this important document. Here you can find the full information regarding downloading the UAN card.Requirements for Downloading the UAN CardBefore we proceed with the steps to download the UAN card, let us familiarize you with some activation prerequisites for your UAN.You need to perform these two steps before downloading the UAN card:UAN ActivationYou should have your PAN card, Member ID, Aadhaar number and UAN ready for this. To submit these details, you must access the ‘Activate UAN’ option by opening the official EPFO portal. Once you enter the details, you must confirm them by entering the authorisation PIN sent to your mobile number. Following this, your UAN is activated, and you receive an account password on your number. You can change this password later.Submission of Required DocumentsThis is, however, the most important step since your UAN will not be activated without it.

Universal Account Number or UAN is the key to accessing all services related to your EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) account, such as PF balance check, PF withdrawal, loan against PF, etc. Your UAN remains unchanged throughout your life, linking all your member IDs from different jobs, making it easy to manage your EPF account across multiple employers. To securely access all the EPFO services, a UAN password is essential. Here’s how to change your UAN password in case you forget or misplace it. Key HighlightsYour UAN password is crucial for you to access the following featuresPassbook downloadPF transferPF balance & withdrawalOnline claimsService historyKYC updatesGrievance statusWhat is the UAN Password?The UAN password is a secure login credential that you create when activating your account on the EPFO Member Portal.To set it up, you’ll need:Your UAN (Universal Account Number)A mobile number linked to your AadhaarOnce your account is activated, the UAN password becomes the key to accessing and viewing your PF details online securely.How to Change UAN Password Online?If you are confused about how to reset a UAN password online, make sure to follow these steps:Go to the EPFO's official website.Choose Services tab > For employees option.Choose the 'Member UAN/Online Service (OCS/OTCP)' option.Choose the option marked as ‘Forgot Password’.Provide your unique UAN number and resolve the CAPTCHA puzzle as shown on your screen.Submit the necessary details before submitting your request.Next, enter some personal information, such as your name, date of birth (DOB), gender, and so on.After entering all the necessary details, go through them once and click ‘Verify’.Enter the OTP sent to your mobile number.Follow the UAN password format while setting up a new password. You will need to enter the new password twice before finally clicking on ‘Submit’. UAN Password Format & ExamplesWhen setting up your UAN password, you must keep the following factors in mind:The password must be at least 7 characters, and it should not exceed 20 characters. Additionally, to strengthen your password, you must use at least one uppercase English letter, one lowercase letter, a special character, a minimum of two digits, and at least four more alphabets. Here are some UAN password examples which can give you some idea before you access the UAN forgot password option:Bikram_321Harish@1990thaKur*89Vaani888#Shruti567@Requirements for UAN Password ResetBefore doing a UAN password reset, you have to ensure that all the following prerequisites are being met:Active UAN: Your Universal Account Number (UAN) should be activated before you reset the EPFO UAN login password. Otherwise, you cannot access the respective EPF account.UAN Account Connected to Your Aadhaar Number: The system verifies your identity when you request a UAN password change link.

Taxpayers who are regarded as residents for income tax purposes should make appropriate disclosure of their foreign income and assets while filing ITR. Schedule FA, and schedule FSI deal with foreign asset disclosure and foreign income disclosure respectively.Failure to make necessary disclosure can attract penalty up to Rs. 10 lakh.Budget 2026 UpdateThe department has noticed that a section of small taxpayers like former students graduated from abroad, ESOP holders of foreign companies, etc, did not completely comply with the foreign asset disclosure requirements. As a nudging initiative, the CBDT has provided a one-time scheme through which the non-compliant taxpayers can disclose their foreign income and assets, with additional taxes and fees as applicable.Also, non-disclosire of foreign immovable assets up to Rs 20 lakh do not attract any penalty. From 1.10.2026, they are also provided immunity from prosecution.What are Foreign Assets?If you’re an Indian resident, foreign assets will comprise of bank accounts in other countries, investments in real estate, stocks, mutual funds and other capital assets outside India, financial interest in any foreign entity, or signing authority over any account located abroad, insurance or annuity contract etc.What is the Importance of Disclosing Foreign Assets in ITR? Disclosure of foreign assets and income in income tax returns is important and ensures compliance with Indian tax laws. Here’s a list of reasons which makes it super important:Legal ComplianceAs per the Black Money Act, 2015, it is mandatory to disclose all foreign assets and income within the Income Tax return in the specified schedules, such as Schedule FA for disclosing foreign assets like a bank account, real estate etc.

