April 1 Brings Major Financial Changes: ITR, HRA, Stock Market & More!

• New 'Tax Year' (TY) replaces FY and AY for simplified tax calculation.
• Meal card concession rises to ₹200, corporate gift vouchers up to ₹15,000 tax-free.
• Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad gain metro status for 50% HRA concession.
• Mandatory rent receipt and landlord relationship disclosure for HRA claims.
• Children's education allowance jumps to ₹3,000/month, hostel allowance to ₹9,000/month.
• STT on F&O options trading increases from 0.1% to 0.15%, making it more expensive.
• ITR filing deadline for small businesses and professionals extended to August 31.