Category: Know Your Rights

Several specific legal protections exist for senior citizens in India, many of which families aren’t aware of until a dispute arises. Here’s a practical overview.

Maintenance rights

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 obligates children (and, where there are no children, relatives who would inherit the senior citizen’s property) to provide maintenance sufficient for a normal life, enforceable through a Maintenance Tribunal that can order maintenance within 90 days of a complaint — a comparatively fast, accessible forum compared to regular civil litigation.

Protection against property transfer under duress

The 2007 Act (and 2019 amendment proposals in several states) allows a senior citizen to approach the Tribunal to void a property transfer made to a relative who subsequently fails to provide promised care — a significant protection against the common pattern of a senior citizen transferring property in exchange for a care promise that is later not honoured.

Right to reside in one’s own home

Courts have increasingly recognised a senior citizen’s right to continue residing in their own house even after transferring ownership to children, particularly where the transfer was conditional on care that wasn’t provided — this is an evolving area of case law worth checking current precedent on for a specific situation.

Where to seek help

The Maintenance Tribunal (set up in every district), legal aid through the District Legal Services Authority for those who qualify, and in urgent safety situations, the police and senior citizen helpline numbers operated in most states.

More: free LL.B. notes · Senior Citizens and Estate Planning course

Ragging remains a serious concern in Indian higher education despite strong legal protections against it. Here’s a practical overview of the anti-ragging legal framework.

The legal framework

The UGC (Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2009, issued following the Supreme Court’s directions in University of Kerala v. Council of Principals’ Colleges and later orders, require every institution to have an Anti-Ragging Committee, an Anti-Ragging Squad, and mandatory affidavits from students and parents against ragging as a condition of admission.

What counts as ragging

The definition is broad: any act that causes physical or psychological harm, raises fear, apprehension or embarrassment in a fresher or junior student — including verbal abuse, forced physical activity, and more serious criminal acts, all of which attract both institutional disciplinary action and, in serious cases, criminal liability under the BNS.

How to report ragging

• UGC’s National Anti-Ragging Helpline (toll-free, available 24×7) accepts complaints directly and forwards them to the institution with monitoring.
• The institution’s own Anti-Ragging Committee and Squad are legally required to act on complaints — failure to act can itself attract institutional liability.
• A criminal complaint can be filed with police separately where the conduct also constitutes a criminal offence (assault, outraging modesty, criminal intimidation under BNS provisions), regardless of institutional action.

Consequences for those found guilty

Range from suspension and expulsion to a ban from admission to any other institution for a period, and criminal prosecution where applicable — these are serious, documented consequences, not merely informal disciplinary warnings.

More: free LL.B. notes

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPWD Act) is the primary legislation protecting disability rights in India. Here’s a practical overview of what it actually provides.

Who the Act covers

The RPWD Act recognises 21 specified disabilities (expanded from the earlier 1995 Act’s 7), including physical, intellectual, mental and multiple disabilities, and benchmark disability (40% or more) triggers specific reservation and benefit entitlements.

Key rights and protections

• Reservation: 4% reservation in government jobs and higher education seats for persons with benchmark disabilities.
• Accessibility: mandatory accessibility standards for public buildings, transport and information/communication technology, with timelines for compliance.
• Non-discrimination: protection against discrimination in employment, education and access to services on the ground of disability.
• Guardianship: provision for limited guardianship (supporting rather than entirely substituting decision-making) for persons with intellectual or mental disabilities needing high support, a shift from the earlier plenary-guardianship model.

Enforcement mechanism

State and Central Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities handle complaints of rights violations, and courts have increasingly enforced accessibility and reservation provisions through writ petitions when authorities fail to comply with statutory timelines.

What’s still commonly misunderstood

The Act’s reservation and accessibility provisions apply broadly, not only to government employment — many private establishments covered under specific sector regulations (such as public transport operators) also have accessibility obligations under the Act and related rules.

More: free LL.B. notes · human rights law notes

Many people who qualify for free legal aid in India don’t know it exists or assume they don’t qualify. Here’s how the system actually works.

Who is eligible

Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, free legal aid is available to women and children, members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, industrial workmen, victims of trafficking or forced labour, persons with disabilities, persons in custody, victims of mass disaster or ethnic violence, and persons with an annual income below the limit set by the relevant State Legal Services Authority (which varies by state — check your state authority’s current limit rather than assuming a fixed national figure).

What free legal aid actually covers

Free legal representation in court, drafting of legal documents, and legal advice — provided through panel lawyers empanelled with the Legal Services Authority, not necessarily a lawyer of your own choosing, though you can request a specific empanelled lawyer where available.

How to apply

• Approach the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) office in your district, or the State Legal Services Authority for higher-value or appellate matters.
• National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) also runs front desks at many court complexes where you can apply directly.
• Carry proof of your eligibility category (income certificate, caste certificate, or relevant identity document depending on which eligibility ground applies to you).

What to do if your application is delayed or refused

You can escalate to the State Legal Services Authority if a District authority doesn’t respond, and the eligibility criteria are meant to be interpreted broadly in genuine need cases — don’t assume a single rejection is final if your situation genuinely falls within an eligibility ground.

More: free LL.B. notes

How to claim shares from IEPF: get an entitlement letter from the company or its registrar, then file the revised Form IEPF-5 online on the MCA portal (in use since 6 October 2025) with OTP verification, your bank details, a cancelled cheque and a demat account. The company’s Nodal Officer verifies the claim and sends a report to the IEPF Authority, which then returns the shares to your demat account and refunds dividends to your bank. Transfer to the IEPF is not forfeiture: section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013 keeps your right to claim.

