Investing
Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB): interest rate, tax at maturity after Budget 2026, and how to buy
3 Jun 2026·8 min read
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The first crore is the hardest. Start here.
Tax, investing, salary, insurance and credit — in plain English, for young Indians who earn well but haven't had time to figure out where it all goes.
◆ FeaturedThis WeekTopical
This week: TDS on salary explained, June 15 advance tax deadline, and ITR filing is open
New article on TDS under Section 192 — how your employer calculates the monthly deduction and the job-switcher trap. Plus: advance tax first instalment is due June 15, and ITR filing for FY 2025-26 is now open with a July 31 deadline.
31 May 2026 · 3 min readRead →
Recent articles
All articles →Tax
How is gratuity taxed: the ₹20 lakh lifetime exemption, when it becomes taxable, and TDS
Gratuity is tax-free up to ₹20 lakh — but that is a lifetime limit across all employers. If you received ₹5 lakh gratuity 10 years ago and get ₹18 lakh now, only ₹15 lakh of the new gratuity is exempt, and ₹3 lakh is taxable. Here's how the Section 10(10) exemption is calculated for covered and uncovered employers.
3 Jun 2026·7 min read
Salary
Should I withdraw or transfer my PF when I change jobs — and what is the tax if I withdraw?
Withdrawing your EPF when you change jobs costs far more than most people realise: TDS at 10%, slab-rate tax on the full amount, and broken continuous service that makes your next withdrawal taxable too. Rohan's 3-year EPF of ₹2.8L becomes ₹2.24L after tax if withdrawn — vs ₹4.99L if transferred and left to compound.
2 Jun 2026·8 min read
Investing
ELSS mutual funds: how the 3-year lock-in works for SIP investments, and the tax at redemption
ELSS is the only mutual fund that qualifies for 80C. The 3-year lock-in is per unit, not per SIP — a 24-month SIP started in January 2024 won't be fully redeemable until December 2027. All ELSS gains are LTCG (taxed at 12.5% above ₹1.25L). Here's the complete guide with worked tax examples.
2 Jun 2026·8 min read
Investing
Emergency fund: how much to keep and where to park it in India
An emergency fund covers 3–6 months of monthly expenses — not income. For Meera with ₹44,300 in monthly expenses, that is ₹1.33–₹2.66 lakh. Keep 1–2 months in a savings account (instant access) and the rest in a liquid mutual fund (T+1). Here's the full framework and what not to do.
1 Jun 2026·7 min read
Investing
PPF account in India: interest rate, contribution rules, withdrawal, and how to open one
PPF earns 7.1% tax-free, is government-guaranteed, and gives you EEE treatment — contributions deductible under 80C, interest tax-free, maturity tax-free. ₹1.5L/year for 15 years grows to approximately ₹40.7 lakh. This guide covers how to open one, partial withdrawal rules, and what to do at maturity.
1 Jun 2026·8 min read
Tax
Section 80C deductions: complete list for FY 2025-26, what qualifies, and how to use the ₹1.5 lakh limit
Section 80C gives you ₹1.5 lakh in deductions — but EPF already uses part of it automatically. At ₹40,000 basic salary, EPF alone accounts for ₹57,600. This guide lists all 12 qualifying instruments, confirms what doesn't qualify (health insurance, employer PF), and shows how to fill the remaining limit efficiently.
31 May 2026·8 min read
Salary
Gratuity calculation in India: formula, eligibility, the 5-year rule, and what you will actually receive
Gratuity = (basic salary × 15 × years of service) ÷ 26. At ₹50,000 basic after 10 years that is ₹2.88 lakh. This guide shows the exact formula, how the 5-year rule is counted (and why 4 years 8 months often qualifies), what counts as basic salary, and four worked examples.
31 May 2026·7 min read
Tax
TDS on salary: how your employer calculates it, why you might be overpaying, and how to fix it
Your employer deducts TDS under Section 192 based on a projection of your annual salary. If you haven't submitted investment declarations (Form 12BB), they assume no deductions — and deduct far more than you owe. This guide explains the exact formula, the job-switcher trap, and how to verify and recover excess TDS.
25 May 2026·9 min read
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