As India marks a decade of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the focus is shifting towards enhancing efficiency through artificial intelligence, data sharing, and process simplification. The reform, which unified India's indirect tax system, has significantly broadened the tax base and boosted revenues, with future plans including a streamlined two-tier rate structure and continued technological integration to reduce compliance costs and combat evasion.
Bharti Airtel is strategically shifting its focus towards data centres, cloud services, and financial services as key drivers for its next phase of growth, leveraging significant past investments in digital infrastructure, as outlined by Chairman Sunil Mittal in the company's Annual Report for 2025-26.
India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections saw a significant 14 per cent increase in June, reaching approximately Rs 1.95 lakh crore. This surge was primarily driven by a substantial 34.6 per cent growth in tax mop-up from imports, alongside a 6.5 per cent rise in domestic supplies, reflecting the country's economic resilience despite global uncertainties.
rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries
Tax treatment depends on the activity and manner of earning income.
From the financial year 2025-2026, the government has introduced a new column in the tax return form for presumptive taxpayers, requiring them to disclose their year-end investments. This requirement was not present last year.
Salaried taxpayers should not use these forms blindly to file their income-tax returns.
Election-related freebies and populist measures are other factors crimping the revenue profile of these states.
The data may include details of foreign bank accounts, investment accounts, certain financial investments, interest income, dividends and other specified financial income held by Indian tax residents abroad.
Gujarat ATS intercepts a large silver consignment worth 5 crore at Rajkot Airport, suspecting tax evasion.
Recent changes to tax exemptions and allowances, including increased education, hostel, and HRA limits, have made the old tax regime more competitive against the new regime, prompting salaried employees to re-evaluate their choice for the current financial year.
Businesses across sectors are positioning themselves to capitalise on the expected surge in demand.
Taxpayers should reconcile returns with AIS, Form 26AS and maintain all supporting records.
India's gross GST collections increased by 3.2 per cent to over Rs 1.94 lakh crore in May, driven by improved supplies of goods and services and a continued expansion in collections from imports.
HDFC Life Insurance and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance have reported double-digit growth in profitability for the first quarter of FY27, buoyed by healthy premium collections and increased investment income, with HDFC Life's net profit rising 11.9% and ICICI Pru's by 27.8%.
The remarkable rise of smallcaps reflects the emergence of a broad set of specialised businesses operating in industries where the sectoral tailwinds remain considerably stronger than macroeconomic headwinds, points out Debashis Basu.
Businesses may eventually have to file returns largely based on invoices uploaded by suppliers, with limited scope for manual changes.
IDFC First Bank has integrated with ICEGATE 2.0 to enable digital payment of customs duty, central excise, and service tax for its customers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly refuted a media report suggesting the government is considering levying a tax, cess, or surcharge on foreign travel, calling the news "totally false".
One 97 Communications Ltd, operating Paytm, is set to issue its first bonus shares, following a landmark year of achieving its maiden full-year profit and gaining significant market share. The board will meet on July 20 to decide on the bonus issue, reflecting confidence in its financial strength and aiming to improve stock accessibility for retail investors.
DBS Bank India has launched a direct tax payment facility after authorisation from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Utkarsh Small Finance Bank partners with Mumbai Indians as banking partner for T20 League 2026.
Despite the Centre's GST 2.0 guidelines aiming to facilitate provisional refunds within seven days for low-risk cases, many large taxpayers are still encountering significant delays in obtaining Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds under the inverted duty structure (IDS), with experts citing inconsistent state-level scrutiny and subjective interpretations.
Reliance Industries Ltd reported a 22 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit for the June quarter, primarily because the previous year's earnings were inflated by a one-time gain from the sale of its stake in Asian Paints.
India's like-for-like gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue growth slowed to a five-year low of 5.57 per cent in FY26, reaching Rs 23.32 trillion, primarily driven by a significant surge in import revenues.
Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) reported encouraging results for Q4FY26 with improved asset quality and earnings, but analysts maintain a cautious near-term outlook due to geopolitical tensions, monsoon risks, and specific portfolio concerns.
Prism, the parent company of OYO, has filed updated draft papers with Sebi for a Rs 6,650 crore initial public offering (IPO) consisting entirely of a fresh issue of shares, with no offer-for-sale component from existing investors.
India's gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection reached an unprecedented Rs 2.43 lakh crore in April, marking an 8.7 per cent increase and surpassing the previous record set last year.
A farmer in Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, received tax notices for Rs 14.66 crore due to a fraudulent firm operating in his name in Delhi, prompting an official investigation.
162 officials of the Trade and Taxes department in Delhi, including three assistant commissioners, were transferred after Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta discovered 'serious irregularities' during a surprise visit.
The Union Territory administration in Ladakh has announced the establishment of an Autonomous Hill Development Council (AHDC) for each of its seven districts, significantly expanding democratic decentralisation. This move extends elected local self-governance beyond Leh and Kargil, with a proposed Union Territory-level body under a customised Article 371 framework to oversee these councils.
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine Sebi's challenge to a Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) decision that cleared Wadia Group Chairman Nusli Wadia, Bombay Dyeing, and others of allegations of fraudulent financial reporting.
Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava is pushing for increased government incentives for biogas-powered vehicles over hybrids, emphasising their net-zero carbon emissions and the valuable organic manure they produce, while also advocating for continued GST benefits for electric vehicles.
A farmer in Uttar Pradesh, India, was shocked to receive tax notices for millions of rupees due to a fraudulent firm operating under his name in Delhi. An investigation has been launched to address the identity theft and tax evasion.
Paytm's parent company, One 97 Communications Ltd, has seen its domestic ownership increase to 51.6% in Q1 FY27, solidifying its status as an Indian-Owned and Controlled Company. This rise is driven by increased investments from mutual funds and insurance companies, reflecting growing investor confidence following Paytm's first full-year profit in FY26 and improved operating performance.
Paytm's parent company, One 97 Communications Ltd, has seen its domestic ownership increase to 51.6% in Q1 FY27, solidifying its status as an Indian-Owned and Controlled Company. This rise is driven by increased investments from mutual funds and insurance companies, reflecting growing investor confidence following Paytm's first full-year profit in FY26 and improved operating performance.
Uttarakhand GST officials conducted an elaborate undercover operation, creating fake firms to expose a company evading over Rs 150 crore in taxes.
The Indian government has marginally exceeded its indirect tax collection target for fiscal year 2025-26, with strong performances in customs, excise, and GST revenues.
Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the Gulf region are increasingly purchasing term life insurance policies from India, driven by geopolitical uncertainties in West Asia and the significant cost advantages offered by Indian products, with the GCC region now contributing over half of the total NRI demand.
ServiceNow Vice Chairman Nick Tzitzon highlights India's potential to develop an AI-native government model, emphasising enhanced public services, data privacy, and economic growth.
The World Bank has increased India's economic growth projection for FY27 to 6.6 per cent, citing resilient domestic demand, while simultaneously cutting its global economic growth outlook due to the conflict in West Asia.
