The Economic Times

Employee got Rs 65.21 lakh as VRS after company shut plant, but wrong ITR reporting led to tax dispute; ITAT Pune rules in his favour and gives him relief from tax. Know how this empoyee won the case in ITAT Pune.

HDFC Mutual Fund held top positions in ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, RIL and Eternal in June. Check the fund houses top 10 stock holdings and portfolio changes.

Mutual funds bought five midcap stocks, including Lenskart, Meesho, JSW Infrastructure, NHPC and Ajanta Pharma, in June. These stocks witnessed net purchases worth over Rs 10,000 crore during the month.

Seven mutual funds, including SBI, HDFC, Kotak and Quant Mutual Fund, trimmed holdings in 21 small-cap stocks in June. Check the complete list of stocks where fund houses reduced exposure.

Eight equity mutual funds, including Axis Greater China Equity FoF, Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FOF and ICICI Pru Technology Fund, witnessed outflows exceeding Rs 220 crore in June

Property sellers may need to re-compute advance tax after the Cost Inflation Index release. This delay impacts individuals selling property acquired before July 23, 2024. Advance tax payments for the first quarter were due before the index was notified. Underestimating tax liability could lead to interest charges for deferred payments. Taxpayers can adjust subsequent installments or claim refunds if overpaid.

Samir Arora-backed Helios Mid Cap Fund added Groww parent Billionbrains Garage Ventures and four other stocks to its June portfolio, while raising exposure to Paytm and 29 other companies. The fund exited five stocks, trimmed its stake in Black Box and retained holdings in 32 stocks unchanged.

A recent ruling clarifies children's birthright in inherited property. Mitakshara Hindu law states self-acquired property does not grant automatic birthrights. The source of the father's title determines if property is ancestral or self-acquired. Children can still inherit self-acquired property through succession laws or a Will. This ruling impacts claims based solely on birthright in such cases.

Can the Income Tax Department tax you based only on papers found during a builder's search? A recent ITAT ruling explains when third-party documents are not enough and the important rights every property buyer should know.

Sebi now permits demat mutual fund investors to set up standing instructions for systematic plans. This facility, previously for statement of account holders, will be phased in. Unit-based SWPs and STPs will be covered by January 2027. Amount-based plans will follow by April 2027. Amfi also simplified mutual fund unit transmission procedures after a unit holder's death.

Gold rate today: Gold prices remained a key focus for consumers on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association provided indicative rates for various gold and silver purities.

India's government is considering a small Merchant Discount Rate for large UPI retailers. This potential change aims to create a sustainable revenue model for payment providers. Large merchants with significant annual turnover would face this minor transaction fee. Peer-to-peer and small merchant transactions will remain free of any charges.

Some banks offer senior citizens fixed deposits with interest rates up to 8.05 percent. These deposits are available for a five-year term and up to Rs 3 crore. Banks deduct tax at source if FD interest exceeds Rs 1 lakh annually. Senior citizens can submit Form 15H to avoid TDS if their tax liability is zero. This form helps banks understand tax eligibility based on income and rebates.

Bank holiday today: Customers who had planned to visit their local bank branch for banking services such as cash deposits, cheque clearances, demand drafts or updating passbooks are left wondering if they should go to complete their tasks today.s.

Financial planning for retirement: Early retirement necessitates careful financial planning for extended periods. A Rs 1 crore corpus may prove insufficient for early retirees in India. Experts suggest a diversified investment strategy for long-term financial security. This approach balances regular income with growth to combat inflation. Strategic asset allocation and disciplined withdrawals are crucial for sustainable retirement.

Sebi has allowed SWP and STP standing instructions for mutual fund units held in demat form, simplifying investing. The rollout will occur in two phases, with unit-based transactions by January 2027 and amount-based transactions by April 2027 through depositories.

A fake Reserve Bank of India letter is misleading people about pending payments. It falsely claims a Rs 1 lakh payment is on hold due to transaction failure. Recipients are asked to pay Rs 7,500 as a refundable tax to release funds. The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit has flagged this letter as fake. The public is urged not to fall for such fraudulent schemes.

Fresh SIP options in international mutual funds have narrowed sharply, with only Baroda BNP Paribas Aqua FoF accepting new investments after multiple fund houses halted inflows due to SEBIs overseas investment limits. Investors are exploring LRS, GIFT City and global ETFs as alternatives.

AMFI has simplified mutual fund transmission procedures for deceased unit holders. New measures consider address and name mismatches for smoother claims. Asset Management Companies will now rely on updated address details supported by documentation. A harmonized framework for name and signature discrepancies is also introduced. These updated guidelines are effective immediately for all member AMCs.

Mutual funds increased exposure to private banks, healthcare, NBFCs, automobiles and real estate in June, while trimming allocations to technology, oil & gas and utilities, according to a Motilal Oswal report.

ICICI Prudential Flexicap Fund turned a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP into Rs 8.47 lakh over five years ending June 30, 2026, delivering an XIRR of 13.83% on a total investment of Rs 6 lakh. During the same period, the BSE 500 TRI generated an XIRR of 10.43%. The fund also reported strong three-year and one-year SIP returns.

The new EPF reforms introduce automatic fund transfers when changing jobs. This facility requires an Aadhaar-linked and KYC-compliant Universal Account Number for members. Employees in private and exempted EPF organizations will not receive this automatic transfer. Members can check their previous work history on the EPFO portal for verification. Several digital reforms aim to simplify claims and improve member services.

