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If your salary is ₹12.75 lakh or below, your tax bill this year is ₹0. Not a typo. Here is the complete breakdown of the new Income Tax Act 2025 slabs, section mapping, and worked examples for ₹12L, ₹15L, ₹18L and ₹25L salaries.
Read MoreGold is trading around ₹1.52–1.54 lakh per 10g this Akshaya Tritiya 2026. Before you buy, here is what 10 years of festival-day gold prices and a direct comparison of all four gold investment forms tells you.
Read MoreNifty fell 10%+ in March 2026. Sensex crashed 1,400 points in a single session. Here's exactly why it's happening and what you should do.
Read MoreA clear comparison of old and new tax regimes with worked examples across ₹8L, ₹12L, ₹18L and ₹25L salary levels so you can make an informed decision.
Read MoreIndia's 60-year-old Income Tax Act 1961 is replaced from April 1, 2026. Here's what actually changes for salaried professionals — without the jargon.
Read MoreCompounding is not a concept. It is arithmetic that works silently in your favour every single day you stay invested. Here is what it actually does to your money — with real numbers.
Read MoreAll Articles
Oracle Layoffs 2026: What 12,000 Indian Employees Can Teach the Rest of Us About Financial Resilience
Oracle was not in financial trouble. It posted 22% revenue growth. Yet around 12,000 employees in India reportedly lost their jobs in a single morning. If your company decided tomorrow that AI makes your role redundant, are you financially ready?
Read ArticleReturn-to-Office 2026: Real Cost of TCS, Infosys, Wipro RTO — Tier-2 City Math
TCS at 100% RTO, Infosys 60%, Wipro/HCL 60-80%. Bengaluru ORR rents up 60-80% since 2022. The actual cost of returning to office for a family in 2026 is ₹40,000-76,000/month — equivalent to a ₹13 lakh CTC cut. Full math, hidden costs, Labour Code overtime rules, and the framework for staying tier-2 vs returning to metro.
Read ArticleNew Labour Codes 2026: How the 50% Wage Rule Hits Your Take-Home Salary, PF, Gratuity — And the New 48-Hour F&F Rule
Centre notified Labour Code rules on May 8, 2026. The 50% wage rule may drop your monthly take-home by ₹1,000-3,000, raise your PF contribution, and push your gratuity corpus up about 25%. Fixed-term employees get gratuity after 1 year. F&F settlement now legally due in 48 hours. Here is exactly what changes — and when it applies to your state.
Read ArticleEPFO KYC Stuck? Update Bank, PAN, Aadhaar Without Employer Approval 2026
PF withdrawal stuck because of KYC pending? EPFO removed employer approval for bank KYC in April 2025. Here is the exact process, fixes for name mismatch and old IFSC errors, plus what to do if your old employer is unreachable.
Read ArticleITR Filing 2026-27: Deadline Is July 31 for Salaried Employees — What Changed and What to Do Before You File
Finance Act 2026 introduced split ITR deadlines — July 31 for salaried employees, August 31 for non-audit business cases. The Income Tax Act 2025 is also changing terminology. Here is what every salaried employee needs to know before filing.
Read ArticleNifty 50 vs S&P 500: 2026 Returns, Currency Impact, Tax Compared (INR + USD)
Nifty 50 vs S&P 500 in 2026 — full returns comparison in INR and USD, with currency depreciation impact, taxation differences, and what 20 years of data shows. For Indian investors and NRIs deciding between domestic and global equity exposure.
Read ArticleEPFO Minimum Pension Hike 2026: ₹7,500 Proposed But Not Approved — What EPS-95 Members Need to Know
The ₹7,500 EPS minimum pension hike is not approved as of May 2026. The current minimum remains ₹1,000 per month unchanged since 2014. Here is what is actually proposed, who is eligible, how EPS is calculated, and what realistically happens next.
