Explanation
The Income Tax Act 2025 is a complete re-write of the IT Act 1961, effective 1 April 2026 (Tax Year 2026-27). The Act has 536 sections (vs 931 in the 1961 Act) organised into 23 simplified chapters. Key changes: 'Tax Year' replaces the old Assessment Year/Previous Year duality; all TDS consolidated under §393; all rates and slabs unchanged; redundant/overlapping provisions removed. For FY 2025-26 returns (filed in July 2026), the IT Act 1961 still applies. Verify on the income-tax portal before filing.