Harsh Roongta

Instant tax credit: An idea whose time has come for better compliance

A system that allows buyers to pay taxes directly to the government while paying would enhance trust, improve tax compliance, and accelerate tax collection

EPF is in urgent need of an overhaul for flexibility and portability

Employees must be allowed to pause or reduce ontributions, and the promised portability between EPF and NPS should be enabled

Give retirees the choice of variable annuities to hedge against inflation

Truth be told, the government can also benefit from a successful variable PPP. If private-sector employees adopt it, government employees could follow

Budget 2025-26: Is the new Income-Tax Bill a step towards 'Nyaya'?

The reduction in TDS rates and rationalisation of TCS provisions are welcome steps

Reform inefficient succession processes to ease burden on grieving families

The inefficiency of current succession processes not only frustrates grieving families but also undermines the government's ease-of-living agenda

FDs vs equities: How rolling returns debunk short-term performance myths

Many investors resist rolling return analysis, preferring specific-date comparisons, which are often skewed to favour certain narratives

Market regulator Sebi's new product: MF's efficiency, PMS' control

New product poses a threat to the PMS industry by combining the advantages of both PMS and MF. Most PMS providers will apply for MF licences to offer new product

Investors should evaluate funds on rolling returns over the long term

Investors must remember that past performance may not get repeated in the future. And any investment is worthwhile only if it suits an investor's risk profile

Truth be told: Breaking the silence on death and money in Indian families

For Rekha, the absence of siblings and a strong bond with her parents simplified matters. Not all families are comfortable having such conversations

Toxic work culture and overwork: Why employee grievance redressal matters

Laws like the Shops and Establishment Act should be emphasised in employee induction programmes. Companies must also provide accessible grievance redress mechanisms

Retail investors vs algorithms: A battle of lambs to slaughter?

Most of the 93 per cent, who rely on their own half-baked strategies or strategies rented from brokers, are sure to lose money in F&O trading

Tech flaws in I-T system target honest taxpayers, miss real evaders

The DAP does not consider past I-T returns to match a taxpayer's resources with their expenditures or investments

Usher in competition between EPF and NPS to boost formal job creation

The government needs to introduce competition between EPFO and NPS, and between ESIC and health insurance companies, while making contributions voluntary for low-paid workers

Target GST relief on life, medical insurance smartly to boost accessibility

Tax relief should target pre-packaged term and health policies, ensuring availability to seniors and those with impaired health, thereby reducing their costs

How to make tax officials accountable

The proposed simplification of the tax code offers a chance to instil accountability, following the model of the Public Service Guarantee Acts

Exit with indexation should be offered

When the government reintroduced taxation on listed equity in 2018, it took care to exempt capital gains accrued until the date of the 2018 budget

Simpler capital gains tax regime highlight of Budget

The administration of the income-tax department is in a poor shape today. Taxpayer appeals have piled up for the past five years with zero accountability by the tax department

A plea to provide more mutual fund data

While these MF products are not systemically important yet, data about them should be made public for academics and investors to do research and challenge incorrect conclusions

Perils of keeping surplus money in bank accounts

Keeping surplus money in the bank account has become risky. Bank employees sometimes target such money to mis-sell products

Investing for children: Buy house or opt for MFs?

I reminded Meera that although Karan's parents had a large bungalow in his hometown, professional opportunities had brought them to Mumbai. Their children might behave similarly