How shares and dividends end up in the IEPF

When a company declares a dividend that is not paid or claimed within 30 days, the money goes into a special Unpaid Dividend Account. If it stays there for seven years, the company must transfer it to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). The shares follow if no dividend has been paid or claimed on them for seven consecutive years. If even one dividend in that run was claimed, the shares stay with the company.

This usually happens through an old address, an uncashed warrant, physical certificates forgotten in a cupboard, or a death in the family. The money and shares still belong to the owner or the legal heirs.

Step 1: find out what is there

• Search the IEPF Authority’s website (iepf.gov.in) by name and company.
• Check the unclaimed dividend lists that companies publish on their websites.
• Go through old papers: share certificates, dividend warrants, annual reports, registrar letters.
• Write to the company’s registrar and transfer agent (RTA) for the holding and dividend history.

Before working out how to claim shares from IEPF, check whether they are still with the company. If they are, claim directly from the company or RTA. That is much simpler than an IEPF claim, so act before the seven years run out.

How to claim shares from IEPF using Form IEPF-5

1. Get the entitlement letter. Ask the company or its RTA for a letter confirming your entitlement to the shares and amounts. This is often the slowest step, so request it first.
2. Fix your KYC. Name, PAN, address and Aadhaar particulars should match across your KYC record, demat account and bank account. Mismatches are the commonest cause of delay.
3. Keep a demat account ready. Shares are returned only in demat form. If you hold physical certificates, they will not come back as paper.
4. File IEPF-5 online on the MCA portal. The revised form uses OTP verification of your mobile number and email. One form covers up to 15 folios and 15 entries of amounts (dividends, matured deposits or debentures).
5. Attach bank details with a cancelled cheque leaf and the documents the form asks for. A claim can be filed by you or by an authorised representative with an authority letter.
6. Track the Service Request Number (SRN). The company’s Nodal Officer checks the claim against its records and sends an online verification report to the IEPF Authority, which releases the shares and money.

Example: Sunita in Kanpur finds her late father’s certificates for three companies. For one, dividends were claimed until 2018, so the shares are still with the company and she claims transmission through the RTA. For the second, the shares had moved to the IEPF, so she gets an entitlement letter, files IEPF-5 with her succession documents and tracks the SRN. The third company was struck off, so she takes advice on whether any claim survives.

Claiming as a legal heir or nominee

If the shareholder has died, the claim also needs transmission documents: the death certificate and, depending on the case, documents such as an affidavit, indemnity, no-objection letters from other heirs, a legal heir certificate, a succession certificate or letters of administration. SEBI simplified transmission rules from August 2026; see transmission of shares after death and succession certificate procedure. Remember that a nominee receives the holdings but holds them for those entitled under the will or succession law.

Delays and pending changes. Follow up in writing quoting the SRN. A SEBI SCORES complaint can help where a listed company or its RTA is not issuing the entitlement letter (see SEBI SCORES complaint). In January 2026 the IEPF Authority published draft amendments proposing faster handling of low-value claims; as on 31 October 2026 these were still proposals, so check iepf.gov.in before filing.

Old bank deposits are different: deposits not operated for ten years go to the RBI’s DEA Fund. Search on RBI’s UDGAM portal (udgam.rbi.org.in) and claim at the bank.

Frequently asked questions

How to claim shares from IEPF online?

Obtain an entitlement letter from the company or its registrar, then file the revised Form IEPF-5 on the MCA portal with OTP verification, bank details, a cancelled cheque and your demat account details. After the company verifies the claim, the IEPF Authority credits the shares to your demat account and refunds dividends to your bank.

Why were my shares transferred to IEPF?

Under section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013, shares move to the IEPF Authority when no dividend has been paid or claimed on them for seven consecutive years. Unclaimed dividends themselves move after seven years in the company’s Unpaid Dividend Account.

Can a legal heir claim shares from IEPF?

Yes. A legal heir or nominee can file Form IEPF-5 with the entitlement letter and the transmission documents the company requires, such as the death certificate, affidavit, indemnity and, depending on value, a succession certificate or legal heir certificate.

Will I get physical share certificates back from IEPF?

No. Shares are returned to the claimant’s demat account, so open or update a demat account before filing.

Quick quiz

For how to claim shares from IEPF with step-by-step formats, see Legal Rights of Investors (₹349), which teaches rights and remedies, not what to invest in. It gives a Lexfolio certificate of completion, not a professional qualification.

Sources

• Companies Act, 2013: ss.124, 125
• IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016, as amended by the IEPFA Amendment Rules, 2025 (revised Form IEPF-5 from 6 October 2025)
• RBI Depositor Education and Awareness Fund; UDGAM portal

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 31 October 2026.

How to claim shares from IEPF: get an entitlement letter from the company or its registrar, then file the revised Form IEPF-5 online on the MCA portal (in use since 6 October 2025) with OTP verification, your bank details, a cancelled cheque and a demat account. The company’s Nodal Officer verifies the claim and sends a report to the IEPF Authority, which then returns the shares to your demat account and refunds dividends to your bank. Transfer to the IEPF is not forfeiture: section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013 keeps your right to claim.

How shares and dividends end up in the IEPF

When a company declares a dividend that is not paid or claimed within 30 days, the money goes into a special Unpaid Dividend Account. If it stays there for seven years, the company must transfer it to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF). The shares follow if no dividend has been paid or claimed on them for seven consecutive years. If even one dividend in that run was claimed, the shares stay with the company.

This usually happens through an old address, an uncashed warrant, physical certificates forgotten in a cupboard, or a death in the family. The money and shares still belong to the owner or the legal heirs.

Step 1: find out what is there

• Search the IEPF Authority’s website (iepf.gov.in) by name and company.
• Check the unclaimed dividend lists that companies publish on their websites.
• Go through old papers: share certificates, dividend warrants, annual reports, registrar letters.
• Write to the company’s registrar and transfer agent (RTA) for the holding and dividend history.

