The Income-tax Act, 2025 replaced the 1961 Act from 1 April 2026. Most rates and limits did not change, but almost every section number did. If you have spent years saying "80C" and "44AB", you will now see Section 123 and Section 63 in forms, notices and software. This note maps the numbers people use most.
Deductions and rebate
| What it covers | 1961 Act | 2025 Act |
|---|---|---|
| PPF, ELSS, life insurance, home loan principal and other investments | 80C | Section 123 (the list of investments is in a Schedule) |
| Health insurance premium | 80D | Section 126 |
| Education loan interest | 80E | Section 129 |
| Donations | 80G | Section 133 |
| Interest on savings and deposits | 80TTA and 80TTB | Section 153 (both merged) |
| Rebate for income up to ₹12 lakh | 87A | Section 156 |
Salary, house property and business
| What it covers | 1961 Act | 2025 Act |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction from salary | 16 | Section 19 |
| Home loan interest on house property | 24(b) | Section 22 |
| Presumptive income for business and professionals | 44AD and 44ADA | Section 58 (one table for all presumptive schemes) |
| Tax audit | 44AB | Section 63 (report in Form 26, replacing 3CA, 3CB and 3CD) |
Returns, interest and TDS
| What it covers | 1961 Act | 2025 Act |
|---|---|---|
| Filing of income-tax return, including belated and revised returns | 139 | Section 263 |
| Interest for late filing of return | 234A | Section 423 |
| Interest for short payment of advance tax | 234B | Section 424 |
| Interest for deferment of advance tax instalments | 234C | Section 425 |
| TDS on salary | 192 | Section 392 |
| TDS on contractors, professional fees, rent, commission and most other payments to residents | 194A to 194T (194C, 194J, 194I, 194H and others) | Section 393 (one section with a table) |
| TDS on payments to non-residents | 195 | Section 393 |
| TCS | 206C | Section 394 |
The TDS forms changed too: 24Q is now Form 138, 26Q is Form 140, 27Q is Form 144 and 27EQ is Form 143. Form 16 is Form 130 and Form 16A is Form 131. Our Q3 TDS return note has the full list.
Why the numbers moved
- Fewer, bigger sections. The new Act has 536 sections against more than 800 in the old one. Many small sections were merged, which is why most TDS now sits in one Section 393 with a table.
- Exemptions moved to Schedules. Many items that used to sit in Section 10 are now listed in Schedules at the end of the Act, so look there for allowances and exempt incomes.
- "Tax year" replaces previous year and assessment year. Income earned from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 is the income of tax year 2026-27.
How to use this table safely
Use it to recognise a section quickly, not to quote it in a legal reply. Some old sections were split across two new ones, and sub-section numbering does not always match. Before you cite a section in a notice reply, an appeal or a tax audit report, check the wording in the official text of the Income-tax Act, 2025. A wrong section number in a reply can delay the matter or weaken your argument.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new section for 80C under the Income-tax Act, 2025?
Section 80C of the 1961 Act corresponds to Section 123 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. The list of eligible investments now sits in a Schedule to the Act.
What is the new section number for 87A rebate?
The rebate under Section 87A is now Section 156. Resident individuals with taxable income up to ₹12 lakh still pay no tax under the new regime.
Which section replaces 44AB tax audit?
Tax audit is now under Section 63 of the Income-tax Act, 2025, and the audit report is filed in Form 26 instead of Forms 3CA, 3CB and 3CD.
Do I use the new section numbers in my ITR for FY 2025-26?
No. Income of FY 2025-26 is taxed under the 1961 Act, so that return uses the old section numbers. The new numbers apply from tax year 2026-27.
How Vitt-Marg helps
We prepare income-tax returns, tax audits, TDS returns and notice replies under both the 1961 Act and the 2025 Act. If a notice or a form quotes a section number you do not recognise, send it to us and we will tell you what it means and what to do next.
General information, current as of 11 November 2026, not advice for a specific case. Due dates and fees change with MCA and CBDT notifications. Check with us before acting on it.