Read Article8th Pay Commission 2026: Fitment Factor Calculator — What Your New Basic Pay Will Be Under 2.57x, 2.86x, and 3.68x
8th Pay Commission constituted November 2025, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai as Chairperson, effective date January 1 2026. Fitment factor not finalised — calculate your new basic pay across three scenarios: 2.57x (conservative), 2.86x (moderate), 3.68x (union demand). Plus arrears calculation and DA merger myth debunked.
Read ArticlePPF vs ELSS 2026: Which Is Better for 80C Tax Saving — The Honest Comparison After the 12.5% LTCG Change
Budget 2025 changed LTCG on equity to 12.5% above ₹1.25 lakh — which changes how you compare ELSS against PPF's guaranteed 7.1%. Post-tax ELSS returns still beat PPF at historical return rates. But most salaried employees have less than ₹1.5 lakh of 80C headroom after EPF. Here is the honest calculation.
Read ArticleNPS Tier 1 vs Tier 2: The Difference Most Salaried Employees Get Wrong
Most employees think NPS Tier 2 gives extra tax benefits like Tier 1. It does not — not for private sector employees. But dismissing Tier 2 entirely misses its hidden advantage: fund management charges as low as 0.09% vs 0.5-2% for mutual funds. Here is the real comparison.
Read ArticleLPG Connection Blocked? One Household One Connection Rule 2026 — Surrender Process, Refund, and PNG vs LPG Cost Comparison
LPG refill blocked because of PNG connection? The One Household One Connection Rule under the LPG Amendment Order 2026 (effective March 14) bars PNG households from keeping LPG. Here is how to surrender your cylinder, claim your ₹1,450 security deposit refund, and whether PNG is actually cheaper.
Read ArticleHome Loan Tax Benefits 2026: Section 24B, 80C, and Why Most Salaried Employees Lose ₹3.5 Lakh by Choosing the Wrong Regime
Switching to the New Tax Regime costs home loan holders up to ₹3.5 lakh in lost deductions over 5 years. Section 24B (₹2 lakh interest deduction) and Section 80C (principal repayment) are both Old Regime only. Here is the complete calculation — including joint loan benefits and under-construction property rules.
Read ArticleEPFO 3.0 ATM Withdrawal 2026: Can You Really Withdraw PF Money via ATM and UPI? What We Know So Far
EPFO 3.0 is expected to enable PF withdrawals via ATM cards and UPI by end of May 2026. The 50% withdrawal cap, 25% retention rule, auto-settlement limit raised to ₹5 lakh, and what KYC you must complete now — here is everything confirmed and what is still pending official notification.
Read ArticleSBI Q4 Results 2026: Record ₹80,032 Crore Annual Profit — What It Means for Your FD Rates, Home Loan EMI, and the Amrit Vrishti Scheme
SBI posted record annual profit of ₹80,032 crore in FY26. But will your FD rates rise or home loan EMIs fall? No — NIM compression makes a rate hike unlikely. Amrit Vrishti 444-day scheme revised to 6.45% (general) and 6.95% (senior citizens). Here is the full picture.
Read ArticleHow to Report Bajaj Finance, PNB Housing, and NBFC Interest Income in ITR 2026 — Schedule OS Guide
Bajaj Finance, Mahindra Finance, PNB Housing Finance interest cannot go into the generic Others bucket in ITR 2026. CBDT Notification No. 57/2026 requires separate reporting under Schedule OS. Here is exactly where to put it and what happens if you get it wrong.
Read ArticleNRI Tax Guide India 2026: Why the ₹12 Lakh Zero-Tax Rule Does Not Apply to You
India's New Tax Regime gives resident Indians zero tax up to ₹12.75 lakh. NRIs get none of that. Section 87A rebate is restricted to residents only. Here is how NRI taxation actually works — rental income, FD interest, property sales, and what you do and do not owe.
Read ArticleHRA Exemption 2026: Is Bengaluru 50% or 40%? The Answer Depends on Which Year You Are Filing For
Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad are now 50% metro cities — but only from April 1, 2026. For the ITR you are filing right now for FY 2025-26, these cities are still 40%. Using 50% for the current filing will overstate your exemption and trigger a notice.