Before working out how to claim shares from IEPF, check whether they are still with the company. If they are, claim directly from the company or RTA. That is much simpler than an IEPF claim, so act before the seven years run out.

How to claim shares from IEPF using Form IEPF-5

1. Get the entitlement letter. Ask the company or its RTA for a letter confirming your entitlement to the shares and amounts. This is often the slowest step, so request it first.
2. Fix your KYC. Name, PAN, address and Aadhaar particulars should match across your KYC record, demat account and bank account. Mismatches are the commonest cause of delay.
3. Keep a demat account ready. Shares are returned only in demat form. If you hold physical certificates, they will not come back as paper.
4. File IEPF-5 online on the MCA portal. The revised form uses OTP verification of your mobile number and email. One form covers up to 15 folios and 15 entries of amounts (dividends, matured deposits or debentures).
5. Attach bank details with a cancelled cheque leaf and the documents the form asks for. A claim can be filed by you or by an authorised representative with an authority letter.
6. Track the Service Request Number (SRN). The company’s Nodal Officer checks the claim against its records and sends an online verification report to the IEPF Authority, which releases the shares and money.

Example: Sunita in Kanpur finds her late father’s certificates for three companies. For one, dividends were claimed until 2018, so the shares are still with the company and she claims transmission through the RTA. For the second, the shares had moved to the IEPF, so she gets an entitlement letter, files IEPF-5 with her succession documents and tracks the SRN. The third company was struck off, so she takes advice on whether any claim survives.

Claiming as a legal heir or nominee

If the shareholder has died, the claim also needs transmission documents: the death certificate and, depending on the case, documents such as an affidavit, indemnity, no-objection letters from other heirs, a legal heir certificate, a succession certificate or letters of administration. SEBI simplified transmission rules from August 2026; see transmission of shares after death and succession certificate procedure. Remember that a nominee receives the holdings but holds them for those entitled under the will or succession law.

Delays and pending changes. Follow up in writing quoting the SRN. A SEBI SCORES complaint can help where a listed company or its RTA is not issuing the entitlement letter (see SEBI SCORES complaint). In January 2026 the IEPF Authority published draft amendments proposing faster handling of low-value claims; as on 31 October 2026 these were still proposals, so check iepf.gov.in before filing.

Old bank deposits are different: deposits not operated for ten years go to the RBI’s DEA Fund. Search on RBI’s UDGAM portal (udgam.rbi.org.in) and claim at the bank.

Frequently asked questions

How to claim shares from IEPF online?

Obtain an entitlement letter from the company or its registrar, then file the revised Form IEPF-5 on the MCA portal with OTP verification, bank details, a cancelled cheque and your demat account details. After the company verifies the claim, the IEPF Authority credits the shares to your demat account and refunds dividends to your bank.

Why were my shares transferred to IEPF?

Under section 124 of the Companies Act, 2013, shares move to the IEPF Authority when no dividend has been paid or claimed on them for seven consecutive years. Unclaimed dividends themselves move after seven years in the company’s Unpaid Dividend Account.

Can a legal heir claim shares from IEPF?

Yes. A legal heir or nominee can file Form IEPF-5 with the entitlement letter and the transmission documents the company requires, such as the death certificate, affidavit, indemnity and, depending on value, a succession certificate or legal heir certificate.

Will I get physical share certificates back from IEPF?

No. Shares are returned to the claimant’s demat account, so open or update a demat account before filing.

Quick quiz

For how to claim shares from IEPF with step-by-step formats, see Legal Rights of Investors (₹349), which teaches rights and remedies, not what to invest in. It gives a Lexfolio certificate of completion, not a professional qualification.

Sources

• Companies Act, 2013: ss.124, 125
• IEPF Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules, 2016, as amended by the IEPFA Amendment Rules, 2025 (revised Form IEPF-5 from 6 October 2025)
• RBI Depositor Education and Awareness Fund; UDGAM portal

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 31 October 2026.

Transmission of shares after death is the process by which a depository participant, company registrar or AMC moves a deceased investor’s holdings to the nominee, surviving joint holder or legal heirs. With a nominee, a transmission request form, the death certificate and the nominee’s demat details are usually enough. Without one, heirs prove entitlement with documents that depend on value; under SEBI’s revised framework in force from 23 August 2026, demat holdings up to ₹30 lakh qualify for simplified documents, and requests must be processed within 21 calendar days of complete documents.

Transmission is not succession

Families often mix up two separate questions. Transmission asks: to whom will the DP, company or AMC hand over the holdings? The nominee or surviving joint holder gets priority, and the institution is discharged once it transfers to them. Succession asks: who finally owns the holdings? That depends on the will, or if there is none, on the personal succession law. For Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, that is the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (s.8 for a male, ss.15 and 16 for a female); Muslims follow personal law; Christians and Parsis follow the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

The Supreme Court in Shakti Yezdani v. Jayanand Jayant Salgaonkar (14 December 2023) held that nomination under company and depository law does not override succession law. SEBI’s 2026 framework also treats the nominee as receiving the assets as trustee for the legal heirs. The same principle applies to bank deposits: see bank nomination vs legal heir.

Transmission of shares after death with a nominee

1. The nominee submits a transmission request form to the DP (for demat holdings) or the RTA or AMC (for physical shares or mutual fund folios).
2. Attach a verifiable death certificate (copies with a QR code are accepted), the client master list of the nominee’s own demat account, and the original share certificate or statement of account, as applicable.
3. The holdings move to the nominee’s account. Where there are several nominees without stated percentages, they share equally under SEBI’s 2026 nomination rules; if a nominee died before the investor and the nomination was not changed, that share goes to the surviving nominees in proportion.
4. The nominee then deals with the holdings according to the will or succession law. Other heirs can claim their share by agreement or, if needed, a civil suit.

