Tax Law

If you disagree with an income tax assessment, a demand raised against you, or a penalty imposed by the tax authorities, you do not have to simply accept it. The law gives a taxpayer a structured right of appeal, starting with the first appellate authority and rising, in stages, to the Tribunal and the constitutional courts. Knowing how to file an income tax appeal in India, the forms to use and the time limits that apply can be the difference between a successful challenge a

An Indian company that provides services to overseas group companies on its own account is not an intermediary under GST and is entitled to a refund of unutilised input tax credit. That is the effect of the Bombay High Court's decision in Sundyne Pumps and Compressors India Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India, delivered on 16 June 2026, which directed the authorities to grant the refund within four weeks. The ruling is welcome news for exporters of services, captive units, and back-o

The Bombay High Court has reinforced an important safeguard for taxpayers by holding that a show cause notice under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 cannot bundle several financial years into a single consolidated notice. Where the tax department had raised a demand through one show cause notice spanning multiple financial years, the Court treated the exercise as being without jurisdiction. For businesses navigating GST adjudication, the ruling is a reminder that

A Hindu Undivided Family, commonly called an HUF, is a distinct legal and tax entity recognised under Indian law. Families often create an HUF to hold ancestral or pooled assets and to obtain certain tax efficiencies, because an HUF is assessed to income tax separately from its individual members. This guide explains what an HUF is, how it comes into existence, the practical steps of preparing an HUF deed and obtaining a PAN, and the tax benefits and the role of coparceners,

A GST refund lets a registered taxpayer recover tax that has been paid in excess or that the law allows to be returned, and claiming it correctly can free up significant working capital. The right to a refund and the procedure for claiming it are set out mainly in Section 54 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, and the claim is filed electronically in Form RFD-01. This guide explains who can claim a GST refund, the time limit, the step-by-step process and the time

Businesses that rely on advance rulings to plan their GST positions now have greater clarity on where to go when state authorities disagree with one another. A Finance Ministry notification dated 7 May 2026 empowers the Principal Bench of the GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) in New Delhi to hear appeals against orders of the National Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling (NAAAR) under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The change builds on the wider rollout of the t

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) is a quasi-judicial body established under Section 252 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and it serves as the final fact-finding authority in income tax disputes. An appeal to the ITAT lies under Section 253 of the Act against orders passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) or CIT(A). The ITAT's decisions on questions of fact are final, with further appeal to the High Court only on substantial questions of law. This guide covers t

The Madras High Court on June 15, 2026, sought responses from the Union government and the Income Tax Department on a petition challenging retrospective amendments introduced to the Income Tax Act, 1961, through the Finance Act, 2026. A Division Bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice Arul Murugan issued notice on the plea filed by the Revenue Bar Association (RBA), which argues that the amendments retrospectively nullify High Court rulings without removing their

The Bombay High Court has granted interim relief to industrialist Anil Ambani in a case involving alleged undisclosed foreign assets worth over Rs 814 crore and a tax liability exceeding Rs 420 crore under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015. The court has halted all coercive action, including prosecution and penalties, while admitting Ambani's writ petition challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of th

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal has deleted a Rs 3,885.51 crore angel tax addition made against OYO Hotels and Homes Private Limited in connection with share premium received from its parent company, Oravel Stays Limited. The ruling, reported on June 11, 2026, is one of the largest deletions of a share premium addition in recent years and is an important precedent on the limits of Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The decision will be studied closely by start

The 56th GST Council meeting, held on 3 and 4 September 2025 in New Delhi, delivered one of the most significant structural reforms since the introduction of GST in 2017. The Council replaced the previous four-tier rate structure of 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% with a simplified three-slab framework: a merit rate of 5% for essentials, a standard rate of 18% for general goods, and a special rate of 40% for select sin and luxury items. The new rates took effect from 22 September 2025.

The first advance tax installment under the Income Tax Act, 2025, is due on June 15, 2026. This is the first advance tax cycle operating entirely under the new Act, which replaced the Income Tax Act, 1961, with effect from April 1, 2026 (Tax Year 2026-27). The advance tax framework is set out in Sections 403 to 405 of the new Act, with the quarterly installment schedule remaining unchanged from the previous regime. This guide explains who must pay, how to calculate the amount

A well-drafted rent agreement is the foundation of every successful landlord-tenant relationship in India. Whether you are a landlord renting out property or a tenant moving into a new home or office, understanding the essential clauses, stamp duty requirements, and registration rules is critical to protecting your legal rights. This guide explains how to draft a rent agreement in India in 2026, covering the mandatory clauses, stamp duty calculations, registration requirement

Transferring property through a gift deed is one of the most common methods of property transfer between family members in India. Governed by Sections 122 to 129 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, and subject to the registration requirements of the Registration Act, 1908, a gift deed allows a person (the donor) to voluntarily transfer ownership of property to another person (the donee) without any monetary consideration. This guide covers the legal requirements for a vali

The Union Budget 2025-26 introduced several significant changes to India's income tax framework that take effect from Assessment Year 2026-27. From revised tax slabs under the new regime to enhanced standard deductions and updated TDS provisions, these changes affect salaried individuals, professionals, senior citizens, and businesses alike. Understanding the new income tax rules for 2026 is essential for accurate tax planning, timely filing, and maximising legitimate savings

The Income Tax Rules, 2026, notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, have replaced the Income Tax Rules, 1962, with effect from April 1, 2026. Among the most practically significant changes are the expansion of the House Rent Allowance (HRA) metro city classification from four cities to eight, and the formal recognition of the Reserve Bank of India's Digital Rupee as a prescribed mode of electronic payment for tax-related purposes. These changes, contained within a stre

The Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT), constituted under Section 109 of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, has commenced adjudicatory operations across India in 2026 after years of delay since the GST regime was introduced in July 2017. The Principal Bench in New Delhi began hearing cases on 16 February 2026, followed by the phased operationalisation of State Benches in Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Agra, and other locations. The GSTAT fills a critic

The Finance Bill 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha on 1 February 2026, gives legislative effect to the Central Government's fiscal proposals for the financial year 2026-27. Building on the foundational restructuring initiated by the Income Tax Act, 2025, the Finance Bill 2026 focuses less on rate changes and more on procedural simplification, compliance ease, and penalty rationalization. Over 70 per cent of the amendments target compliance timelines, penalty frameworks, and a

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the Income Tax Rules, 2026, replacing the Income Tax Rules, 1962 that governed direct tax administration in India for over six decades. The new rules take effect from 1 April 2026 and apply to Tax Year 2026-27 onwards. This overhaul accompanies the Income Tax Act, 2025, which replaced the Income Tax Act, 1961 with the objective of providing a streamlined, simplified, and modern tax code. The 2026 Rules operationalise the n

The new Income Tax Act 2025, which became effective on April 1, 2026, replaces the sixty-four year old Income Tax Act of 1961. The CBDT notified the Income Tax Rules 2026 to implement the new legislation, introducing significant changes to tax administration and compliance procedures.