Tax
Pay what you owe, and not a rupee more.
Got an income tax notice? What it means and how to reply
An income tax notice is usually a question, not an accusation. Here are the common types, from the intimation after your return is processed to a scrutiny or reassessment notice, how to check a notice is genuine using its Document Identification Number, and how to reply on the e-filing portal.
Read the lesson → TaxWhich ITR form should you file? ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3 or ITR-4
Picking the wrong ITR form can get your return marked defective. Here is who can use ITR-1, ITR-2, ITR-3 and ITR-4 for the return due in 2026, covering income earned in 2025-26, and the conditions that push you from the simple form to a longer one.
Read the lesson → SalaryCTC vs in-hand salary: why your offer letter and bank credit don't match
A 10 lakh rupee CTC does not mean 10 lakh rupees in your account. Here is what CTC includes, the four things that come out of it, and a worked example from offer letter to monthly pay.
Read the lesson → TaxTDS explained: why tax is cut before you get paid, and how to get it back
TDS is tax cut by your employer, bank or tenant before the money reaches you. It is not an extra tax, just an advance. Here is when it applies, how to check it, and how to get back any excess.
Read the lesson → TaxAdvance tax: paying your tax in four parts during the year
Advance tax means paying your income tax during the year in four instalments, instead of all at once at filing time. Here is who has to pay it, the four due dates, and what happens if you pay late.
Read the lesson → TaxAIS and Form 26AS: what the tax department already knows about you
The tax department gets reports from your employer, bank and broker about your income and tax. AIS and Form 26AS show you those reports. Here is what each one holds, why it matters, and what to do if something is wrong.
Read the lesson → TaxHealth insurance tax benefit: the 80D deduction, now section 126
The premium you pay for health insurance, for yourself, your family and your parents, can lower your taxable income on the old tax regime. Here are the limits, who counts, the check-up allowance, and a rupee example.
Read the lesson → TaxIncome tax refund: how to claim it, track it and fix a delay
An income tax refund is the extra tax you paid during the year, coming back to you. You get it by filing your return, into a bank account you have validated. Here is how it works, how to track it, and what holds it up.
Read the lesson → TaxIndia's new Income-tax Act: same tax, new rulebook
A new Income-tax Act replaced the 1961 law from 1 April 2026. Your slabs did not change, but the words and section numbers did. Here is what is new, what is not, and what to do.
Read the lesson → TaxNPS tax benefits: the three deductions, and which regime gets which
The National Pension System can lower your tax in three separate ways. Two need the old tax regime; the third, your employer's contribution, also works on the new one. Here is how each works, with rupee examples.
Read the lesson → TaxIs a gift taxable in India? The relatives rule and the 50,000 limit
Most family gifts are tax-free in India. Gifts from friends and others become taxable once they add up to more than 50,000 rupees in a year, and then the whole amount is taxed. Here is how the rule works.
Read the lesson → TaxTax saver FD: a fixed deposit that cuts your tax, with a 5-year lock
A tax saver FD is a regular bank fixed deposit locked for 5 years, and what you put in can lower your taxable income on the old tax regime. Here is how it works, the catches, and how it compares with PPF and ELSS.
Read the lesson → TaxTDS on FD interest: Form 121 replaced 15G and 15H
Your bank cuts 10% tax on FD interest once it crosses ₹50,000 a year, or ₹1 lakh if you are 60 or older. Forms 15G and 15H are now one form, Form 121. Here is who can use it.
Read the lesson → TaxELSS vs PPF vs tax-saver FD: the 80C options compared
ELSS, PPF and a five-year tax-saver fixed deposit all qualify for the same yearly tax deduction, but they lock your money for different lengths, carry different risk, and are taxed very differently when you take the money out. A plain comparison, with rupee math.
Read the lesson → TaxForm 16 explained: the salary and tax statement, decoded
Form 16 is the statement your employer gives you each year, showing your salary and the tax it deducted and deposited for you. Here is what its two parts mean, and what to check before you use it to file.
Read the lesson → TaxHow to file your income tax return: a beginner's overview
Filing your income tax return sounds scary, but it is just reporting what you earned and settling what you owe or are owed back. Here is the plain overview, the documents to gather, and why filing is not the same as paying.
Read the lesson → TaxOld vs new tax regime: which saves you more?
Not sure which tax regime to pick? Here is the plain short answer, a 10-second self-check, and when each one wins, for FY2025-26.
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