Without a nominee: documents by value

For transmission of shares after death without a nominee, the claimants file a transmission request, the death certificate, their demat client master list and the certificate or statement, plus documents depending on value:

• Quick Transmission Processing (up to ₹10,000 physical or ₹30,000 demat): a request-cum-undertaking on plain paper and a document showing the claimant’s relationship to the deceased.
• Simplified documentation (up to ₹10 lakh physical per company, or ₹30 lakh demat): a notarised indemnity bond, plus either a notarised affidavit-cum-NOC from all legal heirs or a family settlement deed signed by all heirs and attested as the framework requires.
• Above those limits, any one of: an affidavit-cum-NOC from all heirs with a copy of the will and an indemnity; a legal heirship certificate from a revenue authority not below Tehsildar rank with an indemnity; or a succession certificate, letters of administration or a court decree. See legal heir certificate and succession certificate procedure.

Reported summaries also say the deceased’s PAN is no longer required at transmission. If an entity delays beyond 21 days or rejects the request, it must say so in writing; a SEBI SCORES complaint can follow (see SEBI SCORES complaint).

Joint holders, physical certificates and the IEPF

• Joint holdings: on one holder’s death, the holdings go to the surviving holder(s) on the death certificate. As with nominees, survivorship decides whom the institution deals with, not necessarily who owns the deceased’s share.
• Physical certificates: two steps, transmission into the heir’s name with the RTA, then dematerialisation through a DP. Listed shares in physical form cannot be sold until dematerialised.
• Shares already in the IEPF: if dividends went unclaimed for seven years, use Form IEPF-5 with the transmission documents. See how to claim shares from IEPF.

Example: Rahul’s mother, a widow in Jaipur, died without a will, holding shares and mutual funds worth ₹22 lakh with his elder brother Vikram as nominee. The DP and AMC correctly transmitted everything to Vikram, who then claimed it all. Under section 15 of the Hindu Succession Act, Rahul, Vikram and their sister share equally. After a legal notice, the siblings signed a family arrangement recording each share.

Frequently asked questions

What documents are needed for transmission of shares after death?

With a nominee: a transmission request form, the death certificate, the nominee’s demat client master list and the share certificate or statement. Without a nominee, heirs add documents by value: an undertaking for small holdings, an indemnity and affidavit-cum-NOC from all heirs up to ₹30 lakh in demat form, and a legal heir certificate, will or succession certificate above that.

Is a succession certificate required to transfer shares of a deceased person?

Not always. Under SEBI’s framework from 23 August 2026, demat holdings up to ₹30 lakh and physical holdings up to ₹10 lakh per company can be transmitted with simplified documents. Above those limits, a succession certificate is one of the accepted options, alongside a Tehsildar-level legal heirship certificate or a will with heirs’ NOC.

Does the nominee become the owner of shares after the holder’s death?

No. The nominee receives the shares but holds them for the legal heirs or the will’s beneficiaries, as the Supreme Court held in Shakti Yezdani v. Jayanand Jayant Salgaonkar (2023).

How long does transmission of shares take?

Under SEBI’s revised framework, the processing entity must complete transmission within 21 calendar days of receiving all required documents, and must explain any delay or rejection in writing.

Quick quiz

Transmission of shares after death and heirs’ rights are covered in Legal Rights of Investors (₹349), which teaches rights and remedies, not what to invest in. It gives a Lexfolio certificate of completion, not a professional qualification.

Sources

• SEBI revised framework for transmission of securities, July 2026 (effective 23 August 2026)
• SEBI circular on nomination for demat accounts and mutual fund folios, 29 May 2026
• Companies Act, 2013, ss.56, 72, 124
• Hindu Succession Act, 1956, ss.8, 15, 16; Indian Succession Act, 1925
• Shakti Yezdani v. Jayanand Jayant Salgaonkar (Supreme Court, 14 December 2023)

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 31 October 2026.

The TDS rules 2026 come from the Income-tax Act, 2025, in force from 1 April 2026: TDS on salary is in section 392, almost every other payment (rent, professional fees, contracts, property purchase, interest) is in one table in section 393, and TCS is in section 394. The key thresholds largely carried over: rent above ₹50,000 a month, professional fees above ₹50,000, property of ₹50 lakh or more at 1%, and bank interest above ₹50,000 a year (₹1 lakh for senior citizens). Salary TDS has no fixed threshold; the employer deducts at the average rate on your estimated income.

TDS rules 2026: what changed and what did not

TDS is not a separate tax: the payer deposits part of your payment against your PAN, and you claim credit in your return. The 2025 Act moved salary from section 192 to 392, folded sections 193 to 194T into rows of the section 393 table, and put TCS in section 394. Most rates and thresholds were carried over. See Income-tax Act 2025 key changes.

Forms changed too: Form 130 (was 16), 131 (16A), 168 (26AS), 121 (15G and 15H), 128 (13).

TDS rules 2026 for salary: section 392

Your employer estimates your income for the year and deducts tax monthly at the average rate, using the regime you indicate (the new regime if you say nothing) and, in the old regime, your rent receipts and investment proofs. If you change jobs, declare the previous salary: Deepak, who moved from Indore to Pune in October 2026 without doing so, got the lower slabs twice and owed tax with interest at the year end. Form 130 is issued by 15 June after the tax year. Choosing between the regimes is explained in our new vs old tax regime 2026-27 guide.

TDS rules 2026 for rent

A salaried tenant. Sunita, not a specified person, rents a Bengaluru flat for ₹65,000 a month, so she deducts 2% under the section 393 table. She should:

1. collect the landlord’s PAN and record it in the rent agreement;
2. deduct 2% at the time the current Form 141 instructions prescribe;
3. pay through Form 141 on the e-filing portal, quoting both PANs, without a TAN;
4. give the landlord the certificate.

