Tax resources
Understand India's taxes, in plain language
Carefully reviewed guides with official sources and a review date on every page. General information only — not personalised tax advice.
- Income tax basicsFY 2025-26
How income tax works in India
A plain-English walkthrough of how income tax is charged in India: the five heads of income, slabs, the default new regime, rebate and cess, with a worked example.
8 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Income tax basics
Direct vs indirect taxes in India
What separates direct taxes like income tax from indirect taxes like GST, who actually bears each, and why the difference matters for everyday spending.
7 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Income tax basics
Financial year vs assessment year (and the new 'tax year')
Why your income is earned in a financial year but taxed in the next assessment year, how the two line up, and what the 'tax year' concept under the 2025 Act may change.
7 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Income tax basicsFY 2025-26
Gross income vs taxable income
The difference between what you earn and what you are actually taxed on: gross total income, deductions, the standard deduction, and how to reach taxable income.
7 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Regimes & deductionsFY 2025-26
Old vs new tax regime (FY 2025-26)
Side-by-side slabs, the standard deduction and rebate differences, and worked comparisons to help you see which regime fits your numbers for FY 2025-26.
9 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Filing returns
Understanding Form 16
What Form 16 is, what Part A and Part B contain, how it links to your TDS and Form 26AS, and how to use it when filing your return.
7 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Filing returns
Form 26AS, AIS and TIS explained
Three statements the tax department keeps on you — Form 26AS, the Annual Information Statement and the Taxpayer Information Summary — and how to use them to file correctly.
7 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Filing returns
Which ITR form should you use?
A plain overview of ITR-1 to ITR-4 for individuals and HUFs, with a brief note on ITR-5, 6 and 7, so you can narrow down the right form before filing.
8 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Filing returns
ITR filing checklist: documents and common mistakes
The documents to gather before you file your income tax return, a step-by-step flow, and the mistakes that most often cause notices or delayed refunds.
8 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- TDS
TDS explained: how tax deducted at source works
What TDS is, who deducts it and why, how Form 16 and Form 16A fit in, and how to reconcile TDS with Form 26AS so mismatches do not cost you.
8 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- GST & business
GST basics: CGST, SGST, IGST and input tax credit
How GST is split into CGST, SGST and IGST, what input tax credit means, and a worked invoice showing how the tax flows — in plain language.
8 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- GST & business
Tax basics for freelancers and small businesses
Business and professional income, presumptive taxation under sections 44AD and 44ADA, the GST registration idea, and the advance tax concept — a starting map for the self-employed.
9 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026
- Taxpayer awareness
How taxpayers can give policy feedback
The official, constructive channels for sharing views on tax policy — pre-budget consultations, MyGov, PIB updates — and the grievance routes (CPGRAMS, e-Nivaran) for individual problems.
7 min read Reviewed 15 October 2026