Read ArticleEPFO Wage Ceiling ₹25,000 Update: Status, Salary Impact, Take-Home Cut 2026
Will EPFO raise the ₹15,000 wage ceiling to ₹25,000 in 2026? Supreme Court set a May 2026 deadline — still pending official notification. If enacted, your PF deduction rises ₹1,200/month, take-home drops, but EPS pension grows. Full impact calculator inside.
Read ArticleBank Holidays May 2026: Complete List, What Closes, and 6 Things to Do Before April 28
May 1 is a Friday. Banks are closed. May 3-4 is the weekend. That is three consecutive branch-closed days before May 5. Here is the full holiday list, what still works digitally, and exactly what to finish before tomorrow.
Read ArticleCredit Card Tax Notice 2026: Why the Income Tax Department Is Watching Your Spending — And How to Stay Safe
The Income Tax Act 2025 introduced weekly data sync between banks and the tax department. Your credit card activity is now visible faster than before. Here is what actually triggers a notice, what does not, and exactly what to do if you get one.
Read ArticleMCX Gold Price Falling After Akshaya Tritiya 2026 — Should You Buy, Hold or Sell?
Gold hit ₹1,58,000 on Akshaya Tritiya. Three days later it is at ₹1,53,600 — a ₹4,400 drop in 72 hours. Here is what is driving the fall, whether this is normal, and exactly what to do depending on your situation.
Read ArticleNPS vs PPF 2026 — Why the 80% Withdrawal Rule Changed Everything (And Which One Actually Wins for Your Retirement)
Until 2025, NPS forced you to hand 40% of your retirement corpus to an insurance company as an annuity. That rule is now down to 20%. Here is what that means for how NPS compares to PPF in 2026 — with the actual numbers.
Read ArticleSalary Tax Calculator 2026-27 — Zero Tax up to ₹12.75 Lakh, New Sections, and Which Regime Actually Wins for You
If your salary is ₹12.75 lakh or below, your tax bill this year is ₹0. Not a typo. Here is the complete breakdown of the new Income Tax Act 2025 slabs, section mapping, and worked examples for ₹12L, ₹15L, ₹18L and ₹25L salaries.
Read ArticleAkshaya Tritiya 2026 Gold Price: Physical Gold vs Digital Gold vs SGB vs Gold ETF — What the Data Actually Says
Gold is trading around ₹1.52–1.54 lakh per 10g this Akshaya Tritiya 2026. Before you buy, here is what 10 years of festival-day gold prices and a direct comparison of all four gold investment forms tells you.
Read ArticleEPFO 3.0 Withdrawal Rules 2026 — What Has Changed and How to Withdraw Your PF
EPFO simplified partial withdrawals in October 2025, cutting 13 rules to 3 categories. Auto-settlement now covers ₹5 lakh claims in 3 days. Here is what changed and what is still coming.
Read ArticleStrait of Hormuz Crisis — How a Conflict Thousands of Miles Away Hits Your Grocery Bill and EMI
The Strait of Hormuz is 3,500 km from India. Yet within weeks, petrol, LPG, food prices and your home loan EMI are all under pressure. Here is the exact chain.
Read ArticleWhy Is the Indian Stock Market Falling in 2026? The Iran-US Conflict Explained
Nifty fell 10%+ in March 2026. Sensex crashed 1,400 points in a single session. Here's exactly why it's happening and what you should do.
Read ArticleRBI MPC April 2026 — Repo Rate Held at 5.25%, What It Means for Your Loans and Savings
RBI kept the repo rate at 5.25% in April 2026. No EMI relief from this meeting. Here is what the decision means for home loan borrowers, FD investors, and your household finances.
Read ArticleCrude Oil at $100+ — How Rising Oil Prices Hit Every Indian's Finances
Brent crude crossed $115 in March 2026. For India, which imports 85% of its oil, this hits your petrol bill, groceries, loan EMI and savings. Here is the complete picture.
Read ArticleFII Selling ₹1.23 Lakh Crore — What Foreign Investor Outflows Mean for Your Portfolio
In March 2026, foreign investors pulled out a record ₹1.23 lakh crore from Indian markets. Here is who FIIs are, why they sold, and what it means for your portfolio.
