The Economic Times

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.