Blog
63 articles on GST, tax, payroll, UPI and growing a small business in India. Trending pieces track new rules; guides are the ones people search for every day.
Bank unions have called a three-day nationwide strike from Monday 28 September; with the fourth Saturday and Sunday before it, branches may be effectively shut for five days. What works, what doesn't, and the payroll, cheque and cash moves to make by Friday 25th.
The Cabinet raised the mandatory EPF coverage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 effective 17 September 2026 — the first revision in 12 years, adding about 51 lakh workers. Here is exactly what employers must do this payroll cycle and what employees will see on their slips.
Provident fund is finally behaving like a bank account. A rundown of the EPFO changes rolled out through 2025–26 — instant claims up to ₹5 lakh, UPI/ATM withdrawals, self-service profile fixes — and the employer duties that changed with them.
Sections 269ST, 40A(3), 269SS/269T, 194N and the AIS reporting thresholds explained with examples — what you can accept in cash, what you can pay in cash, the 100% penalty, and how cash sales trigger notices.
What to do the day a customer's cheque is dishonoured — the exact timeline under the Negotiable Instruments Act, the demand notice format, filing the complaint, interim compensation, the 2-year jail / double-amount penalty, and how to avoid the problem with better payment terms.
How the composition scheme works after GST 2.0 — turnover limits, rates by business type, the no-ITC and no-inter-state rules, CMP-08 and GSTR-4 filing, the bill of supply format, and a break-even comparison against regular GST.
MRP already includes GST, so you divide — you don't multiply. The exact formula, worked examples at 5%, 18% and 40%, how to split CGST/SGST, how retailers show tax on an MRP bill, and the common mistake that overstates tax by 18%.
Who must register, the ₹40 lakh / ₹20 lakh thresholds, the exact documents for a proprietor, partnership or company, the two-part REG-01 form, Aadhaar authentication, the 3–7 day timeline, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Three ways to get a UPI QR code (your bank app, a payment app, or generate one yourself), how the upi:// format works, static vs dynamic QR with amount, print sizes, and how to check your code before printing 100 copies.
Sections 269ST, 40A(3), 269SS/269T, 194N and the AIS reporting thresholds explained with examples — what you can accept in cash, what you can pay in cash, the 100% penalty, and how cash sales trigger notices.
What to do the day a customer's cheque is dishonoured — the exact timeline under the Negotiable Instruments Act, the demand notice format, filing the complaint, interim compensation, the 2-year jail / double-amount penalty, and how to avoid the problem with better payment terms.
How the composition scheme works after GST 2.0 — turnover limits, rates by business type, the no-ITC and no-inter-state rules, CMP-08 and GSTR-4 filing, the bill of supply format, and a break-even comparison against regular GST.
MRP already includes GST, so you divide — you don't multiply. The exact formula, worked examples at 5%, 18% and 40%, how to split CGST/SGST, how retailers show tax on an MRP bill, and the common mistake that overstates tax by 18%.
Who must register, the ₹40 lakh / ₹20 lakh thresholds, the exact documents for a proprietor, partnership or company, the two-part REG-01 form, Aadhaar authentication, the 3–7 day timeline, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Three ways to get a UPI QR code (your bank app, a payment app, or generate one yourself), how the upi:// format works, static vs dynamic QR with amount, print sizes, and how to check your code before printing 100 copies.
From idea to first invoice — choosing a structure, PAN/TAN, Udyam, GST, Shop Act, bank account, licences by trade, trademark, pricing, payments, invoicing and the compliance calendar. Realistic timelines and what each step costs.
What each character of a GSTIN means, how to check any GST number on the portal in 30 seconds, why the check digit matters, what a 'suspended' or 'cancelled' status means for your ITC, and how fake GSTINs on invoices are caught.
The four documents every business handles, explained with GST context — which one records a sale, which proves payment, which is a price offer, and which is a 'bill of supply'. With a decision table and the mandatory contents of each.
The government-backed loans small businesses can actually get — how much, at what interest, with what collateral (mostly none), who qualifies, where to apply, and the documents that get you approved faster.
The structure of a professional quotation — scope, itemised prices, GST treatment, validity, payment terms, exclusions and acceptance — with examples for contractors, agencies and traders, and the wording that prevents disputes later.
Basic, HRA, DA, special allowance, PF, ESI, professional tax, TDS — what each line on an Indian payslip means, which are taxable, what the Code on Wages requires employers to print, and why lenders and visas ask for slips.
The Shops & Establishments registration required by every state for shops, offices, restaurants and even home-run businesses — documents, the online process in Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, UP, Telangana, fees, validity, and what inspectors check.
₹4,500 government fee for individuals and MSMEs, how to pick classes, the free public search, TM vs ®, examination objections and how to reply, opposition, and why registering your brand early saves a forced rebrand.
