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The Economic Times

Personal Finance / The Economic Times

Income Tax Return Due Dates 2026: Month-wise guide for salaried taxpayers, business owners & companies

Budget 2026 has introduced revised income tax return filing dates for specific taxpayer categories. Understanding these new deadlines is crucial to avoid penalties and late fees. The article provides a clear, month-wise guide to help taxpayers identify their due dates, ensuring timely filing and preventing interest charges or delayed refunds.

3 Feb 2026 10:26 am
Top 10 mutual funds to invest in February 2026

We have chosen two schemes from five different equity mutual fund categories - aggressive hybrid, large cap, mid cap, small cap and flexi cap schemes which we believe should be enough for regular mutual fund investors.

3 Feb 2026 9:33 am
Gold, silver ETFs see sharp correction: Redeem, hold or buy more?

Gold and silver ETFs have seen sharp pullbacks after strong rallies. Experts advise investors to stay disciplined and align decisions with long-term goals. Market corrections offer opportunities for systematic investment. The recent fall was triggered by global factors and news of potential monetary policy tightening. Investors should rebalance positions as per their asset allocation and avoid impulsive actions.

3 Feb 2026 9:17 am
Man denied double taxation benefit for tax on salary paid in Singapore as Form 67 not filed within due date; He files case in ITAT Delhi and wins case

An Indian taxpayer successfully challenged the tax department in the ITAT Delhi. The tribunal ruled that foreign investments made in daughters' names were adequately disclosed and justified by the taxpayer's income. Furthermore, the ITAT allowed foreign tax credit on Singapore salary, stating procedural delays in filing Form 67 should not deny relief. The revenue's appeal was dismissed.

3 Feb 2026 7:11 am
Arbitrage MF returns to face the squeeze with rise in STT

Arbitrage funds, popular with affluent investors, are set to see returns shrink by 25-35 basis points due to a proposed increase in securities transaction tax (STT) on equity derivative trades. The government's budget proposal raises STT on futures sales, impacting the price anomalies these funds exploit. Despite this, their tax efficiency is expected to maintain popularity.

3 Feb 2026 6:56 am
Big relief in Budget 2026: TCS rates on these 6 things revised to 2%; full list inside

The government has unified Tax Collection at Source (TCS) rates to a uniform 2% for various transactions, including alcoholic liquor, scrap, minerals, and overseas tour packages. This simplification aims to reduce complexity and improve compliance, while also making foreign remittances for education, medical treatment, and travel more affordable.

2 Feb 2026 5:51 pm
Reduced TCS, extended ITR deadline, simplified TDS on property, centralised Form 15G/H, immunity from tax prosecution and more in Budget 2026

Budget 2026 brings major changes to personal income tax. Tax Collected at Source rates are reduced. Deadlines for filing income tax returns are extended. Tax Deducted at Source rules are simplified for manpower services. Small taxpayers get automated lower deduction certificates. Forms 15G and 15H can be filed centrally. Immunity from tax prosecution is expanded.

2 Feb 2026 5:43 pm
Investors flock to gold, gold miner ETFs in January in bid for safety

Investors flocked to exchange-traded funds of gold, other precious metals and gold miners in January, seeking safety amid geopolitical uncertainty, expectations of further dollar weakness, and growing bets on U.S. interest rate cuts.

2 Feb 2026 5:24 pm
Equal allocation in gold and silver is better, says Radhika Gupta of Edelweiss Mutual Fund

Radhika Gupta of Edelweiss Mutual Fund advocates equal allocation in gold and silver to reduce volatility and improve long term returns. Highlighting historical data, she notes that while silver offers sharp rallies, combining it with gold creates a more stable and resilient precious metals investment strategy.

2 Feb 2026 4:57 pm
How sharp STT hike will impact your returns from arbitrage funds, SIFs

Arbitrage fund returns to take a 30-50 bps hit from Budget 2026's F&O tax hike, but post-tax advantage over debt funds intact; SIFs face milder 5-10 bps drag.

2 Feb 2026 4:16 pm
Sensex adds 943 points, Nifty above 25,000 after Budget-day rout. Key factors behind the stock market rally today

The rebound came despite proposals to raise transaction taxes on derivatives and the absence of fresh measures aimed at drawing foreign investment. The BSE Sensex rose 943.5 points, or 1.17%, to close at 81,666.46, while the Nifty 50 advanced 261 points, or 1.06%, to 25,088.4.

2 Feb 2026 3:43 pm
Power Grid shares surge 7% after PSU power company raises FY26 capex guidance to Rs 32,000 crore

Power Grid shares saw a sharp surge on Monday after the PSU raised its FY26 capex guidance to Rs 32,000 crore and increased capitalisation targets, signalling strong execution visibility. The company posted an 8% YoY rise in Q3 net profit to Rs 4,185 crore, with revenue up 10% and expenses moderating sequentially.