A business tenant deducts 10% (land, building, furniture) or 2% (plant and machinery) above ₹50,000 a month. For a non-resident landlord, higher TDS applies; take a CA’s help.

TDS on professional fees, contracts and property

Professional fees. Imran, an architect in Ahmedabad, bills a private company ₹4,00,000. The company deducts 10% (₹40,000) because fees exceed ₹50,000, and pays him ₹3,60,000. Imran reports ₹4,00,000 as income and claims ₹40,000 as credit once it shows in Form 168. An individual client who is not a specified person deducts 2% only if payments for contract work and fees cross ₹50 lakh in the year.

Contractors. Rates and limits are in the table above. The Finance Act, 2026 clarified that supply of manpower is “work”, so contractor rates apply.

Buying property. For property of ₹50 lakh or more, the buyer deducts 1% of the higher of price or stamp duty value and pays through Form 141 within 30 days from the end of the month of deduction. Joint buyers test the threshold on the total price. For a non-resident seller, higher TDS applies; from 1 October 2026, the Finance Act, 2026 removed the TAN requirement for resident individual and HUF buyers in such cases. See NRI selling property in India: TDS and tax.

PAN, nil TDS and the deductor’s duties

• No valid PAN generally means TDS at a higher rate. Keep PAN linked with Aadhaar.
• Form 121: no-TDS declaration on interest where income is below the taxable limit (or a senior citizen’s tax is nil). A false declaration is an offence.
• Form 128: application for a lower or nil deduction certificate.
• Deductors deposit by the 7th of the next month (March by 30 April), file quarterly statements (Form 140 due 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May) and issue Form 131. Defaults bring interest, fees and disallowance of the expense.

For your own case, consult a chartered accountant.

Frequently asked questions

What are the TDS rules 2026 for rent?

Under the section 393 table of the Income-tax Act, 2025, an individual or HUF tenant who is not a specified person deducts 2% where rent exceeds ₹50,000 a month and pays it through Form 141 using PAN. Businesses and other specified persons deduct 10% on rent of land, building or furniture above ₹50,000 a month, and 2% on plant and machinery.

What is the TDS limit for professional fees in 2026?

A specified person deducts TDS at 10% on fees for professional services where the payment exceeds ₹50,000, under the section 393 table. Fees for technical services and some other cases are at 2%. Directors’ fees have no threshold.

Which section is TDS on salary under the new Income-tax Act?

Section 392 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, replacing old section 192. The employer deducts monthly at the average rate and issues Form 130 (old Form 16).

Is TDS on bank FD interest still ₹50,000?

Yes. Banks and post offices deduct TDS where interest exceeds ₹50,000 a year (₹1 lakh for senior citizens). If your income is below the taxable limit, submit Form 121.

Quick quiz

Learn the TDS rules 2026, returns, notices and GST: New Income-tax Act 2025 and GST Basics certificate course (a certificate of completion, not a professional qualification).

Sources

• Income-tax Act, 2025: s.392 (salary), s.393(1) and its Table (rent, professional fees, contracts, property, interest), s.394 (TCS)
• Income-tax Rules, 2026: Forms 121, 128, 130, 131, 138, 140, 141, 168
• Finance Act, 2026 (manpower supply as “work”; TAN relief for resident individual and HUF buyers from non-residents from 1 October 2026)

This page is for education and general information, not tax or legal advice for a specific case. Consult a chartered accountant for your own deductions. Law as on 31 October 2026.

The TDS rules 2026 come from the Income-tax Act, 2025, in force from 1 April 2026: TDS on salary is in section 392, almost every other payment (rent, professional fees, contracts, property purchase, interest) is in one table in section 393, and TCS is in section 394. The key thresholds largely carried over: rent above ₹50,000 a month, professional fees above ₹50,000, property of ₹50 lakh or more at 1%, and bank interest above ₹50,000 a year (₹1 lakh for senior citizens). Salary TDS has no fixed threshold; the employer deducts at the average rate on your estimated income.

TDS rules 2026: what changed and what did not

TDS is not a separate tax: the payer deposits part of your payment against your PAN, and you claim credit in your return. The 2025 Act moved salary from section 192 to 392, folded sections 193 to 194T into rows of the section 393 table, and put TCS in section 394. Most rates and thresholds were carried over. See Income-tax Act 2025 key changes.

Forms changed too: Form 130 (was 16), 131 (16A), 168 (26AS), 121 (15G and 15H), 128 (13).

TDS rules 2026 for salary: section 392

Your employer estimates your income for the year and deducts tax monthly at the average rate, using the regime you indicate (the new regime if you say nothing) and, in the old regime, your rent receipts and investment proofs. If you change jobs, declare the previous salary: Deepak, who moved from Indore to Pune in October 2026 without doing so, got the lower slabs twice and owed tax with interest at the year end. Form 130 is issued by 15 June after the tax year. Choosing between the regimes is explained in our new vs old tax regime 2026-27 guide.

TDS rules 2026 for rent

A salaried tenant. Sunita, not a specified person, rents a Bengaluru flat for ₹65,000 a month, so she deducts 2% under the section 393 table. She should:

1. collect the landlord’s PAN and record it in the rent agreement;
2. deduct 2% at the time the current Form 141 instructions prescribe;
3. pay through Form 141 on the e-filing portal, quoting both PANs, without a TAN;
4. give the landlord the certificate.

A business tenant deducts 10% (land, building, furniture) or 2% (plant and machinery) above ₹50,000 a month. For a non-resident landlord, higher TDS applies; take a CA’s help.

