Sanjeev Sinha

Employees whose cost to company includes these components may find the old regime more beneficial this year

The Income-tax Rules, 2026, mark a major clean-up of the compliance framework

With flight disruptions rising amid geopolitical tensions, travellers must check insurance coverage, exclusions, and claim conditions carefully before heading abroad this summer

On Akshaya Tritiya, choose gold wisely-jewellery for sentiment, ETFs and SGBs for returns; verify purity, costs, and tax impact before investing

The exuberance seen in 2023 and early 2024 is no longer evident. Elevated property prices have strained affordability and slowed down the pace of transactions

With high-value immovable property gifts now under SFT reporting, scrutiny will rise, making accurate disclosure of such transactions in income tax returns increasingly important

Everyday mistakes, from delayed reporting to unauthorised vehicle use, can lead to a claim being denied

Disclose the property every year under Schedule FA of your income-tax return

To protect insurance policies purchased for spouse from recovery proceedings, place it under Married Women's Property Act

Taxpayers must be able to distinguish between matters where the old tax law still applies and those where the new one does

Carefully assess nature of grievance before choosing forum

Besides enjoying a share in the property, this will make them eligible for tax benefit

Identify correct court for filing complaint based on amount paid for goods or service

Do not skip crucial provisions of the agreement that have a bearing on your interests

If your claim was genuine, submit documents to back it up

The earlier defence that misconduct was the agent's independent act may not work in the future

A recent Supreme Court ruling reinforces that developers and service providers must prove profit-first motive before denying consumer status

The scheme's key drawback is the low monetary thresholds of Rs 1 crore and Rs 5 crore, which limit participation

The proposal extends relief from penalty and prosecution in misreporting cases, but taxpayers must forgo the right to appeal and carefully weigh the strength of their case

Budget 2026 signals a shift towards trust-based taxation by easing penalties, limiting prosecution for small and technical lapses