2 Feb 2026 3:43 pm
7 pains from Budget 2026 that will hit middle-class taxpayers hard, check how

Middle-class taxpayers face disappointment as Budget 2026 offers no income tax relief. Instead, several changes could increase costs. These include higher Securities Transaction Tax on derivatives, new taxes on secondary market Sovereign Gold Bonds, and changes to share buyback taxation. Disability pension relief is also withdrawn, and more.

2 Feb 2026 3:39 pm
Income Tax Calculator FY 2026-2027: Calculate your taxes as per slab rate after Budget 2026; new tax regime vs old tax regime

Income Tax Calculator as Per New tax regime vs Old tax regime: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced no changes to income tax slabs for FY 2026-27. Individual taxpayers in the old regime pay no tax up to Rs 5 lakh, while the new regime offers a Rs 12 lakh tax-free income limit. Standard deductions are Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000 in the old and new regimes, respectively.

2 Feb 2026 3:23 pm
Mirae Asset Mutual Fund partners with Cybrilla to simplify investing through ONDC Network

Mirae Asset Mutual Fund has integrated with the ONDC Network in partnership with Cybrilla to simplify mutual fund investing across India. The move aims to improve accessibility, reduce transaction friction and enable investors to transact through an open, platform agnostic digital ecosystem backed by Indias digital public infrastructure.

2 Feb 2026 3:13 pm
Gold Rates today after Budget 2026: 22K yellow metal prices fall across Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Joyalukkas

Gold prices have fallen significantly today, February 2, 2026, following the Budget 2026 presentation. Leading jewellers like Tanishq, Malabar Gold and Diamonds, and Joyalukkas have reported lower rates. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association also shows a sharp decline across all gold purities. New tax rules for Sovereign Gold Bonds are also in effect.

2 Feb 2026 3:00 pm
When should investors exit a mutual fund? Key red flags to watch

With markets near record highs, experts urge investors to review mutual funds by portfolio role, goals and risk tolerance, not recent returns. Exit only on structural red flags like sustained underperformance, style drift or rising volatility that breaks discipline.

2 Feb 2026 2:55 pm
Explained: How will STT hike impact arbitrage and hybrid mutual fund returns?

The STT hike on futures and options is set to marginally reduce returns for arbitrage and hybrid mutual funds, as higher transaction costs increase rollover and churn expenses. AMCs estimate an annualised impact of 0.030.33% depending on derivatives exposure, with arbitrage-heavy schemes facing the biggest compression in yields.

2 Feb 2026 2:19 pm
ET Wealth Online impact on Budget 2026: Buyback tax, Black Money Act, ITR penalties, NRI property sales, how taxpayers' concerns were addressed

Budget 2026 brings significant changes for taxpayers. ET Wealth Online's concerns have been addressed, impacting buyback taxation and NRI property sales. Penalties for minor ITR errors are being reduced, and the Black Money Act is being reformed. These updates aim to simplify tax processes and foster trust. The government is focusing on easing compliance for individuals and businesses.

2 Feb 2026 1:41 pm
Is extended August 31 ITR deadline applicable to all taxpayers or only select categories?

The Union Budget 2026 has proposed a staggered timeline for filing income tax return (ITR) to ease the rush during the peak filing season . Heres a clear look at who can file their ITR till August 31 and who must still meet the July 31 deadline.

2 Feb 2026 1:25 pm
Budget 2026: Take home salary calculator for CTC of Rs 10 lakh, 12 lakh, 15 lakh and 20 lakh

Budget 2026 brings no changes to tax slabs or deductions. However, new labor codes are set to be implemented. This will affect take-home salaries for individuals with Cost To Company packages ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. The article details expected net salaries for different CTCs, considering existing tax laws.

2 Feb 2026 1:22 pm
Extended ITR revision window, loss related updated return & more; 6 ways how revised ITR filing timelines in Budget 2026 will impact you

Moving beyond rate-centric reforms, the government has focused on re-designing the compliance lifecycle spanning original filing, revision, updated return, and post-assessment corrections so that the tax compliance framework becomes more adaptive, less adversarial, and aligned with modern data flows.

2 Feb 2026 12:52 pm
Budget 2026: What changed and what remains same for individual taxpayers; know how your future taxation will be impacted

In terms of tax proposals, specifically for individual and small taxpayers, rather than offering immediate tax rate reductions or slab restructuring, the Government has focused on structural simplification, procedural certainty, reduced litigation, and promoting trust-based compliance.

2 Feb 2026 12:27 pm
4 surprising findings from Budget 2026 on savings, borrowing, shifting role of gold in wealth creation and more

Budget 2026 data reveals Indian households are shifting savings from cash and bank deposits towards shares, mutual funds, and pension plans. While real estate remains the primary wealth-building goal, rising household debt indicates increased leverage rather than immediate financial stress, even as net savings shrink.

