Skip to main content
Income Tax Law

Income-tax Act, 2025 — Full Study Guide Hub

Complete Act-Rule-Form-Schedule navigation

Sections 1-536 · Rules 1-333 · Forms 1-190 · Schedules I-XVI · Professional workflows

The complete Income-tax Act, 2025 series: all 23 chapters and the Schedules — bare provisions first, then a plain-language decode, worked examples, exceptions and professional/exam-oriented cases for every section, reviewed for Tax Year 2026-27 (the first year the new Act applies from 1 April 2026).

Chapters I–XXIII (Sections, decoded section by section)

Chapter I - Preliminary, Definitions & Rules

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter I explained: sections 1-3, all 112 definitions, Rules 1-7, Finance Act 2026 change…

Chapter II — Basis of Charge

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter II explained: sections 4-10, residence, scope, deemed accrual, SEP, indirect trans…

Chapter III - Exempt Income

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter III explained: Sections 11-12, Schedules II-VIII, Rules 277-289, old Act mapping, …

Chapter IV - Computation of Total Income

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter IV explained: Sections 13-95, Schedules IX-XIV, related Rules, old Act mapping, ex…

Chapter V - Clubbing of Income

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter V explained: Sections 96-100, clubbing of spouse and minor income, revocable trans…

Chapter VI - Aggregation of Income

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter VI explained: Sections 101-107, unexplained credits, investments, assets, expendit…

Chapter VII - Set Off and Carry Forward of Losses

Full Chapter VII bare text, Rule 60, Form 29, simple explanations, examples, old Act comparison, case studies …

Chapter VIII - Deductions from Gross Total Income

Full Chapter VIII bare text, Schedule XV, Rules 61-72, simple explanations, examples, old Act comparison, case…

Chapter IX - Rebates and Reliefs

Chapter IX of the Income-tax Act, 2025: sections 155 to 160, Rules 73 to 76, Forms 39 to 45, rebate, salary ar…

Chapter X - Special Provisions Relating to Avoidance of Tax

Chapter X of the Income-tax Act, 2025: sections 161 to 177 and connected Rules 77 to 126, transfer pricing, AP…

Chapter XI - General Anti-Avoidance Rule

Chapter XI of the Income-tax Act, 2025: sections 178 to 184, Rules 127 to 132, Forms 62 to 64 and connected se…

Chapter XII - Mode of Payment in Certain Cases

Chapter XII of the Income-tax Act, 2025: sections 185 to 189, Rules 48 and 133, penalties, tax-audit controls …

Chapter XIII - Determination of Tax in Special Cases

Income-tax Act, 2025 study guide: Chapter XIII - Determination of Tax in Special Cases — bare provisions, curr…

Chapter XIV - Tax Administration

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter XIV, sections 236-261, connected Rules, Forms, examples, Q&A and checklists.

Chapter XV - Return of Income

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter XV, sections 262-267, connected Rules, Forms, examples, Q&A and checklists.

Chapter XVI - Procedure for Assessment

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter XVI, sections 268-301, connected Rules, Forms, examples, Q&A and checklists.

Chapter XVII - Special Provisions Relating to Certain Persons

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter XVII, sections 302-355, connected Rules, Forms, examples, Q&A and checklists.

Chapter XVIII - Appeals, Revisions and Alternate Dispute Resolutions

Income-tax Act 2025 Chapter XVIII, sections 356-389, connected Rules, Forms, examples, Q&A and checklists.

Chapter XIX - Collection and Recovery of Tax

Income-tax Act, 2025 study guide: Chapter XIX - Collection and Recovery of Tax — bare provisions, current rule…

Chapter XX - Refunds

Income-tax Act, 2025 study guide: Chapter XX - Refunds — bare provisions, current rules, plain-language decode…

Chapter XXI - Penalties

Income-tax Act, 2025 study guide: Chapter XXI - Penalties — bare provisions, current rules, plain-language dec…

Chapter XXII - Offences and Prosecution

Income-tax Act, 2025 study guide: Chapter XXII - Offences and Prosecution — bare provisions, current rules, pl…

Chapter XXIII - Miscellaneous

Income-tax Act, 2025 study guide: Chapter XXIII - Miscellaneous — bare provisions, current rules, plain-langua…