TDS on professional fees, contracts and property

Professional fees. Imran, an architect in Ahmedabad, bills a private company ₹4,00,000. The company deducts 10% (₹40,000) because fees exceed ₹50,000, and pays him ₹3,60,000. Imran reports ₹4,00,000 as income and claims ₹40,000 as credit once it shows in Form 168. An individual client who is not a specified person deducts 2% only if payments for contract work and fees cross ₹50 lakh in the year.

Contractors. Rates and limits are in the table above. The Finance Act, 2026 clarified that supply of manpower is “work”, so contractor rates apply.

Buying property. For property of ₹50 lakh or more, the buyer deducts 1% of the higher of price or stamp duty value and pays through Form 141 within 30 days from the end of the month of deduction. Joint buyers test the threshold on the total price. For a non-resident seller, higher TDS applies; from 1 October 2026, the Finance Act, 2026 removed the TAN requirement for resident individual and HUF buyers in such cases. See NRI selling property in India: TDS and tax.

PAN, nil TDS and the deductor’s duties

• No valid PAN generally means TDS at a higher rate. Keep PAN linked with Aadhaar.
• Form 121: no-TDS declaration on interest where income is below the taxable limit (or a senior citizen’s tax is nil). A false declaration is an offence.
• Form 128: application for a lower or nil deduction certificate.
• Deductors deposit by the 7th of the next month (March by 30 April), file quarterly statements (Form 140 due 31 July, 31 October, 31 January and 31 May) and issue Form 131. Defaults bring interest, fees and disallowance of the expense.

For your own case, consult a chartered accountant.

Frequently asked questions

What are the TDS rules 2026 for rent?

Under the section 393 table of the Income-tax Act, 2025, an individual or HUF tenant who is not a specified person deducts 2% where rent exceeds ₹50,000 a month and pays it through Form 141 using PAN. Businesses and other specified persons deduct 10% on rent of land, building or furniture above ₹50,000 a month, and 2% on plant and machinery.

What is the TDS limit for professional fees in 2026?

A specified person deducts TDS at 10% on fees for professional services where the payment exceeds ₹50,000, under the section 393 table. Fees for technical services and some other cases are at 2%. Directors’ fees have no threshold.

Which section is TDS on salary under the new Income-tax Act?

Section 392 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, replacing old section 192. The employer deducts monthly at the average rate and issues Form 130 (old Form 16).

Is TDS on bank FD interest still ₹50,000?

Yes. Banks and post offices deduct TDS where interest exceeds ₹50,000 a year (₹1 lakh for senior citizens). If your income is below the taxable limit, submit Form 121.

Quick quiz

Learn the TDS rules 2026, returns, notices and GST: New Income-tax Act 2025 and GST Basics certificate course (a certificate of completion, not a professional qualification).

Sources

• Income-tax Act, 2025: s.392 (salary), s.393(1) and its Table (rent, professional fees, contracts, property, interest), s.394 (TCS)
• Income-tax Rules, 2026: Forms 121, 128, 130, 131, 138, 140, 141, 168
• Finance Act, 2026 (manpower supply as “work”; TAN relief for resident individual and HUF buyers from non-residents from 1 October 2026)

This page is for education and general information, not tax or legal advice for a specific case. Consult a chartered accountant for your own deductions. Law as on 31 October 2026.

What is tax year in the new Income-tax Act? It is the 12-month period from 1 April to 31 March in which income is earned, defined in section 3 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, and it replaces the old pair of “previous year” and “assessment year” from 1 April 2026. Income earned from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 is income of tax year 2026-27, and its return will be filed in 2027. For a business or income source started during the year, the first tax year runs from the start date to the following 31 March.

What is tax year in the new Income-tax Act, in plain words

Under the Income-tax Act, 1961, one period had two names. Income earned from April 2025 to March 2026 belonged to “previous year 2025-26” and was assessed in “assessment year 2026-27”, and people constantly mixed the two up.

The Income-tax Act, 2025, in force from 1 April 2026, uses one label: the year in which you earn the income. You earn, report and are assessed for tax year 2026-27. Filing dates have not moved; only the name is new.

Knowing what is tax year in the new Income-tax Act is part of the wider Income-tax Act 2025 key changes, which also renumbered sections and forms.

Tax year vs assessment year vs financial year

The easy rule: the label is the year of earning, not the year after. In any document under the new Act, write “tax year 2026-27”, not “AY 2027-28”.

The first tax year for a new business or income source

Where a business or profession is set up, or a new source of income comes into existence, during a year, the first tax year begins on that date and ends on the following 31 March. After that, each tax year is the normal 1 April to 31 March.

Example: Farhan opens a mobile repair shop in Lucknow on 1 August 2026. His first tax year is 1 August 2026 to 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 his tax years follow the usual cycle. His salary from a job he held until July 2026 is still income of tax year 2026-27, reported in the same return.

What the tax year means for your ITR and other deadlines

1. Return due dates. For tax year 2026-27, returns are filed in 2027: 31 July for individuals without business income, 31 August for business and professional taxpayers whose accounts are not audited, and 31 October for audit cases, under section 263 as amended by the Finance Act, 2026.
2. Belated return. Up to nine months from the end of the tax year, that is 31 December, or before assessment is completed, whichever is earlier.
3. Revised return. Up to 12 months from the end of the tax year, with a fee if filed after the first nine months.
4. Updated return. Within 48 months from the end of the year following the tax year, with additional tax of 25% to 70%.
5. Advance tax. Paid during the tax year itself: 15% by 15 June, 45% by 15 September, 75% by 15 December and 100% by 15 March, where tax due is ₹10,000 or more.
6. TDS certificates. Your employer’s Form 130 and your Form 168 statement are issued tax year-wise.

Example: Shalini, a nurse in Indore, filed in July 2026 for “assessment year 2026-27” under the old Act, using Form 16. In July 2027 she will file for “tax year 2026-27” using Form 130. Same job, same timing, new label.

