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Start early, choose right ITR form: Tax guide for professionals

Start early, choose right ITR form: Tax guide for professionals

Professionals must select the correct ITR form and assess whether presumptive taxation or regular provisions suit their income, expenses and documentation requirements
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Sanjeev Sinha New Delhi
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With the tax filing season underway, professionals should initiate the process early. This will enable them to file timely and accurate tax returns. Early filing of returns will also help them receive tax refunds sooner.
Choose correct ITR form
Resident professionals opting for the presumptive taxation scheme (PTS) regime under Section 44ADA typically file using ITR-4 (Income Tax Return Form 4). However, if total income exceeds ₹50 lakh or includes capital gains (excluding long-term gains under Section 112A up to ₹1.25 lakh), foreign income or assets, income from multiple house properties, or agricultural income over ₹5,000, ITR-3 becomes applicable.
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Income Tax Returns: What is ITR-U, who can file it and who cannot? From process to penalty - here's all you need to know
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USCIS tightens the age-out noose on H-1B kids: How this rule change could derail their college dreams
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Under the new rule, a child's CSPA age will now be locked only when a visa is 'available' according to the Final Action Date in the State Department's Visa Bulletin — the point when a green card can actually be issued. This is often months or even years later than the Dates for Filing stage, when applicants are first allowed to submit paperwork. By waiting until the Final Action Date, more dependent children risk turning 21 before their age can be locked, especially for countries like India with long green-card backlogs. USCIS said the change was aimed at keeping its process uniform with the Department of State's consular processing rules, so applicants inside the US and those abroad are treated the same. Impact on students and higher education This policy change could have serious consequences for students in H-1B families — particularly those from countries with long green-card backlogs. 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The broader context: Education and immigration policy The US has long balanced its role as a welcoming environment for international students with evolving immigration policies. For families on H-1B visas, navigating the complex and often slow green card process is a constant challenge. The CSPA protections introduced under the Biden administration aimed to alleviate some of this burden by safeguarding the legal status of dependents during these lengthy waits. The recent USCIS policy shift, however, underscores the ongoing tension between immigration control measures and the need to support international students who form a vital part of the country's educational ecosystem. Universities and policymakers must now confront how to mitigate the negative impacts of this change, possibly by advocating for legislative solutions or providing additional support to affected students. 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Unless students, families, universities, and policymakers find common cause against the tyranny of administrative timelines, America risks training its next generation of innovators for export. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!

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