India’s income tax journey, which began 165 years ago on 24th July 1860 under Sir James Wilson, has now entered its most revolutionary phase with the Income Tax Act, 2025. Signed into law by the President on 21st August 2025, this 600-page legislation replaces the 64-year-old 1961 Act with a cleaner, digital-first, taxpayer-friendly tax code.
Here’s everything you need to know about the New Income Tax Act 2025 – from historic collections to simplified slabs, crypto taxation, and reduced litigation.
Historic Milestone: ₹27.02 Lakh Crore Gross Direct Tax Collection (FY 2024-25)
India’s tax story is now a success story:
- FY 2020-21 (Covid year): ₹12.31 lakh crore
- FY 2021-22: ₹16.34 lakh crore
- FY 2022-23: ₹19.72 lakh crore
- FY 2023-24: ₹23.38 lakh crore
- FY 2024-25 (provisional till 31st March 2025): ₹27.02 lakh crore – more than double in just 5 years!
This explosive growth reflects widening tax base, digital compliance, and trust in the system.
Evolution of Income Tax in India: Key Milestones (1860–2025)
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1860 | Income Tax introduced by Sir James Wilson |
| 1922 | Central Board of Revenue Act |
| 1924 | Central Board of Revenue (CBR) established |
| 1961 | Income Tax Act, 1961 came into force |
| 1972 | Permanent Account Number (PAN) introduced |
| 1981 | Computerisation begins |
| 1985 | PAN becomes 10-digit alphanumeric |
| 1995 | PAN series offering unique ID & data matching |
| 2009 | Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) Bengaluru |
| 2012 | TRACES for TDS reconciliation |
| 2014 | New national IT website launched |
| 2017 | PAN-Aadhaar linking mandatory |
| 2019 | Faceless Assessment Scheme |
| 2020 | “Vivad se Vishwas” & Taxpayers’ Charter |
| 2021 | New e-filing portal + Annual Information Statement (AIS) |
| 2025 | Income Tax Bill 2025 passed on 12th Aug → President assent 21st Aug |
New Income Tax Act 2025: 8 Game-Changing Features
- Cleaner & Simpler Code
- Reduced from 800+ sections to 536 sections, 23 chapters, 16 schedules
- Ambiguities removed, litigation-prone clauses deleted (including Section 439 overriding effect)
- Two Tax Regimes – Choose What Suits YouA. New Tax Regime (Default – Section 115BAC)Income SlabTax RateUp to ₹4 lakh-NIL,₹4–8 lakh-5%,₹8–12 lakh-10%,₹12–16 lakh-15%,₹16–20 lakh-20%,₹20–24 lakh-25%,Above ₹24 lakh-30% B. Old Tax Regime (Optional) IncomeAge <60 / NRI60–80 yrs>80 yrsUp to ₹2.5L-NILNILNIL₹2.5–3L5%-NILNIL₹3–5L5%5%NIL₹5–10L20%20%20%Above ₹10L30%30%30%
- Higher Rebate Limits
- New Regime: ₹60,000 rebate if income ≤ ₹12 lakh → Zero tax up to ₹12.5 lakh with standard deduction
- Old Regime: ₹12,500 rebate if income ≤ ₹5 lakh
- Crypto & Virtual Digital Assets Finally Taxed Properly
- Section 2(111) gives broad definition of VDAs
- Crypto now treated as capital asset – no more ambiguity
- Gains taxable under capital gains (short-term/long-term)
- Nil TDS Certificate for Everyone Above 60
- Senior citizens (60+) can now claim NIL TDS on PF interest, rent, insurance, etc. irrespective of age
- Consolidated TDS Provisions
- All TDS rules under one single section – easier compliance
- MSME Definition Updated
- New limits as per latest government notification (Section 66(12))
- Waiver of Penalty
- Drafting errors removed – Section (2) of Section 439 is now gone
Why Income Tax Matters Beyond Revenue
- Funds healthcare, education, defence & infrastructure
- Reduces income inequality
- Promotes fairness & social cohesion
- Enables government to invest in jobs & growth
- Strengthens federal structure
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