logo
ITR filing extension, faster UPI refunds for failed transactions get thumbs up

ITR filing extension, faster UPI refunds for failed transactions get thumbs up

Time of Indiaa day ago
Bhubaneswar: As new banking regulations came into force from today, people greeted it with mixed response. Many appreciated the extension of income tax return (ITR) filing deadline for salaried individuals to Sept 15.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
"This is indeed a huge relief for us. We will now get more time to file our ITR," said Akash Jena, a corporate employee.
Additionally, the new rules facilitating quicker refunds for failed UPI transactions have been positively received. "I lost a lot of money in the past due to failed UPI transactions. I hope now things will get simplified," said Nayam Mishra, a businessman.
However, not all changes were appreciated. The decision by some banks to remove complimentary insurance for air crashes has sparked criticism.
Frequent flyer Chittaranjan Mohanty condemned the move, calling it "illogical".
"The move by the banks to omit complimentary insurance comes in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. Banks might have realised now that air crashes are not rare and they might have to pay large sums of money as insurance," Mohanty said.
Further discontent arose with banks imposing extra charges on large credit card payments.
"We keep credit cards to manage our expenses whenever needed. But now I am afraid to keep it," said Namita Rath, a restaurant owner.
Economists, in the meantime, have praised the govt's decision to make Aadhaar mandatory for obtaining PAN cards. Economics professor Bidyadhar Mohanty described it as a "clever move" that would enhance transparency and help catch tax evaders.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Filing Income Tax Return? One Wrong Move Could Cost You Rs 1.5 Lakh
Filing Income Tax Return? One Wrong Move Could Cost You Rs 1.5 Lakh

NDTV

time42 minutes ago

  • NDTV

Filing Income Tax Return? One Wrong Move Could Cost You Rs 1.5 Lakh

As the income tax filing season approaches, financial experts are warning taxpayers to exercise caution while submitting their returns. Even minor errors in filing can result in hefty penalties, delayed refunds, and notices from the Income Tax Department. One of the most common mistakes taxpayers make is selecting the wrong Income Tax Return (ITR) form. Each form is meant for specific income categories. For instance, ITR-1 (Sahaj) is suitable for salaried individuals earning up to Rs 50 lakh, while ITR-2 is for those with capital gains, multiple properties, or foreign assets. Business owners must opt for ITR-3, and those under presumptive taxation should file ITR-4 (Sugam). Filing with an incorrect form may be treated as a 'Defective Return' and must be rectified within 15 days to avoid invalidation. Failure to verify Form 26AS and the Annual Information Statement (AIS) before filing may result in refund delays or excess tax payments. Salaried individuals should ensure they have Form 16, along with documents related to home loans, capital gains, and dividend income. E-verification is another crucial step. Returns must be verified within 30 days via Aadhaar OTP, net banking, or Demat account. Alternatively, a signed ITR-V must be sent to the CPC office in Bengaluru. Without verification, the filing is considered incomplete. Late filing attracts a penalty of Rs 5,000 for incomes above Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1,000 for incomes below that. Inaccurate information may lead to a 50% penalty on tax dues and up to 200% for wilful misreporting. Businesses failing to maintain books or submit audit reports on time can face fines up to Rs 1.5 lakh. Taxpayers are advised to file early, double-check their details, and choose the correct regime to avoid unnecessary legal and financial trouble.

Indian OTT platforms continue to expand, but on smaller scale with low risk
Indian OTT platforms continue to expand, but on smaller scale with low risk