2 Feb 2026 11:02 am
Gold and silver ETFs rebound up to 10% after 20% morning crash; investors weigh next move

Gold and silver ETFs experienced a significant crash, losing up to 20%, before partially recovering by mid-trade. This sharp sell-off followed a steep correction in bullion prices from record highs, driven by profit-booking and unwinding of leveraged positions. Dollar strength and global cues also weighed on bullion prices.

2 Feb 2026 10:45 am
Budget 2026 not headline-grabbing but fiscally prudent and growth-oriented

The Union Budget 2026-27 delivers fiscal prudence without sacrificing growth, keeping deficit consolidation on track while sustaining strong capex. Markets reacted cautiously to the STT hike, but measures on buybacks, PIS liberalisation, bond market development and support for sunrise sectors signal a steady, reform-oriented roadmap focused on long-term competitiveness.

2 Feb 2026 10:37 am
10 ways individual taxpayers will be impacted most from Budget 2026: Tax slabs, ITR filing deadlines, Foreign Asset Disclosure Scheme and more

Budget 2026 introduces a New Income Tax Act effective April 1, 2026, with staggered ITR filing deadlines and reduced TCS on overseas tour packages. A new Foreign Asset Disclosure Scheme offers regularization options for small taxpayers, while immunity from prosecution is extended for certain foreign non-immovable asset disclosures.

2 Feb 2026 10:27 am
NRI professionals visiting India to get 5-year tax exemption on overseas income: Budget 2026

Union Budget 2026 introduces a significant tax benefit for overseas professionals visiting India. Non-residents will receive a five-year exemption on income earned outside India. This applies to those visiting under government-notified schemes. The tax-exempt status begins from their first visit for service rendering. This move aims to attract global talent by offering clear tax certainty.

2 Feb 2026 10:05 am
Invested in overseas property? Know the tax rules after Budget 2026 will impact you

All foreign assets must be disclosed in Indian tax returns in the prescribed manner. Non-disclosure of foreign assets can trigger implications under the Black Money Act, 2015, including substantial fines and prosecution. Rental income, whether earned in India or overseas, is taxable in India for tax residents.

2 Feb 2026 10:04 am
HRA vs housing loan; which one saves you more income tax after Budget 2026?

Let us understand which out of HRA and home loan can save you more tax after Budget 2026. House Rent Allowance (HRA) is a tax break which salaried taxpayers usually receive, and its one of the few exemptions without a maximum limit.

2 Feb 2026 9:53 am
11 equity mutual funds turn Rs 10,000 monthly SIP to over Rs 1.50 crore in 20 years. Do you own any?

Around 11 equity mutual funds have transformed a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP into over Rs 1.50 crore in the last two decades. ICICI Prudential Value Fund led the pack, growing a Rs 10,000 SIP to Rs 1.83 crore. Many mid-cap and small-cap funds also delivered substantial returns.

2 Feb 2026 9:49 am
Higher income tax on dividend income from shares and income from mutual funds if earned via this method; announced in Budget 2026

Budget 2026 has eliminated the deduction for interest expenses incurred on loans taken to invest in listed equity shares or mutual funds. This change, effective from April 1, 2026, means dividend and mutual fund income will be fully taxed without any interest offset, leading to a higher tax outgo for investors.

2 Feb 2026 9:43 am
Machine brewed coffee in office canteen or cafe may get costlier after Budget 2026

The Budget has withdrawn existing duty concessions on imported coffee roasting, brewing and vending machines. Industry executives said the change in customs duty comes amid pressure from currency movements.

2 Feb 2026 9:24 am
Disability pension tax relief withdrawn in Budget 2026 for these armed forces personnel; Check the details

The Budget document proposes a specific exemption for disability pension paid to members of the armed forces, including paramilitary forces, covering both the service and disability components, provided the individual has been invalided out of service due to a bodily disability attributable to, or aggravated by, military, naval or air force service.

2 Feb 2026 9:06 am
Man sets-off Rs 5.18 crore short term capital loss from shares against Rs 5.21 crore LTCG; tax dept sent notice; he wins case in HC

A taxpayer has won a significant victory in the Bombay High Court. The court allowed the set-off of short-term capital loss against long-term capital gains. The tax department's addition of Rs 5.43 crore as unexplained cash credit and undisclosed long-term capital gains was deleted. The High Court emphasized consistency, noting similar relief granted to the taxpayer's father and brother.

2 Feb 2026 8:00 am
Tax dept denies Rs 73 lakh TDS credit as taxpayer being unaware did not claim it in ITR; ITAT Mumbai gives relief to taxpayer

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Mumbai has ruled in favour of a taxpayer. The tribunal stated that the tax department must provide TDS credit shown in Form 26AS. This decision came after a taxpayer missed claiming Rs 73 lakh TDS due to seller's non-disclosure. The tribunal highlighted the department's statutory and constitutional duty to grant credit, even with procedural errors.

2 Feb 2026 7:12 am