Personal Finance Guides for India
✦ Featured
Income Tax11 min read
Presumptive Taxation under Section 44ADA for Freelancers in India
Many freelancers hear that they can simply declare half of their receipts as taxable professional income. That idea comes from the presumptive taxation scheme commonly known as Section 44ADA. It can reduce bookkeeping work, but it is not available to every freelancer and it is not automatically the lowest-tax option. From 1 April 2026, the Income Tax Act, 2025 places the corresponding presumptive rules in Section 58, while taxpayers still commonly search for the familiar name Section 44ADA.
August 2026Read Article →
Income Tax10 min read
TDS on Fixed Deposit Interest: Thresholds, Form 15G/15H and Refunds
A bank deducting TDS from fixed-deposit interest does not mean that the interest has become tax-free or that the bank has calculated your final tax. TDS is only an advance collection. For Tax Year 2026-27, the rates and monetary thresholds are retained under the Income Tax Act, 2025, while the familiar Form 15G and Form 15H process moves into the new Form 121 framework.
August 2026Read Article →
Income Tax12 min read
ITR Late Filing Penalty and Interest: Sections 234F, 234A, 234B and 234C
Missing an income-tax return deadline can create more than one charge. The late-filing fee is separate from interest on unpaid self-assessment tax and separate again from advance-tax shortfall interest. For FY 2026-27, the Income Tax Act, 2025 uses new section numbers, but taxpayers will continue to see the familiar descriptions Section 234F, 234A, 234B and 234C in older guides and past-year filings.
August 2026Read Article →
Government & Compliance13 min read
GST for Small Businesses and Freelancers: Registration, Composition and ITC
GST registration is not decided only by whether one invoice crosses a limit. You need to identify whether you supply goods, services or both, calculate PAN-based aggregate turnover across India, check your State or Union Territory and review compulsory-registration rules. The composition scheme can simplify payment for eligible small taxpayers, but it also removes input tax credit and the right to collect GST separately.
August 2026Read Article →
Income Tax13 min read
NRI Taxation Basics: Residency Status and Income Taxable in India
NRI tax starts with residential status, not citizenship, passport colour or the type of bank account you hold. A person can be an Indian citizen and still be non-resident for tax, or can become resident after spending enough days in India. From Tax Year 2026-27, the Income Tax Act, 2025 retains the core 182-day, 120-day, deemed-resident and RNOR rules.
August 2026Read Article →
Savings & Retirement8 min read
How Much Emergency Fund Do You Need? A Guide for Indian Households
An emergency fund is money reserved for essential costs and unavoidable EMIs during a job loss, medical need, urgent repair, or another income shock. This guide helps you choose a practical number of months for your household. Use the linked calculator when you want a personalised estimate from your own expenses, EMIs, current savings, dependants, and income stability.
May 2026Read Article →
Budgeting & Money Planning6 min read
Monthly Expense Planning for Indian Families: A Practical Guide
A family budget needs room for monthly bills and costs that arrive less often, such as school fees, repairs and medical expenses. List both, agree which costs come first, and review the plan together when your income or responsibilities change.
May 2026Read Article →
Budgeting & Money Planning7 min read
Personal Finance Checklist for Salaried People in India
Use your latest payslip, bank statement, rent records and retirement account statement to work through these five checks. The aim is to find a missing contribution, an unsupported tax declaration or a gap in your monthly budget before it becomes expensive. Repeat the checks after a salary change, job switch or change in family responsibilities.
May 2026Read Article →
Income Tax9 min read
ITR-2 AY 2026-27: Deadline, Documents & Late Filing
Choose the return form from your complete income and residential status for AY 2026-27. An investment sale or two house properties does not automatically require ITR-2: eligible ITR-1 filers can report limited Section 112A long-term gains and income from two house properties. ITR-2 covers individuals and HUFs without business or professional income whose circumstances fall outside the simpler form.
August 2026Read Article →
Income Tax9 min read
Old vs New Tax Regime: Which Saves More Tax? Worked Examples from Rs 7L to Rs 20L
Every salaried taxpayer in India faces the same choice each year: stay with the default new tax regime, or opt for the old regime and claim deductions like HRA, 80C and home loan interest. The right answer is not the same for everyone — it depends almost entirely on how much you can legitimately claim as deductions. This guide walks through worked comparisons at five salary levels, computed with RupeeKit's calculator engine, and gives you a practical break-even rule you can apply to your own payslip.
July 2026Read Article →
Loans & Debt7 min read
Home Loan vs Rent in India: Which Is the Smarter Financial Choice?
The rent-vs-buy debate is one of the most emotionally charged financial decisions Indians face. Owning a home is tied to financial security and social status, yet renting can leave more money in your pocket each month. The truth is neither option is universally better — the right answer depends on your city, income stability, investment discipline, and how long you plan to stay.