Read ArticleBest FD Rates in India — May 2026 Updated Comparison Across All Major Banks
RBI held the repo rate at 5.25%. FD rates range from 6.05% to 7.50% — updated May 2026. Complete comparison across major banks, small finance banks, and senior citizen rates.
Read ArticleShould You Stop Your SIP During a Market Crash? What 30 Years of Data Shows
Nifty is down 10%+ and your portfolio is bleeding. Every instinct says stop investing. Here's what 30 years of data actually shows about stopping SIPs during crashes.
Read ArticleNPS in India — What It Actually Is, What the Annuity Catch Means, and Whether You Should Invest
NPS gives you an extra ₹50,000 tax deduction that no other instrument offers. But 40% of your corpus must go into an annuity at retirement. Here is what that means in practice, who benefits most, and who should skip it.
Read ArticleRBI New Rules April 2026 — UPI 2FA, ATM Charges, CIBIL Updates Explained
From April 2026, RBI has introduced mandatory 2FA for all digital payments, faster CIBIL updates, new ATM charges, and no foreclosure penalty on home loans.
Read ArticleOld vs New Tax Regime 2026-27 — Which One Should You Choose?
A clear comparison of old and new tax regimes with worked examples across ₹8L, ₹12L, ₹18L and ₹25L salary levels so you can make an informed decision.
Read ArticleNew Income Tax Act 2025 — What Actually Changes from April 1, 2026
India's 60-year-old Income Tax Act 1961 is replaced from April 1, 2026. Here's what actually changes for salaried professionals — without the jargon.
Read ArticleGold Investment in India 2026 — Current Prices, Best Form to Buy, and How Much to Hold
Gold hit ₹1,58,000 in April 2026. Before you buy, here is which form actually makes sense — physical, digital, SGB, or Gold ETF — and how much your portfolio should hold.
Read ArticleWhy Investors Stop SIPs at Exactly the Wrong Time — And How to Not Be One of Them
Most SIP investors stop during market crashes — precisely when SIPs work best. Here is what drives these decisions, what the data shows about the cost, and how to build systems that keep you invested.
Read ArticleSIP vs Lumpsum — Which Works Better for Indian Investors, and Does the Answer Change During a Market Crash?
SIP or lumpsum — the honest answer depends on whether you have a monthly income or a one-time corpus. Here is how to think about it, with data from Indian markets and context from the current 2026 crash.
Read ArticleFD vs Debt Funds — Which Is Better for Your Money in 2026?
Fixed deposits and debt mutual funds both claim to be the safe option. They are not the same thing. Here is an honest comparison covering returns, taxation, liquidity, and risk — with current April 2026 numbers.
Read ArticleCAGR vs XIRR — Why Comparing Your SIP Returns to a Friend's Lumpsum Is Misleading
Most investors use the wrong metric to measure SIP performance. CAGR is for lumpsum. XIRR is for SIPs. Using CAGR on a SIP can make a 13% XIRR look like a 7% return. Here is the difference with examples you can calculate yourself.
Read ArticleGoal-Based Investing — How to Stop Investing Randomly and Start Investing With Purpose
Most Indians invest without knowing what they are investing for. Here is a practical framework for building separate investment buckets for each life goal — with actual SIP amounts, inflation-adjusted targets, and asset allocation that changes as each goal gets closer.
Read ArticleReal vs Nominal Returns — Why Your 7% FD Is Probably Not Growing Your Wealth
A 7% FD in a 6% inflation environment gives you 1% real growth. A savings account at 3.5% is shrinking your wealth. Here is how to calculate what your investments are actually doing to your purchasing power.
Read ArticleThe Power of Compounding — Why Starting at 25 Beats Investing Double at 35
Compounding is not a concept. It is arithmetic that works silently in your favour every single day you stay invested. Here is what it actually does to your money — with real numbers.
Read ArticleNew articles published weekly. All content is reviewed by the PlanivestFin Research Team.