Universally known as the Father of Indexing, Bogle had introduced the first indexed fund for individual investors in 1976. So, when it comes to compounding, it wont be wrong to assume that Bogle knew what he was talking about when he said that investors also need to know a crucial detail beyond the magic of compounding.

Gold rate today: Gold prices saw a slight decrease on Friday, July 17, 2026. Here's a look at the latest 22-carat and 24-carat gold rates across leading jewellery brands such as Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers today.

Despite court order husband did not pay maintenance to wife; she files case to stop his pension on this ground but loses case in Madras HC for this reason. Keep reading to know why the wife lost the case in Madras High Court.

Unity Small Finance Bank has revised its fixed deposit interest rates. Senior citizens can now earn up to 8.50% on a 501-day fixed deposit. Regular customers will receive 8.00% interest on the same tenure. The bank also offers 7% interest on savings accounts for larger deposits. A 1.00% penalty applies for premature fixed deposit withdrawals.

When Mr Rawat from Doonga Bazaar, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh came to Noida, Uttar Pradesh to study B.Tech at IILM University, Greater Noida, for the first semester on August 17, 2023, he booked a hostel in Knowledge Park-III. Within one week of his stay, Rawat faced severe deficiencies. The food provided was sub-standard, maintenance was neglected and the promised Wi-Fi facility/password was never shared.

Diversification on paper does not always translate into diversification in practice. Inside AlphaGreps multi-asset allocation fund and its novel proposition, where risks are adjusted in response to shifting market signals.

Government departments must remit employee NPS contributions promptly to PFRDA. Delays in crediting NPS contributions will incur interest charges for employees. This interest will match the Public Provident Fund rate applicable at that time. Officials causing administrative delays face liability for pecuniary losses to the government. Departments must report actions taken regarding these NPS contribution remittance rules.

Shriram AMC has refreshed the investment framework of three hybrid funds, introducing a research-driven, dynamic asset allocation strategy across equity, debt, gold and silver. The move aims to improve diversification, manage risk and support long-term wealth creation across market cycles.

The Income Tax Department has announced the Cost Inflation Index for the upcoming tax year. This index, set at 384, will adjust asset acquisition costs for capital gains. It becomes effective from April 1, 2026, impacting future tax calculations.

Rising inflation has crossed the Reserve Bank of India's target, signaling potential repo rate hikes. Higher inflation and increased credit demand suggest banks might raise fixed deposit interest rates soon. Banks monitor deposit growth and credit demand before adjusting their fixed deposit rates. High yields on government securities and small savings schemes also pressure banks to increase FD rates.

Quant Mid Cap Fund exited Reliance Industries and three other stocks in June while adding BHEL and L&T Technology Services to its portfolio, according to ACE MF data. The fund sold 21.38 lakh RIL shares worth Rs 282 crore and also exited PB Fintech, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Oracle Financial Services Software (OFSS) during the month.

ITAT overturns STCG tax on Gujarat house sale: When Kaminiben from Anand, Gujarat, sold her house for Rs 21.4 lakh in AY 2018-19, which she had originally bought in 2005 for Rs 1.94 lakh, the tax dept issued her tax notices. However, as she was living abroad as an NRI at the time, she could not respond to them.

Gold price today: Gold prices remained a key focus for buyers on July 16, 2026. Checking the latest gold rates across leading jewellers can help you make an informed decision when buying gold. Here's a look at the latest 22-carat gold prices at Tanishq, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers today.

Five mutual funds exited 11 midcap stocks completely in June, including Tube Investments, Dixon Technologies, PB Fintech, and Kaynes Technology, as AMCs actively reshuffled portfolios, according to Nuvama.

The Reserve Bank of India has set the redemption price for SGB 2019-20 Series-II. Investors can redeem these bonds prematurely starting July 16, 2026. The redemption value is fixed at Rs 14,199 per unit of SGB. This represents a significant return of nearly 319% on the initial investment. Investors will receive this amount excluding the annual interest payments.

Seven equity mutual funds created exceptional long-term wealth, multiplying investors money up to 22.4 times over 20 years, led by Nippon India Growth Mid Cap Fund, according to FundsIndia.

JioBlackRock Mutual Fund has filed draft documents with Sebi to launch two new schemes: the JioBlackRock Corporate Bond Fund and the JioBlackRock Nifty 50 ETF. The Corporate Bond Fund will predominantly invest in AA+ and above-rated corporate bonds, while the Nifty 50 ETF will passively track the Nifty 50 Index, expanding the fund house's passive and fixed-income offerings.

A careful, timely, and well-documented filing approach can help employees avoid notices, interest, penalties, and refund delays while ensuring that all eligible deductions and benefits are correctly claimed. The Income Tax Return (ITR) filing due date for salaried individuals is July 31, 2026 if they are not liable for tax audit.

Government support for FCNR(B) deposits until September 2026 has sparked renewed investor interest. Banks are now offering higher interest rates on these foreign currency accounts. Non-Resident Indians can benefit from avoiding Indian currency depreciation risks.

Abakkus Mutual Fund has launched its third equity NFO, the Abakkus Large & Mid Cap Fund. This new fund aims to navigate volatile markets by investing in growth companies and established businesses. The fund employs an in-house MEETS framework for evaluating long-term value creation potential. Experts suggest caution with NFOs due to the absence of a performance track record.