Income Tax 1961 vs 2025

Income-Tax 1961 and 2025: New Income Tax Bill 2025 Highlights Side-by-Side 

Introduction

The Income-Tax Act, 1961, guided India’s taxation for over 60 years but grew complex with time. To simplify and modernize the law, the government introduced the New Income Tax Bill 2025. This blog presents a side-by-side look at the 1961 Act and the 2025 Bill, highlighting key changes as published on the official government website.

 

Summary

  • The Income-Tax Act, 1961 became bulky and complex after decades of amendments.
  • The New Income Tax Bill 2025 aims to simplify and modernize the law.
  • It uses plain language, reorganized provisions, and removes redundant clauses.
  • Tools like the Navigator, Executive Summary, and FAQs make it easier to follow.
  • With fewer sections and words, the Bill focuses on clarity and easier compliance.

What is the new income tax bill 2025? 

The Income-Tax Act, 1961, has been India’s core tax legislation for over sixty years. While it laid the foundation of direct taxation, repeated amendments made it bulky, complex, and difficult for taxpayers to interpret. By 2024, the law had grown into thousands of sections, explanations, and provisos that often led to confusion and disputes.

The New Income Tax Bill 2025 was introduced to replace this outdated framework with a clearer and simpler law.

According to the Income Tax Department’s official website, the new Bill focuses on:

  • Simplification of language – Instead of long, technical sentences, the Bill uses plain wording to make the law more readable.

  • Reorganized structure – Provisions are arranged logically, with related rules grouped together for easy reference.

  • Reduced bulk – Several redundant clauses from the 1961 Act have been dropped, bringing down the size of the law significantly.

  • Clear tax rates and provisions – Important details such as rates are tabulated, eliminating the need to cross-reference multiple sections.

In essence, while the 1961 Act became known for its complexity, the 2025 Bill marks a fresh beginning, aiming to create a law that is modern, concise, and taxpayer-friendly.

Side-by-Side: Income tax bill 1961 and Income tax bill 2025 

Feature

Income Tax Act 1961

New Income Tax Bill 2025

Core Purpose

Original tax code enacted in 1961, expanded and amended over decades

A comprehensive simplification of the 1961 Act was introduced to make the law modern and clear

Navigator Tool

Not available

Provides a Navigator Utility to map each section of the 1961 Act with the corresponding clause in the 2025 Bill

Executive Summary

Not available

Includes a Press Release that serves as an Executive Summary explaining how the Bill simplifies the law

Auxiliary Information

Not available

Contains General FAQs that outline the scope and objectives of the new Bill

Ease of Use

Complex structure and lengthy legal language developed over time

Simplified provisions, reorganized structure, and tools for easier interpretation

 

In essence:

 

The Income Tax Act 1961 represents decades of amendments that made the law bulky and complex. The New Income Tax Bill 2025, on the other hand, offers a simplified and reorganized version supported by tools like the Navigator, an executive summary, and FAQs. It is designed to reduce confusion, improve clarity, and make compliance easier for taxpayers and professionals alike.

General FAQs on the Broad scope of New Income-tax Bill 2025

The Government of India has officially published a detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the New Income Tax Bill 2025. These FAQs explain why the 1961 Act needed replacement, what changes have been introduced in the new Bill, and how the law has been simplified. They also cover topics such as the removal of redundant provisions, the use of the term “tax year,” treatment of non-profit organizations, changes in TDS/TCS, and how the old and new provisions will co-exist.

 

For authenticity, the complete FAQs are available directly on the Income Tax Department website.

Frequently asked questions on Income tax bill 2025

When will the New Income Tax Bill 2025 come into effect?

The New Income Tax Bill 2025 was passed by Parliament, received Presidential assent in August 2025, and is set to come into force from April 1, 2026.

Does the New Bill introduce any new taxes?

No, the New Income Tax Bill 2025 does not introduce any fresh taxes; it focuses solely on simplifying and modernizing the existing tax structure.

What replaces the concepts of ‘previous year’ and ‘assessment year’?

The Bill replaces both ‘previous year’ and ‘assessment year’ with a unified concept called the “tax year,” which simplifies timelines and computations.

How much has the law been simplified in terms of structure?

The Bill reduces the law from 819 sections in 47 chapters under the old Act to 536 sections across 23 chapters, and decreases word count from over 5 lakh to approximately 2.6 lakh.

What is the annual basic exemption limit under the new law?

The New Bill retains the exemption framework as updated up to Finance Bill 2025, including revised slab benefits for middle-income taxpayers.

What improvements have been made to tax assessments?

The new Bill aligns with ongoing digital reforms, including faceless assessments introduced earlier, to ensure simplified and transparent compliance.

Are there changes in how refunds and notices are handled?

Yes, the Bill allows for faster refunds even after ITR deadlines, and requires that tax officials issue notices before taking any enforcement action.

How are virtual digital assets treated under the new Bill?

The New Income Tax Act 2025 broadens the definition of “undisclosed income” to include virtual digital assets like cryptocurrency explicitly.

What support tools are available to help taxpayers navigate the new law?

The Income Tax Department has introduced a Navigator Utility, executive summaries, and FAQs to help map old provisions to the new Bill and make it easier to understand.

Are there any significant policy changes in exemptions or deductions?

No major policy changes have been introduced. Instead, the Bill incorporates existing amendments up to the Finance Bill 2025 in a more organized, simplified format.

About Ebizfiling -

EbizFiling is a concept that emerged with the progressive and intellectual mindset of like-minded people. It aims at delivering the end-to-end corporate legal services 0f incorporation, compliance, advisory, and management consultancy services to clients in India and abroad in all the best possible ways.
 
To know more about our services and for a free consultation, get in touch with our team on  info@ebizfiling.com or call 9643203209.
 
Ebizfiling

Author: dhruvi

Dhruvi Darji is a Content Writer at Ebizfiling who turned her passion for writing into a full-time career. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Applications from KSV University and has been writing content professionally since 2023. Over time, she has worked on various topics and enjoys creating simple, clear, and helpful content that helps people gain a better understanding. She also holds a 7-band IELTS score, reflecting her strong grasp of language and communication. Beyond work, Dhruvi enjoys journaling and crafting stories.

Follow Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, Welcome to EbizFiling!

Hello there!!! Let us know if you have any Questions.

Thank you for your message.

☎ Call Now
whatsapp