The decision table for AY 2026-27 — who files ITR-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, what disqualifies you from the simple forms, presumptive schemes and ITR-4, capital gains and ITR-2/3, due dates, audit thresholds, and the documents to keep ready.
Bank unions have called a three-day nationwide strike from Monday 28 September; with the fourth Saturday and Sunday before it, branches may be effectively shut for five days. What works, what doesn't, and the payroll, cheque and cash moves to make by Friday 25th.
The Cabinet raised the mandatory EPF coverage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 effective 17 September 2026 — the first revision in 12 years, adding about 51 lakh workers. Here is exactly what employers must do this payroll cycle and what employees will see on their slips.
Provident fund is finally behaving like a bank account. A rundown of the EPFO changes rolled out through 2025–26 — instant claims up to ₹5 lakh, UPI/ATM withdrawals, self-service profile fixes — and the employer duties that changed with them.
Navratri starts 11 October, Dhanteras is 6 November, Diwali 8 November. iPhone 18 queues and record two-wheeler dispatches say demand is strong. A week-by-week plan covering stock, staff, UPI MDR from 15 October, marketplace deadlines, offers, GST and cash flow.
FSSAI has begun adjudication against Nestlé India over infant-food labelling and claims. The same rules apply to a home bakery or a namkeen brand. Here is the ₹12 lakh registration line, the 11 mandatory label elements, health-claim rules, and the penalties.
The Finance Minister has said the October meeting will focus on process reforms, not rate changes. Phone makers want 18% cut to 5%, the UPI-MDR GST question is settled, GCC exporters want relief. A realistic preview for traders, service providers and sellers.
A ₹9 lakh CTC becomes about ₹62,000 a month in hand. This guide walks through every line — basic, HRA, PF, professional tax, gratuity, TDS — and shows how the 2025 Labour Code wage rule changed the maths.
Since 21 November 2025, the Wage, Social Security, Industrial Relations and OSH codes apply nationwide. Wage definition, gratuity for fixed-term staff, overtime, women on night shifts, appointment letters — here is what a 5–50 person business must actually do.
The Third Amendment to the TCCCPR (September 2026) brings robocalls and AI voice calls under regulation, lets three complaints in ten days trigger action, limits post-enquiry follow-ups to seven days, and forces caller-ID apps to share spam reports. A compliance guide for shops, clinics, agencies and real-estate sellers.
From 15 October 2026, merchants pay 0.4% on UPI payments above ₹2,000 (flat ₹5 for fuel, railways and telecom). Small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh a month stay free. Who pays, what it really costs, and five moves to make before your first settlement report shows a deduction.
The 15 September circular fixed the details — 0.4% on person-to-merchant payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300, zero for merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh a month, flat ₹5 for fuel, railways and telecom, 18% GST with input credit. Plus: petrol pumps threatening to refuse UPI, and what the government says about pass-through.
Higher per-transaction caps for insurance, education and tax, delegated payments via UPI Circle, ₹1,000 offline payments with UPI Lite, and biometric authentication. A merchant-focused rundown of the changes that arrived through 2025–26.
The 17 September release fixes 11 flaws including 'Click2Shell', where a single link opened by a logged-in admin silently installs a theme and can chain to full server takeover. If your shop, clinic or agency runs on WordPress, here is what to do this week — and how to spot the ClickFix scams doing the rounds.
The 22 September 2025 overhaul collapsed four GST slabs into two (5% and 18%) with a 40% rate for sin goods. Here is what moved, what stayed, and the five things to fix in your billing this week.
A single reference for monthly, QRMP and composition filers — with the state-wise 22nd/24th split for quarterly 3B, late fees and interest, and the annual return dates for FY 2025-26.
Past the hype: which AI tools save a kirana owner, salon or freelancer real hours today — product photos, catalogue text, bookkeeping from bill photos, WhatsApp replies — and which ones are still expensive toys.
What HSN/SAC codes are, the 4/6/8-digit rules by turnover, how to read a code, where to look them up after GST 2.0, and the penalty for mistakes — with the most common codes for retail and services.
What a valid tax invoice must contain under Rule 46, when to use a bill of supply instead, how CGST/SGST vs IGST is decided, numbering rules, and the mistakes that get ITC denied.
The 1961 Act has been replaced from 1 April 2026. Tax rates did not change, but the vocabulary, section numbers and a few compliance details did. A practical walkthrough.
The complete small-business TDS table — contractors, professional fees, rent, commission, interest, purchase of goods — with the thresholds raised in 2025, deposit and return due dates, interest on delays, and the 20% no-PAN rule.
Slabs, standard deduction, rebate, and the exact deduction level at which the old regime starts winning — for ₹8 lakh to ₹50 lakh incomes. Plus the switching rules for salaried and business taxpayers.
Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart now deliver in 10 minutes in 100+ cities. Kirana stores that survive are doing five specific things — and three of them cost nothing. A playbook with numbers.
The complete tax stack for a designer, developer, writer or consultant — how presumptive taxation halves your taxable income, when GST registration becomes compulsory, how to bill foreign clients without GST, quarterly advance tax, and the TDS your clients deduct.
How to count your last working day, when leave can be adjusted against notice, what buyout costs, what goes into F&F (and the TDS on it), the 2-day rule under the Wage Code, and what to do if the employer delays.
Who gets gratuity, the 15/26 formula with examples, the 4 years 240 days question, the ₹20 lakh tax-free cap, when employers must pay, and what changed under the Social Security Code.
Fake 'GST officer' calls, forged DRC-01 notices with QR codes, portal phishing and Udyam 'renewal' fees have hit record levels. How each scam works, how to verify any notice in two minutes, and how to lock down your accounts.
Referral commission, closing fee, shipping by weight slab, payment fee, returns and GST — how they compound, why a ₹300 product can lose money, and a backwards-from-margin formula with a worked example.
Since the July 2025 tax period, the liability in GSTR-3B is auto-filled and non-editable, and returns older than three years cannot be filed at all. What it means for late filers and how to correct mistakes now.
The reducing-balance method explained with a ₹10 lakh business-loan example, an amortization walkthrough, the flat-rate trap, and how prepayment, tenure and processing fees change the real cost.
Liability, tax rates, compliance load, setup cost and time, what investors and banks expect, and the point at which converting makes sense — a decision guide for founders, freelancers and family businesses.
Sales return, discount after sale, short supply, price correction — which document fixes it, who issues it, how it flows through GSTR-1 and IMS, the time limit, and the two mistakes that get ITC reversed.
ONDC lets any seller appear inside buyer apps like Paytm, magicpin and Mystore without paying marketplace-level commissions. How onboarding works, what it costs, how orders flow, and whether it is worth it for you.
What retailers and marketplaces require, how the 890 prefix works, what GS1 India charges, how to compute the check digit, and how to print labels that scanners read the first time.
The Invoice Management System on the GST portal now sits between your supplier's GSTR-1 and your GSTR-2B. A plain guide to what each action does, common mistakes, and a 15-minute monthly routine.
A plain-language guide to systematic investment plans — the formula, realistic return assumptions, step-up SIPs, the impact of inflation and tax, and why starting date matters more than fund choice.
With AI answers now on top of most Indian searches, the classic 'rank #1' game has moved. What Google actually cites for local businesses, the five signals that matter, and a monthly routine to stay in the answer.
Static vs dynamic QR, why your standee should show the name customers expect, print sizes that scan from a metre away, error correction, placing it so phones can reach, and the fraud-swap check every shop should do weekly.
Moving goods without a sale — job work, branch transfers, approval basis, exhibitions — needs a delivery challan, not an invoice. The formats, the ₹50,000 e-way bill threshold, validity by distance, and the penalties for getting caught without one.
Since July 2025 Meta bills per message, not per conversation. Utility replies inside 24 hours are free; marketing costs about 80 paise a message. Here is how to structure your messaging so customers get answers and you get a tiny bill.
With the new regime making income up to ₹12 lakh effectively tax-free, the old reflex of 'invest ₹1.5 lakh to save tax' no longer applies to most people. Here is how to decide — and what to do with the money instead.
Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and others — the monthly deduction slabs, the ₹2,500 constitutional cap, registration, due dates and the states with no PT at all.
How much of your HRA is tax-free under Section 10(13A), with metro vs non-metro examples, what proof employers demand, the ₹1 lakh PAN rule, TDS on rent above ₹50,000, and why the exemption exists only in the old regime.
When you need a Class 3 DSC (MCA, GST, tenders), when Aadhaar OTP eSign is enough (contracts, invoices, HR letters), when a drawn signature image is fine, costs in 2026, and what the IT Act says about each.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules were notified in November 2025 with an 18-month runway. If you collect customer names, phone numbers or addresses — even on WhatsApp — here is what you must have in place before the deadline.
E-invoicing is mandatory for every business with turnover above ₹5 crore in any year since 2017-18. Larger businesses must report invoices within 30 days. Here is who is covered, how the IRN works, and how to comply without new software.
The complete guide to running a shop counter on a thermal printer — paper widths, Bluetooth vs USB vs LAN, which printers work with Android and Windows, driver setup, GST-compliant receipt layout, and the paper that fades.
Pay a micro or small enterprise late and you lose the tax deduction for the year. Two full tax seasons in, here is how buyers are complying, how suppliers are enforcing it, and the exact interest a late payer owes.
From April 2025 the limits were raised 2.5×: a micro enterprise can have ₹2.5 crore investment and ₹10 crore turnover. Udyam registration is free and takes ten minutes. Here is what you unlock.