Tax year confusions to avoid

• Reading “tax year 2026-27” as the year of filing. It is the year of earning. Filing happens in 2027.
• Mixing old and new labels in one letter. A notice for an old year will use assessment year language and old section numbers. A reply should follow the notice’s own year and sections.
• Assuming new rates came with the label. Slabs were carried over; see new vs old tax regime 2026-27.

When in doubt about which year a payment or notice belongs to, ask a chartered accountant.

Frequently asked questions

What is tax year in new Income-tax Act?

Tax year is the financial year from 1 April to 31 March in which income is earned, under section 3 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. It replaces “previous year” and “assessment year” from 1 April 2026. Income earned from April 2026 to March 2027 is tax year 2026-27.

Tax year 2026-27 means which assessment year?

Under the old system, income of 2026-27 would have been assessment year 2027-28. Under the new Act it is simply tax year 2026-27, and the return is filed in 2027.

Which year should I select while filing ITR in 2027?

For income earned between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, select tax year 2026-27. Check the label on the e-filing portal carefully, because returns for older years still use assessment year language.

Has the ITR due date changed because of the tax year?

No, the tax year did not move the dates. Individuals without business income still file by 31 July. The Finance Act, 2026 separately gave non-audit business and professional taxpayers until 31 August.

Quick quiz

Now that you know what is tax year in the new Income-tax Act, learn the rest: New Income-tax Act 2025 and GST Basics certificate course (a certificate of completion, not a professional qualification).

Sources

• Income-tax Act, 2025: s.3 (tax year), s.263 (return of income: due dates, belated, revised and updated returns)
• Income-tax Act, 1961: “previous year” and “assessment year” (repealed from 1 April 2026, subject to saving provisions)
• Finance Act, 2026 (due date of 31 August for non-audit business taxpayers; revised return window)
• Income-tax Rules, 2026 (Form 130, Form 168)

This page is for education and general information, not tax or legal advice for a specific case. Consult a chartered accountant for your own return. Law as on 31 October 2026.

What is tax year in the new Income-tax Act? It is the 12-month period from 1 April to 31 March in which income is earned, defined in section 3 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, and it replaces the old pair of “previous year” and “assessment year” from 1 April 2026. Income earned from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 is income of tax year 2026-27, and its return will be filed in 2027. For a business or income source started during the year, the first tax year runs from the start date to the following 31 March.

What is tax year in the new Income-tax Act, in plain words

Under the Income-tax Act, 1961, one period had two names. Income earned from April 2025 to March 2026 belonged to “previous year 2025-26” and was assessed in “assessment year 2026-27”, and people constantly mixed the two up.

The Income-tax Act, 2025, in force from 1 April 2026, uses one label: the year in which you earn the income. You earn, report and are assessed for tax year 2026-27. Filing dates have not moved; only the name is new.

Knowing what is tax year in the new Income-tax Act is part of the wider Income-tax Act 2025 key changes, which also renumbered sections and forms.

Tax year vs assessment year vs financial year

The easy rule: the label is the year of earning, not the year after. In any document under the new Act, write “tax year 2026-27”, not “AY 2027-28”.

The first tax year for a new business or income source

Where a business or profession is set up, or a new source of income comes into existence, during a year, the first tax year begins on that date and ends on the following 31 March. After that, each tax year is the normal 1 April to 31 March.

Example: Farhan opens a mobile repair shop in Lucknow on 1 August 2026. His first tax year is 1 August 2026 to 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 his tax years follow the usual cycle. His salary from a job he held until July 2026 is still income of tax year 2026-27, reported in the same return.

What the tax year means for your ITR and other deadlines

1. Return due dates. For tax year 2026-27, returns are filed in 2027: 31 July for individuals without business income, 31 August for business and professional taxpayers whose accounts are not audited, and 31 October for audit cases, under section 263 as amended by the Finance Act, 2026.
2. Belated return. Up to nine months from the end of the tax year, that is 31 December, or before assessment is completed, whichever is earlier.
3. Revised return. Up to 12 months from the end of the tax year, with a fee if filed after the first nine months.
4. Updated return. Within 48 months from the end of the year following the tax year, with additional tax of 25% to 70%.
5. Advance tax. Paid during the tax year itself: 15% by 15 June, 45% by 15 September, 75% by 15 December and 100% by 15 March, where tax due is ₹10,000 or more.
6. TDS certificates. Your employer’s Form 130 and your Form 168 statement are issued tax year-wise.

Example: Shalini, a nurse in Indore, filed in July 2026 for “assessment year 2026-27” under the old Act, using Form 16. In July 2027 she will file for “tax year 2026-27” using Form 130. Same job, same timing, new label.

Tax year confusions to avoid

• Reading “tax year 2026-27” as the year of filing. It is the year of earning. Filing happens in 2027.
• Mixing old and new labels in one letter. A notice for an old year will use assessment year language and old section numbers. A reply should follow the notice’s own year and sections.
• Assuming new rates came with the label. Slabs were carried over; see new vs old tax regime 2026-27.

When in doubt about which year a payment or notice belongs to, ask a chartered accountant.

Frequently asked questions

What is tax year in new Income-tax Act?

Tax year is the financial year from 1 April to 31 March in which income is earned, under section 3 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. It replaces “previous year” and “assessment year” from 1 April 2026. Income earned from April 2026 to March 2027 is tax year 2026-27.

Tax year 2026-27 means which assessment year?

Under the old system, income of 2026-27 would have been assessment year 2027-28. Under the new Act it is simply tax year 2026-27, and the return is filed in 2027.

Which year should I select while filing ITR in 2027?

For income earned between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, select tax year 2026-27. Check the label on the e-filing portal carefully, because returns for older years still use assessment year language.

Has the ITR due date changed because of the tax year?

