All guides
Everything published so far, newest first.
Latest guide
All guides, newest first
Is the RTO open on Saturday? Rules by state, and today's status
Maharashtra closes every Saturday, Delhi only the 2nd, Tamil Nadu and UP the 2nd and 4th. Sundays are closed everywhere. Check today and tomorrow for your state.
Provident FundHow to claim EPF and EPS after a member's death
Three benefits, three forms, and one surprise: a family's pension after a member's death does not need the 10 years a member's own pension does.
Income TaxForm 26AS vs Form 16: what each one actually shows, and why they need to match
Form 16 only knows about your salary. Form 26AS only knows about tax already credited. Neither one is the full picture anymore, that role has moved to AIS.
Provident FundHow is EPS pension actually calculated?
Pensionable salary times service, divided by 70. Salary is capped at 15,000 rupees a month for most members, so the pension is smaller than people expect.
Income TaxHow is gratuity calculated, and when are you eligible?
Fifteen days of wages per completed year, divided by 26, not 30. Five years to qualify, waived for death or disablement. Capped at 20 lakh rupees.
Provident FundHow much will your EPF actually be worth at retirement?
Your share, your employer's, and compounding interest. The last ten years usually add more than the first twenty, so withdrawing between jobs costs a lot.
Income TaxHow to file a revised ITR when you spot a mistake
A revised return replaces your original entirely. For AY 2026-27 the window runs to 31 March, though revising after 31 December carries a fee.
Income TaxNPS explained: tax benefits, withdrawal rules, and how it compares to EPF and PPF
NPS is the one big deduction that survives into the new tax regime, but only via the employer route. What you put in yourself only helps under the old regime.
Provident FundWhich reasons let you withdraw PF early, and how much?
Six recognised reasons, each with its own service rule and limit. A house needs five years and caps at 36 months of basic. Medical treatment needs none.
Provident FundCan NRIs withdraw EPF? The rules once you leave India
Moving abroad waives the usual two-month waiting period. It does not change where the money lands: an Indian bank account, not your account overseas.
Vehicle and RTOHow to renew your driving licence online
Renew within a year of expiry and it costs the same as renewing on time, with no test. Miss that year and you start over as a fresh applicant.
Vehicle and RTOHow to renew your vehicle's RC after 15 years
Private vehicle registration lasts 15 years, then 5 years at a time. Each renewal needs a physical fitness inspection, however much paperwork goes online.
Income TaxSection 80C explained: what actually saves you tax, and what doesn't
The 1.5 lakh limit is shared across everything and only applies under the old regime. Which instrument you pick inside it matters more than most people think.
Income TaxTDS vs TCS: what's the actual difference?
TDS comes out of money owed to you before it arrives. TCS is added on top of what you pay. They sit on opposite sides of a transaction.
Vehicle and RTOHow to transfer your vehicle to another state: NOC, re-registration and road tax refund
An NOC from your original RTO is valid for six months. Miss it and you start over. Road tax already paid is refundable, but the process varies by state.
Vehicle and RTOWhich documents do you actually need to carry for your vehicle?
RC, insurance, PUC and licence for everyone. Permit and fitness certificate only for commercial vehicles. DigiLocker copies count as originals.
Provident FundWhere does your EPF contribution actually go every month?
You pay 12 percent and so does your employer, but they don't land in the same place. Part of the employer's share goes to your pension before EPF sees it.
Income TaxAdvance tax due dates and Section 234C
15 June, 15 September, 15 December and 15 March, at 15, 45, 75 and 100 percent cumulatively. Who is exempt, and what a missed instalment costs.
Provident FundHow to file an EPF e-nomination online
The UAN portal process end to end, including the Aadhaar e-sign that decides whether it counts and the pension nomination people skip.
Income TaxWhat each income tax notice means
Sections 143(1), 139(9), 142(1), 143(2), 148 and 245, which are routine, which punish silence, and where to reply on the e-filing portal.
Income TaxITR late fee: is it 1,000 or 5,000 rupees
5,000 above 5 lakh income, 1,000 at or below it, nothing under the exemption limit. Plus the Section 234A interest and the belated return deadline.
Provident FundFive PPF mistakes that cost you money
The 5th of the month rule, the annual ceiling counted per person not per account, and the extension you have to ask for or lose.
Vehicle and RTOHow an RTO code is decided
Two letters for the state, two digits for the office. What the series letters mean, what a number plate cannot tell you, and why BH series differs.
Vehicle and RTOHow RTO charges for a new bike are calculated
The registration fee is 300 rupees nationwide. State road tax is nearly all the rest, verified so far for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and UP.
Income TaxCan a TDS return be filed without a DSC
Yes, an EVC works instead, but only once the principal contact has bank, demat or Aadhaar details on the portal. The full upload, step by step.
Vehicle and RTOCan vehicle registration be done online
Mostly your dealer already does it through Vahan. What you can do yourself, the one month Form 20 deadline, and what still needs you in person.
Income TaxWhich ITR form should I file
ITR-1 until something specific pushes you out of it. The income, asset and residency triggers that disqualify the simplest form, and what filing wrong costs.
Income TaxIs ITR filing mandatory for senior citizens
Yes, above the exemption limit. Section 194P exempts only residents aged 75 or above with pension and interest from one bank, and only from filing.
Vehicle and RTOWhen can you take the driving test after a learner licence?
The 30-day minimum wait, the 180-day expiry, and what happens after you pass, including why you can drive before the smart card reaches you.
Income TaxHow many days does a TDS refund take
Usually 20 to 45 working days after you e-verify. What each CPC Bengaluru status means, what slows a refund down, and when a delay is worth chasing.
Provident FundIs EPF withdrawal taxable? The five year rule
Tax free after five years of continuous service, and transfers count towards it. What is taxable before then, how TDS works, and the Form 121 change.
Provident FundEPFO portal not working? What each error means
Most EPFO failures are peak-hour load, not your device. What every common error message means, which fixes genuinely work, and when to simply wait.
Provident FundEPF interest not credited yet? How to check
Three ways to see whether your EPF interest has landed: the passbook, a missed call and an SMS. Why EPFO credits in batches, and who is paid last.
Income TaxCan UPI transfers trigger a tax notice
UPI and bank transfers do not trigger notices by themselves. What the department actually compares, which transactions get flagged, and who stays safe.
Provident FundHow to claim an inoperative EPF account
Why an old account stops earning, the three reasons a balance goes untraceable, and how to transfer or withdraw it without a working UAN.