Budget 2026 UpdateBudget 2026 proposed significant STT rate hike on futures & options effective on all trades done on or after 1st April 2026.STT on futures was changed to 0.05% from 0.02% which is a 150% increase.STT on options premium and exercised options has been increased to 0.15% from 0.10% and 0.125% respectively. Securities Transaction Tax (STT) is a direct tax levied on every purchase and sale of securities listed on the stock exchange. It is collected at source by the exchange to ensure tax compliance and curb excessive market speculation. As per Budget 2026, the STT rates have been hiked to 0.05% on futures and 0.15% on options.  Budget 2026 Insights for STT Rates ChangesThe Union Budget 2026 significantly increased STT rates on Futures & Options. The STT on futures was increased to 0.05% and the STT on options was increased to 0.15%.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government-backed savings scheme for the girl child. Parents or legal guardians can invest under this scheme to secure their daughter’s future. Minimum and maximum investment of SSY scheme is Rs. 250 and Rs. 1.5 Lakh respectively, per financial year. Such contributions qualify for section 80C deduction up to Rs 1.5 Lakh.

ITR filing last date for individuals not subject to tax audit is 31st July 2026 & 31st August 2026 as applicable for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27). Missing this deadline can lead to interest charges under Section 234A and a late filing fee up to Rs. 5,000 under Section 234F. However, if you miss the due date, you can still file a belated return until 31st December of the assessment year.Budget 2026 UpdateThe due date to file revised returns has been extended to 31st March from the existing 31st December. Due date to file ITR-3 and ITR-4 extended to 31st August with effect from FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27)Last Date to File ITRFor FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27), the income tax filing last date for non-audit taxpayers is 31st July 2026 for ITR-1 & ITR-2. For non-audit taxpayers required to file ITR-3 & ITR-4 the due date is 31st August 2026.

Budget 2026 UpdateThe Income Tax Act 2025 will come in effect from 1st April 2026 as announced in Budget 2026.The Income Tax Act 2025 was introduced in the previous budget to replace the age-old Income Tax Act 1961 in India. It consists of 536 sections over 23 chapters and 16 schedules which intend to modernise the direct tax system of the country, simplify compliance and reduce litigation. What is the Income Tax Act 2025?The Income Tax Act 2025 is a comprehensive legislation governing the levy, administration, collection, and recovery of direct taxes in India. The new tax provision aims to bring an income tax reform by simplifying income tax laws. The act was passed in the parliament on 21st August 2025 and will come into effect from 1st April 2025.New Income Tax Act 2025 PDF DownloadYou can download the Income Tax Act pdf that will be effective from 1st April 2026.Key Objectives of Income Tax Act 2025The main objectives of the Income Tax Act 2025 are as follows:1. Simplification of Tax LawsThe provisions of the Income Tax Act 2025 focus mainly on the simplification of tax laws i.e., to make the tax laws less complex, easy to understand and much easier to interpret.

TCS stands for Tax Collected at Source. TCS refers to the tax payable by a seller which he collects from the buyer at the time of sale of goods. The provisions related to TCS are covered under section 206C of the act.TCS is levied on specified goods like alcohol (1% - 5%), on specified leasing activities (2%), on sale of high value motor vehicles (1%) , and specified remittances under Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) of RBI (5% - 20%). In this article, we will discuss the different transactions on which TCS has to be collected, TCS due dates, late payment interest and penalties.Budget 2026 UpdateThe TCS rate on LRS for health and education has been reduced to 2%.TCS rate on LRS for overseas tour package is proposed to be reduced to 2%  without any stipulated amount from the existing 5% and 20%.What is Tax Collected at Source (TCS)?Tax collected at source (TCS) is the tax payable by the seller which he collected from the buyer on sale. It should be deposited with the tax authorities within the applicable due dates. Section 206C of the Income-Tax Act governs provisions related to TCS. Such persons must have the Tax Collection Account Number (TAN) to be able to collect TCS.Seller is responsible only for collecting the tax and depositing it to the government.

The National Savings Certificate (NSC) is a secure investment option provided through post offices. Interest rate fixed for Q4 of FY 2025-26 is 7.7% per annum. A minimum investment is Rs. 1,000 is required to open an NSC account and lock in period is for 5 years. Tax benefits of up to Rs.