No, the tax year did not move the dates. Individuals without business income still file by 31 July. The Finance Act, 2026 separately gave non-audit business and professional taxpayers until 31 August.

Quick quiz

Now that you know what is tax year in the new Income-tax Act, learn the rest: New Income-tax Act 2025 and GST Basics certificate course (a certificate of completion, not a professional qualification).

Sources

• Income-tax Act, 2025: s.3 (tax year), s.263 (return of income: due dates, belated, revised and updated returns)
• Income-tax Act, 1961: “previous year” and “assessment year” (repealed from 1 April 2026, subject to saving provisions)
• Finance Act, 2026 (due date of 31 August for non-audit business taxpayers; revised return window)
• Income-tax Rules, 2026 (Form 130, Form 168)

This page is for education and general information, not tax or legal advice for a specific case. Consult a chartered accountant for your own return. Law as on 31 October 2026.

To file a SEBI SCORES complaint, first complain in writing to the broker, depository participant, mutual fund, company or other SEBI-regulated entity, then file on SCORES 2.0 (scores.sebi.gov.in or the SCORES app) within one year of the transaction or event. The entity must upload an Action Taken Report within 21 calendar days; if you are not satisfied, you can seek a first review within 15 days, and then a second review by SEBI. SCORES is free; for a disputed money claim, SEBI’s SMART ODR portal is usually the better route.

What a SEBI SCORES complaint can cover

SCORES (SEBI Complaints Redress System) handles complaints against listed companies, SEBI-registered intermediaries (stock brokers, depository participants, mutual funds and AMCs, registrars, investment advisers, research analysts, portfolio managers and others) and market infrastructure institutions. It works best for service failures:

• sale proceeds or unused funds not paid out by a broker;
• shares, bonus shares or mutual fund units not credited;
• dividend or redemption delayed;
• KYC, bank details or nomination not updated;
• IPO amount still blocked after allotment;
• statements or contract notes not sent.

SCORES will not take: complaints against unlisted or delisted companies (with limited exceptions), companies under IBC insolvency, struck off or liquidated; matters pending in a court, before a quasi-judicial body or in ODR; matters for other regulators such as banks (RBI) or insurers (IRDAI); and tips about market manipulation, which SEBI treats as intelligence, not a complaint.

How to file a SEBI SCORES complaint, step by step

1. Write to the entity first. Email its grievance ID with your client code, DP ID and client ID, folio or application number, the facts and the remedy you want. Keep the acknowledgement. Phone calls alone do not count.
2. Register on SCORES with your PAN and verify your mobile number and email.
3. Choose the entity and category carefully (for example, “Stock broker: non-receipt of funds”).
4. Write a short, dated statement and a precise request: “Refund ₹48,200 credit balance shown in ledger dated 5 October 2026.”
5. Upload proof: your complaint to the entity, its reply or proof of no reply, contract notes, ledger, statements.
6. Note the registration number and track the status on the portal or app.

SCORES timelines and how reviews work

If you do not ask for a review in time, the complaint closes. Read every ATR critically. Replies such as “resolved as per records” or “client informed” often do not give you what you asked for. Seek a review within 15 days and say exactly what is missing.

Example: Shabana, a pharmacist in Aurangabad, did not receive bonus shares. The registrar ignored her email for two weeks, so she filed on SCORES with the record date and her DP details. The ATR said “under process”. She sought a first review, pointing out that no date was given. The stock exchange, as Designated Body, took it up and the shares were credited.

SCORES or SMART ODR?

SCORES makes an entity answer on a clock and creates a record SEBI uses in supervision. It does not produce a binding money award. For a contested claim, such as unauthorised trades or a disputed loss, use SMART ODR (smartodr.in): online conciliation first, then online arbitration if needed. Registering is free, conciliation costs the investor nothing, and claims up to ₹1 lakh in arbitration are decided on documents.

• Filing on SMART ODR while a SCORES complaint on the same matter is pending treats the SCORES complaint as disposed of.
• Do not file the same dispute in SCORES, ODR and a consumer commission together; parallel cases get rejected.
• Against an unregistered “tips” seller or fake app, SCORES and ODR will not recover money. Go to 1930 and the police: see fake trading app fraud what to do.

Mutual fund selling complaints follow the same ladder: see mutual fund mis-selling complaint.

Frequently asked questions

How do I file a SEBI SCORES complaint against a broker?

Email the broker’s grievance ID first with your client code, facts and the remedy you want. If there is no satisfactory reply, register on scores.sebi.gov.in with your PAN, choose the broker and category, upload your complaint and proof, and note the registration number. The broker must file an Action Taken Report within 21 calendar days.

What is the time limit for a SCORES complaint?

A SCORES complaint should be filed within one year from the date of the transaction or event complained about, after first approaching the entity. Older matters may need a different forum.

Is there any fee for filing a complaint on SEBI SCORES?

No. SCORES is free. Registering a complaint on SMART ODR is also free, and conciliation costs are not charged to the investor; arbitration fees follow a published scale.

What can I do if I am not satisfied with the SCORES reply?

Ask for a first review within 15 calendar days of the entity’s Action Taken Report. The Designated Body reviews it and files a revised report within 10 days. If still unsatisfied, seek a second review by SEBI within 15 days, or move a money claim to SMART ODR.

Quick quiz

Model SEBI SCORES complaint formats and the full ladder are in Legal Rights of Investors (₹349). It teaches rights and remedies, not what to invest in, and gives a Lexfolio certificate of completion, not a professional qualification.

Sources

• SEBI circular on SCORES 2.0, 20 September 2023 (effective 1 April 2024)
• SEBI circular on Online Dispute Resolution in the securities market, 31 July 2023, as consolidated
• Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, s.34

This page is for education and general information, not legal advice for a specific case. Law as on 31 October 2026.