Courier imports clearance rules revised for detained goods, re-export requests, and removal of value-based threshold.
Courier imports clearance is amended by omitting a regulatory sub-clause, revising the handling of uncleared imported goods after thirty days, and introducing a request mechanism for re-export or return after fifteen days subject to no prohibition, restriction, or enforcement proceedings. Storage and holding charges for detained goods are made payable by the authorised courier. The amendment also removes the value-based threshold from the first proviso to regulation 6(3).

Courier import declaration rules updated to permit re-export or return of uncleared goods under specified compliance safeguards.
Courier import and export electronic declaration regulations are amended to revise the treatment of uncleared imported goods, expand the scope of re-export or return requests by authorised couriers, and update Form E disclosure requirements for re-import related shipping bill details. An authorised courier may request Customs to re-export or return imported goods to the sender if the goods remain uncleared after fifteen days from arrival, subject to prohibition, restriction, and enforcement safeguards. Form E is also updated to require additional particulars relating to re-import documentation and export benefit disclosure.

Special one-time customs duty relief for SEZ-manufactured goods removed to DTA under strict value-addition and export-linked conditions.
Special one-time customs duty relief is provided for goods manufactured by Special Economic Zone units and removed to the Domestic Tariff Area at concessional rates specified in tariff tables. The exemption is limited to units that commenced production on or before 31 March 2025, excludes Free Trade and Warehousing Zone units and imported goods later removed to the DTA, and is subject to audit. The annexure requires filing on the common portal, minimum 20% value addition, a cap on DTA removals of 30% of prior FOB exports, and certification by the Development Commissioner.

Tariff concessions under India-Mauritius CECPA updated with a sixth tranche of preferential customs rates for listed goods.
Amends the customs tariff concession schedule under the India-Mauritius CECPA by substituting Table 1 in notification No. 25/2021-Customs with the sixth tranche of preferential rates for specified tariff items. The revised table sets out the applicable rates for a wide range of goods, including certain fish products, processed foods, chemicals, plastics, textiles, paper products, consumer goods, tools, instruments, and other listed articles, with many items attracting nil duty and others attracting reduced rates ranging from low single-digit to higher preferential percentages. The amendment takes effect from 1 April 2026.

India-UAE CEPA tariff concessions expand customs duty changes and quota-based import treatment across specified goods.
Customs notification amends notification No. 22/2022-Customs to give effect to the fifth tranche of tariff concessions under the India-UAE CEPA. The amendments substitute the tariff schedules in Tables I, II and III, revising basic customs duty rates for specified tariff items, prescribing additional duty structures for certain goods, and setting tariff rate quota quantities, in-quota rates and conditions for identified product categories. The notification comes into force on 1 April 2026.

Employees State Insurance coverage extended to specified Mizoram districts, triggering contribution liability and benefit availability for establishments.
Contribution under the Employees State Insurance framework is extended to establishments in specified districts of Mizoram. From the notified date, employers and employees become liable to pay contribution under section 29 of the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Corporation is to provide benefits under Chapter IV to employees of those establishments.

Employees State Insurance coverage extended to specified Meghalaya districts, triggering contribution liability and benefits from 1 April 2026.
Contribution under the Employees State Insurance framework is brought into force for establishments in specified areas of Meghalaya from 1 April 2026. Employers and employees of such establishments become liable to pay contributions under section 29 of the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Employees State Insurance Corporation is required to provide benefits under Chapter IV to the employees of those establishments.

Employees State Insurance applicability notified for Kakching district establishments, making contributions payable and benefits available from the notified date.
Employer and employee contributions under the Employees State Insurance framework are brought into force for establishments in the entire Kakching district of Manipur. The Central Government notifies 1 April 2026 as the date from which contributions become payable under section 29 of the Code on Social Security, 2020, and from which benefits under Chapter IV relating to the Employees State Insurance Corporation are made available to employees of such establishments.

GST fund settlement rules set the electronic reporting, apportionment and reconciliation framework for inter-government tax transfers.
The Goods and Services Tax Settlement of Funds Rules, 2026 prescribe the electronic framework for monthly settlement of Integrated Tax and related amounts between the Centre, States and Union territories through the common portal. The rules lay down detailed reporting forms and categories for cross-utilisation of credit, apportionment, recovery, refunds, cash ledger transfers and other settlement events, together with consolidated reports for each State, Union territory and the Centre. They also provide for reconciliation of GST Network data, issuance of provisional and final sanction orders, and transmission of inter-Government advice for fund settlement.

Updated return filing form introduced for income tax compliance, with eligibility checks, tax computation, and verification requirements.
Income-tax Rules, 1962 are amended by insertion of Form ITR-U in Appendix-II for filing an updated return under section 139(8A). The form applies to persons seeking to update income or reduce loss within the permitted period, subject to eligibility conditions. It requires disclosure of assessment year details, reasons for updating, filing window, computation of updated tax liability, tax already paid, amount payable or refundable, tax payments under section 140B, and verification of the return.