July 2026Read Article →
Income Tax8 min read
How to Save Capital Gains Tax on Equity and Mutual Funds in India (AY 2026-27)
Budget 2024 reshuffled the capital gains tax structure for equity investors in India, and the changes remain for AY 2026-27. If you sold equity shares, equity mutual funds, or ETFs at a profit during the financial year, you owe tax — and the rate depends on how long you held the investment. Understanding the two rates, the Rs 1.25 lakh exemption, and legal strategies to reduce your bill can save thousands every year.
July 2026Read Article →
Income Tax7 min read
PPF vs ELSS vs FD — Which Section 80C Investment Gives the Best Returns in India?
Section 80C lets you reduce your taxable income by up to Rs 1,50,000 per year — and three investment options dominate the conversation: PPF, ELSS mutual funds, and tax-saving fixed deposits. Each occupies a different point on the risk-return-liquidity spectrum. The right choice depends on your income level, tax bracket, investment horizon, and how much risk you can stomach. This guide compares all three in detail with post-tax return examples.
July 2026Read Article →
Investing8 min read
Zerodha vs Upstox vs Angel One 2026: Which Broker May Suit You?
Choosing a broker is easier when you separate pricing from platform preferences. This comparison uses broker pricing and support pages verified on 3 September 2026, then matches the differences to common use cases such as buy-and-hold investing, active trading, research tools and NRI onboarding. There is no universal winner, and commercial relationships do not determine the comparison order.
September 2026Read Article →
Investing9 min read
Mutual Funds for Beginners India 2026: How to Start Investing
Mutual funds are the easiest way for most Indians to invest in the stock market without picking individual stocks. This guide covers everything a first-time investor needs to know — what mutual funds are, the main types, how SIPs work, what expense ratio and NAV mean, and the simplest way to start investing today.
July 2026Read Article →
Loans & Debt6 min read
Home Loan Eligibility by Monthly Salary in India 2026: Complete Guide
This guide models loan amounts using a 50% budget for total EMIs, a 9% annual rate and a 20-year term. The 50% figure is an illustration, not a universal RBI rule or an approval promise. A lender checks income, existing repayments, property value, credit history and its own policy before offering a loan.
July 2026Read Article →
Income Tax6 min read
Income Tax on Rs 12 Lakh Salary: Zero Tax Under New Regime FY 2026-27
Under the new tax regime for FY 2026-27 (AY 2027-28), eligible normal slab-rate income up to Rs 12 lakh can become tax-free through the Section 87A rebate. For salaried employees, the Rs 75,000 standard deduction can extend this zero-tax point to Rs 12.75 lakh of gross salary. This guide explains the calculation and the marginal relief that prevents a disproportionate tax jump when taxable income moves slightly above Rs 12 lakh.
August 2026Read Article →
Salary & Benefits7 min read
How to Calculate In-Hand Salary from CTC in India 2026
CTC (Cost to Company) and take-home (in-hand) salary are very different numbers. A Rs 15 lakh CTC offer typically translates to Rs 80,000–90,000 per month in hand — not Rs 1.25 lakh as many candidates assume. Understanding the gap helps you negotiate better and plan more accurately. This guide breaks down every deduction, with real worked examples across CTC ranges.
July 2026Read Article →
Savings & Retirement7 min read
How to Withdraw EPF After Resignation in India 2026: Step-by-Step Online Guide
Resigning does not by itself establish eligibility for full EPF settlement. Check the applicable waiting period, employment status and exceptions before choosing a claim. This guide separates final settlement from an advance and account transfer, and shows which records to check before submitting an online claim.
July 2026Read Article →
Savings & Retirement6 min read
EPF Partial Withdrawal Rules India 2026: Housing, Medical, Education & More
The EPFO allows members to make partial withdrawals (called "advances") from their EPF account for specific purposes without resigning from their job. These are not loans — the amount is deducted from your EPF balance and does not need to be repaid. The six main purposes are housing, medical, education, marriage, pre-retirement, and natural calamity. Each has different eligibility criteria, waiting period, and withdrawal limits.
July 2026Read Article →
Salary & Benefits6 min read
New Gratuity Rules 2026: 1-Year vs 5-Year Rule Explained
India made the four Labour Codes effective from 21 November 2025. Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, an employee engaged under a genuine fixed-term employment contract becomes eligible for gratuity after one year of service under that contract. The general five-year continuous-service condition continues for employees who do not fall within an exception. Here is what the current rule means and who it affects.
August 2026Read Article →
Budgeting & Money Planning7 min read
How to Improve CIBIL Score from 650 to 750 in India 2026: Actionable Guide
A CIBIL score of 650 sits in the "fair" range — it is enough to get credit in some cases, but lenders will either reject your application or charge you a significantly higher interest rate. Moving from 650 to 750 can take 6–18 months with consistent action, and can save you lakhs in lower interest on home loans, personal loans, and credit cards. Here is exactly what to do, in priority order.
July 2026Read Article →