Money news · primary sources only

What changed, and what it costs you

Other sites tell you the repo rate moved. We tell you what it does to your EMI, in rupees, with the calculator already loaded.

TaxAffects some

Freelancers and small businesses: ITR-3 and ITR-4 are due 31 August

The non-audit deadline for self-employed professionals and anyone on the presumptive scheme is 31 August. After that it is a belated return with a fee.

What this means for youIf any part of your income this year came from freelancing, consulting, or your own small business, and nobody is auditing your accounts, your deadline is 31 August, not later. Filing after it costs 1,000 or 5,000 rupees depending on your income, plus 1 percent a month on unpaid tax, and you lose the right to carry losses forward.

26 Aug 2026Read →

Cards & LoansAffects some

Credit card interest gets slightly less punishing

Under revised RBI directions, unpaid fees, penalties and taxes can no longer be compounded into your finance charges. It reduces the cost of carrying a balance.

25 Aug 2026Read →

InvestingAffects some

The EPF Scheme 2026 caps mandatory contributions at 1,800 rupees a month

The new framework under the Code on Social Security took effect on 1 July. The 12 percent rate stays, but the mandatory base is capped.

24 Aug 2026Read →

Banking & SavingsAffects some

You can now pull EPF money out through UPI

Up to 75 percent of your balance is withdrawable via UPI or an ATM card, without the claim process that used to take weeks.

23 Aug 2026Read →

Banking & SavingsAffects everyone

One KYC across banks, brokers and insurers is being wired up

RBI, SEBI and IRDAI have agreed a framework to share KYC with your consent, using a mobile OTP. Done once, reusable everywhere.

22 Aug 2026Read →

TaxAffects some

Advance tax second instalment is due 15 September

If your tax for the year will exceed ₹10,000 after TDS, you owe 45 percent of it by 15 September. Interest runs from the day after.

20 Aug 2026Read →

Banking & SavingsAffects some

Small savings rates for October to December are set this month

The Finance Ministry resets PPF, Sukanya Samriddhi and NSC rates every quarter. The next notification lands at the end of September.

19 Aug 2026Read →

Cards & LoansAffects everyone

Festive sales are coming. Three things to check before you take a no-cost EMI

No-cost EMI is not free. The interest is usually moved into the price or charged upfront as a discount you forfeit, and GST applies to it either way.

18 Aug 2026Read →

Home & PropertyAffects everyone

RBI holds the repo rate at 5.25% for a third meeting

The Monetary Policy Committee kept its policy rate unchanged in August, leaving home loan EMIs and deposit rates roughly where they are.

8 Aug 2026Read →

Banking & SavingsAffects everyone

PPF stays at 7.1% as small savings rates hold for a ninth quarter

The Finance Ministry left every small savings rate unchanged for July to September 2026, with SCSS and Sukanya Samriddhi still the highest at 8.2%.

5 Aug 2026Read →

TaxAffects some

Missed the 31 July ITR deadline? Here is what a belated return costs

The filing deadline for non-audit taxpayers has passed. You can still file a belated return until 31 December, with a late fee and interest.

2 Aug 2026Read →

Cards & LoansAffects some

Why your card's minimum due is the most expensive number on the statement

Card issuers must disclose how long a balance takes to clear at the minimum payment. The arithmetic is worse than most cardholders expect.

28 Jul 2026Read →

Weekly roundups

Everything that changed in one place, published each week.

Week of 4 August 20263 items · 10 Aug 2026

We only cite primary documents: RBI circulars, Finance Ministry and CBDT notifications, IRDAI directions and exchange filings. Read our editorial code. This is financial education, not personalised advice.

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Weekly roundups