Another example is vehicle insurance. Since no vehicle can leave the showroom without insurance, this is a unique corner of the industry where the sale is only about which insurer to choose, not whether insurance has to be bought. Despite this, intermediaries get an average commission of up to 38%, and malpractices such as dealers forcing customers to choose specific insurers are common.
Suppose you invested in a mutual fund that delivered 15% annualised returns over the past five years. But when you calculated your own returns, they were closer to 10%. It may seem like the fund underperformed, but experts say that is often not the case. The difference usually lies in what the mutual fund earned…
HDFC Bank has seen a sharp decline in foreign investor ownership since its merger with HDFC, as the bank has faced growing investor scrutiny over its growth, margins and leadership transition. Foreign institutional investor holdings in HDFC Bank stood at 52.13% in September 2023. By June 2026, it had fallen to 41.82%, a drop of…
A Haryana man declared an income of ₹1.79 lakh. But the tax department added ₹11.22 crore to his assessed income. In an unusual twist, a tax tribunal has granted him one final opportunity to substantiate his case before the Assessing Officer. To receive that opportunity, he must plant 500 trees within one month. If he…
Can WhatsApp chats recovered from another person’s mobile phone be enough for the Income Tax Department to treat ₹10.52 lakh as an unexplained investment? The Pune bench of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has ruled in favour of a taxpayer after finding that the Revenue had relied on WhatsApp data without establishing its authenticity…
Introduction: In this article, I’ll explore the landscape of flexi loans offered by various financial institutions and delve into the details of their terms and conditions. Flexi loans have become increasingly popular among borrowers due to their flexibility and convenience. However, not all financial institutions offer the same terms, making it essential to compare…
A new one-time disclosure scheme for small taxpayers starts on 16 August, according to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Eligible taxpayers can now declare their undisclosed foreign assets or income until 31 December 2026. This grants immunity from penalties under the Black Money Act. The Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers Disclosure Scheme, 2026,…