Income-tax return verification forms updated for electronic filing, acknowledgement, and time-linked furnishing consequences under the amended rules.
Income-tax Rules, 1962 are amended to substitute the prescribed forms in Appendix II relating to return filing verification and acknowledgement. The amendment replaces Form ITR-V for cases where return data in specified income-tax return forms has been electronically transmitted but not electronically verified, and replaces Form ITR-Ack for cases where such return data has been filed and verified. The substituted ITR-V form retains the verification process, prescribed modes of verification, and the time-linked consequences for furnishing the return.

ITR-7 amendment expands disclosure, exemption and tax-computation reporting for trusts, institutions, political parties and electoral trusts.
Income-tax (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2026 substitute FORM ITR-7 in Appendix II of the Income-tax Rules, 1962 for returns filed for Assessment Year 2026-27 with effect from 31 March 2026. The substituted return form applies to persons required to furnish returns under sections 139(4A), 139(4B), 139(4C) and 139(4D), and requires expanded disclosure of registration, approval, objects, activities, accumulation, application of income, corpus, loans, investments, donations, foreign contributions, audit and governing persons.

Corporate return filing format updated with a revised ITR-6 form covering audit, MAT, capital gains, losses, and foreign asset disclosures.
Amends the Income-tax Rules, 1962 by substituting Form ITR-6 in Appendix II for companies other than those claiming exemption under section 11. The amended return form applies to returns filed for Assessment Year 2026-27 and comes into force from 31 March 2026. The substituted form expands corporate return reporting on company identity, audit, business structure, balance sheet, profit and loss particulars, capital gains, losses, MAT, tax relief, foreign assets, deductions, exemptions, GST turnover, and verification.

ITR-5 revised for assessment year 2026-27 with expanded disclosure, audit, capital gains and foreign asset reporting fields.
The Income-tax (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026 substitute Form ITR-5 in Appendix-II of the Income-tax Rules, 1962. The amended form applies to returns filed for Assessment Year 2026-27 and takes effect from 31 March 2026. The revised ITR-5 contains extensive fields covering general information, filing status, audit details, balance sheet and profit and loss disclosures, presumptive income, capital gains, other sources, set-off and carry-forward of losses, deductions, foreign assets, GST turnover, tax payments, refund particulars and verification.

Income-tax return form ITR-3 is substituted with expanded reporting for business income, capital gains, foreign assets, and tax payments.
Income-tax Rules, 1962 are amended by substituting FORM ITR-3 in Appendix II. The substituted return form applies to returns filed for Assessment Year 2026-27, with effect from 31 March 2026. The revised form is designed for individuals and Hindu undivided families having income from profits and gains of business or profession, and it updates the return architecture to capture detailed particulars relating to personal information, filing status, residential status, audit requirements, business and profession accounts, presumptive income, capital gains, other sources, foreign assets, tax relief, deductions, and tax payments.

Income-tax return form revision updates ITR-2 disclosures for individuals and HUFs for assessment year 2026-27.
Amends the Income-tax Rules, 1962 by substituting the FORM ITR-2 in Appendix-II. The substituted return form applies to Assessment Year 2026-27 and comes into force on 31 March 2026. It is prescribed for individuals and HUFs not having income from profits and gains of business or profession, and sets out the revised disclosure structure for filing status, residential status, income heads, capital gains, other sources, exempt income, foreign assets and income, deductions, loss set-off, tax relief, tax payments, and verification.

Income-tax return forms updated to allow two house properties and revised disclosure requirements for the new assessment year.
The Income-tax (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 amend the Income-tax Rules, 1962 with effect from 31 March 2026 and apply to returns filed for Assessment Year 2026-27. The amendment revises rule 12 to update the relevant year references and to permit disclosure of income from two house properties in specified clauses instead of one house property. It also substitutes Form ITR-1 and Form ITR-4, updating eligibility conditions, regime-selection disclosures, income-computation schedules, deduction and tax-payment particulars, bank account reporting, TDS/TCS details, verification requirements, and related schedules.

Tax exemption for welfare board income under section 10(46) subject to non-commercial activity and return-filing conditions.
Tax exemption is notified under section 10(46) for the Chandigarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board in respect of specified income comprising cess collection, beneficiary contributions, and interest earned on bank deposits. The exemption is subject to conditions that the Board must not engage in commercial activity, its activities and specified income must remain unchanged, and it must file returns under section 139(4C)(g); non-compliance may attract penal action and withdrawal of the exemption. The notification applies retrospectively for certain assessment years and prospectively for later assessment years.

Scientific research approval for a research association is subject to compliance, reporting, and donor certificate requirements.
Approval is granted under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, read with Rules 5C and 5D, to Indian Rubber Materials Research Institute, Thane, Maharashtra, for scientific research as a research association. The approval applies for assessment years 2026-27 to 2030-31 and is subject to compliance with Rule 5D, filing of the prescribed statement in Form No. 10BD under section 35(1A), and issuance of donor certificates in Form No. 10BE within the prescribed time.

Scientific research approval for IIT Bombay under section 35 requires compliance with donation reporting and donor certification rules.
Approval is granted to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay for scientific research under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, as a university, college or other institution. The approval applies for assessment years 2026-27 to 2030-31, subject to compliance with Rule 5E and the reporting and donor-certification requirements under Rule 18AB, including filing Form No. 10BD by 31 May following the financial year and issuing Form No. 10BE to donors.