How to Use This Series

  • Start with the chapter covering your question, then check whether a connected Rule or Schedule changes the computation or compliance step
  • Where a section maps to an old Income-tax Act, 1961 provision, cross-check the practical "what changed" articles on this site before relying on the new section number alone
  • Always confirm the applicable Tax Year — most of this Act applies from Tax Year 2026-27 (FY 2026-27), but transition and pending-case provisions can still reference 1961 Act timelines
  • Use the Schedules for rate, format and threshold tables rather than re-deriving them from the chapter text alone
  • Treat this as an educational and professional reference — the notified text, CBDT rules and entity facts control the final legal/tax conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Income-tax Act, 2025 already in force?
Yes, it has received assent and most provisions take effect for Tax Year 2026-27 (financial year 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027) onward — the Act discontinues the separate Assessment Year concept, so this income is assessed within Tax Year 2026-27 itself, not a following AY, replacing the Income-tax Act, 1961. Always check the specific commencement/effective date for a provision before relying on it for an earlier period.
Is this the bare Act or a summary?
Both. Each guide places the operative section text first, then a simple-language decode and a practical example, so you can verify against the bare provision and still get the plain-English meaning in the same place.
Who is this series for?
Chartered accountants, tax consultants, finance and compliance teams, and taxpayers who need section-by-section depth rather than a short practical checklist.

Talk to a Professional

Need help applying a specific section to your tax position?
Book a verified Chartered Accountant or tax consultant.
Find a Professional →

Practical Transition Guides: Who Is Affected and How

Segment-specific guides on how the Income Tax Act 2025 changes obligations for different taxpayer categories — effective Tax Year 2026-27.

Income Tax Act 2025: Key Changes Overview

Top structural and procedural changes — what every taxpayer should know before filing in 2026-27

What Ordinary Taxpayers Must Know from 1 April 2026

Practical impact of the new Act on salaried individuals, senior citizens and small investors

The Compliance Reset Every Indian Taxpayer Should Understand

Why the 2025 Act changes default filing, disclosure and record-keeping obligations

First-Time ITR Filers: Tax Year 2026-27 Checklist

Step-by-step checklist for first-time filing under the new Act

Professionals Using Section 44ADA Under the New Act

Presumptive taxation for professionals — income threshold, eligible categories and new rules

Small Business Presumptive Taxation Under the New Act

Section 44AD under ITA 2025 — eligibility, deemed profit percentage and opting out

Consultants and Business Expenses Under the New Act

Deductible expenses, disallowances and documentation requirements for consultants

Freelancers with Foreign Clients Under the New Act

Foreign remittance income, FEMA compliance, TDS and ITR filing under the 2025 Act

Rental Property Owners Under the New Act

House property income, standard deduction, pre-construction interest and TDS deduction

Senior Citizens: Pension and Interest Income Under the New Act

Special provisions for senior citizens — exemptions, higher thresholds and TDS relief

Startup Founders and ESOPs Under the New Act

ESOP taxation timeline, startup exemptions and deferred tax treatment under ITA 2025

LLP Partners Under the New Act

Partner remuneration, interest on capital, profit share treatment and compliance obligations

New on Finin2min

106 new explainers added to this topic

A curated selection is shown below; the full set is searchable from Insights.

Income Tax
Belated ITR AY 2026-27 Last Date: Rules, Fee and Loss Impact
Income Tax
Capital Loss Carry-Forward After Late ITR: What Is Lost?
Income Tax
Section 80GG vs HRA: Which Rent Benefit Applies?
Income Tax
Section 80EE: First-Time Home-Buyer Deduction
Income Tax
Additional NPS Deduction: ₹50,000 Limit and NPS Vatsalya
Income Tax
Dependent Disability Deduction: Section 127 Guide
Income Tax
Section 80C in FY 2026-27: Now Section 123
Income Tax
Minimum Income Needed to Claim Tax Deductions
Income Tax
Tax on Gratuity Above the Exemption Limit
Income Tax
Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Rate India 2026: 12.5% Rules
Income Tax
Property LTCG Indexation: 12.5% vs 20% Comparison
Income Tax
Section 54 Property Reinvestment: Timelines, CGAS and ₹10 Crore Cap
Income Tax
Fair Market Value vs Cost Price for Property Tax
Income Tax
Goodwill Tax on Business Sale: Cost, Gain and No Depreciation
Income Tax
Section 44AD Eligibility Checklist: Who Can and Cannot Opt
Income Tax
Section 44AD Advance Tax: Why 15 March Matters
Income Tax
Tax Audit Limit for Business: ₹1 Crore vs ₹10 Crore
Income Tax
Slump Sale Tax: FMV, Net Worth and Accountant Report
Income Tax
Block of Assets Depreciation: WDV, Additions and Sale
Income Tax
Bad Debt Deduction: Write-Off, Income Recognition and Recovery
Income Tax
Self-Assessment Tax Before ITR: Tax, Interest and Challan Matching
Income Tax
Form 15H Becomes Form 121 for Tax Year 2026-27
Income Tax
Freelancer ITR AY 2026-27: ITR-3 or ITR-4?
Income Tax
Revised Return for AY 2026-27: 31 March Deadline and Fee
Phase 2 subordinate-law repositories

Rules 1–333 and Forms 1–190

The complete control registers distinguish local text, official-title records, source-gated records, prescribed Forms and dynamic portal availability.

Open Rules repository   ·   Open Forms repository