Business Standard

timean hour ago

  • Business Standard

Indian OTT platforms continue to expand, but on smaller scale with low risk

Indian media and entertainment companies continue to rely on their streaming segments, but at a cautious pace—focusing on profitability and limiting financial risk. Major players with pan-India audiences, such as Zee Entertainment Enterprises' (ZEEL) ZEE5 and Balaji Telefilms-backed ALTT, have reduced operational costs over the years and rebranded their over-the-top (OTT) platforms. While the OTT industry broadly aims to cut costs, media analysts and executives note that this trend is more prominent among platforms launched by Indian companies, which cannot match the spending capacity of global giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The only notable exception is Reliance Industries-backed JioHotstar. 'OTT platforms have been present in India for the last 10 to 15 years… Even the most lenient investors would like to see some return right now,' said a media analyst, on the condition of anonymity. In FY25, ZEE5 recorded an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) loss of Rs 550 crore, down from Rs 1,110 crore in FY24. This reduction was largely achieved through cost-cutting measures. In an investor presentation, ZEEL stated it aims to break even on ZEE5 from an EBITDA loss of Rs 548 crore (excluding network costs) in FY25, and is now positioned to become a leading and profitable OTT player, having completed its recent investment cycle. ALTT, meanwhile, has consciously scaled down operations, said Sanjay Dwivedi, group chief executive officer and chief financial officer, Balaji Telefilms. The company was burning Rs 145 crore annually to sustain the segment, which was unsustainable. 'As a result, we cut down on cost and reworked our strategy. We want to be Thums Up to Coke... Netflix and Prime Video will exist, and we will exist in a smaller way—we don't want to burn cash,' he said. According to Vivek Menon, managing partner at NV Capital, a media and entertainment fund, this shift is more visible among pan-India streaming platforms—particularly those buying content from Bollywood and the Tamil and Telugu markets, where content costs are higher. He added that OTT adoption only truly accelerated post-COVID, so the business is still in cash burn mode to build a subscriber base and requires a long, patient approach. 'It is a tough game right now for Indian players because the industry is still in the growth stage. The audience has enough free alternatives to consume content. Also, a streaming platform needs massive pockets to succeed,' the analyst said. Shemaroo Entertainment's Gujarati-focused platform ShemarooMe is 'on the road to profitability and viability,' according to Saurabh Srivastava, chief operating officer, digital business, Shemaroo Entertainment. Srivastava noted that the company saw high double-digit revenue growth in Q1 FY26, and will continue investing in its streaming platform. He said the industry is learning to rationalise operational costs and push for higher returns on investment. The subscriber base also grew by a high double-digit percentage year-on-year in Q1 FY26. Meanwhile, Hoichoi—a subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) platform focused on Bengali-language content—achieved cash breakeven in FY24. The platform currently hosts close to 200 original web series. 'As a production house creating Bengali films and TV for 30 years, transitioning to web content was a natural evolution,' said Vishnu Mohta, co-founder, Hoichoi. 'We focused deeply on one language—Bengali—and on serving that audience consistently. Over 60 per cent of our total expenses go into content creation. That's intentional. Unlike many platforms that spend heavily on marketing even when unit economics don't work, we've always aimed to keep marketing spends below 30 per cent of direct revenue.' He added that this approach—combined with strong intellectual property (IP) creation and organic subscriber growth—has kept the company profitable over the last few years and cash-flow positive for the past couple. Just as Balaji Telefilms expects its digital business to grow, Mohta noted that Hoichoi is considered a core business for its parent company. Media executives and analysts broadly agree that the OTT industry continues to grow, with each platform finding its niche. With several sub-segments still underserved, there is ample room for differentiated growth. 'Moving forward, it looks like most networks have a grasp on how the OTT model works and how one can monetise through subscriptions and advertising. The fact that ZEE5 is completely rebranding itself shows that investment in the sector will continue,' Menon said.

India's Digital Identity Adoption Surges Amid Rising Trust, AI Integration: Report
India's Digital Identity Adoption Surges Amid Rising Trust, AI Integration: Report

India.com

time2 hours ago

  • India.com

India's Digital Identity Adoption Surges Amid Rising Trust, AI Integration: Report

New Delhi: As India's digital ecosystem expands at an unprecedented pace, Indian consumers are rapidly embracing new-age identity technologies while balancing convenience with security concerns, a new report said on Wednesday. The data compiled by Okta highlights that more than 30% of Indian users log into ten or more personal online accounts every month -- showcasing the country's accelerating digital footprint. Amid this growth, Indian consumers are also displaying a greater readiness to adopt biometrics and AI-driven services compared to global peers. Despite the growing array of authentication methods, passwords remain the most convenient option for 82% of Indians. However, biometrics are steadily gaining traction, with 55% using fingerprint authentication and 35% relying on Face ID for smoother logins. 'Despite the new options, 82% of Indians still find passwords to be the most convenient way to verify their identity,' the report said. 'More than half of the population (54%) find it convenient to use a government ID like Aadhaar for verification purposes, followed by SMS/voice calls (44%)," it added. Security perceptions remain high for passwords (79%), SMS authentication (74%), and fingerprints. However, risky practices persist -- 1 in 5 Indians reuse the same password across all personal accounts. India's growing trust in digital platforms is also noteworthy. As many as 67% of Indian respondents trust businesses to protect their data, well above the global average of 50%. This trust extends to key sectors -- banks (79%), tech firms (73%), government agencies (70%), and online retailers (69%). However, digital vigilance is rising too, with 81% of Indians expressing concern about identity fraud -- significantly higher than the global average of 63%. The report, based on a global survey of 6,750 consumers (including 750 from India), also found that Indians are more open to engaging with enterprise AI agents. While 65% appreciate the speed and 24/7 support of AI, as many as 76% still prefer human interaction. Interestingly, 64% of Indians are willing to share health data with AI agents, compared to 32% globally, and 49% are comfortable sharing financial data, compared to 27% globally. 'AI is no longer a future concept -- it is embedded in the way we live, work, and connect,' said Shakeel Khan, Regional Vice President and Country Manager, Okta India. Ben Goodman, SVP & GM, Asia Pacific & Japan at Okta, added, 'In Asia Pacific, trust has become the true currency of digital engagement. From logins to AI agents, consumers want experiences that are seamless, secure, and respectful of their data.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store