New Delhi, April 1 (IANS) India’s direct tax system entered a new phase on April 1, 2026, as the Income Tax Act, 2025 officially came into force.

The Income Tax Department announced the rollout through a message on X, calling it a step towards a simpler and more user-friendly tax framework aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The new law replaces the decades-old Income Tax Act, 1961, marking one of the biggest overhauls in India’s direct taxation system.

The government has focused on making the language clearer and removing outdated provisions that had made compliance complicated for taxpayers over the years.

Officials said that the objective is to reduce confusion, improve transparency, and cut down on unnecessary litigation.

Along with the new Act, the Income Tax Rules, 2026 have also come into effect from the same date.

These rules, notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, replace the earlier rules and introduce changes in deduction limits, updated PAN-related requirements, and simplified reporting formats.

The government believes these changes will make filing returns easier for both individuals and businesses.

One of the notable structural changes is the replacement of the terms “financial year” and “assessment year” with a single concept of “tax year”.

This is expected to make the system more intuitive, especially for new taxpayers who often found the earlier terminology confusing.

The compliance process has also been streamlined. The due dates for filing certain returns, particularly ITR-3 and ITR-4, have been revised to provide taxpayers with more clarity and better timelines.

At the same time, updated forms have been introduced with simpler layouts to reduce errors during filing.

In addition, revised tax slabs and enhanced deduction limits for the tax year 2026–27 aim to provide relief and improve tax planning flexibility. While the exact impact will vary depending on individual income levels, the broader intent is to make the system more predictable and taxpayer-friendly.

Analysts said that the implementation of the new tax law and rules signals a shift towards a modernised direct tax regime in India.

–IANS

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