Latest news with #Soni
Time Business News
3 days ago
- Health
- Time Business News
Clear Vision, Brighter Future: Expert Eye Care at Soni Vision Institute
In today's digital age, maintaining optimal eye health is more crucial than ever. Prolonged screen time, environmental factors, and aging can all contribute to various vision problems. For residents of Cypress, Texas, and the surrounding areas, Soni Vision Institute stands out as a premier destination for comprehensive eye care. Regular eye examinations are not just about updating prescriptions; they're vital for early detection of conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Early intervention can prevent vision loss and maintain quality of life. At Soni Vision Institute, patients have access to a wide range of ophthalmic services tailored to individual needs: Utilizing advanced ORA technology, the institute offers precise intraocular lens customization during cataract procedures, enhancing visual outcomes and reducing dependence on corrective lenses. For those seeking freedom from glasses or contacts, Soni Vision Institute provides personalized LASIK procedures, including alternatives like PRK and SMILE, ensuring optimal results based on individual eye conditions. Addressing both functional and aesthetic concerns, the institute specializes in eyelid surgeries that improve vision and appearance, enhancing overall eye health and patient confidence. Offering both traditional and minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS), the institute provides comprehensive care plans to manage intraocular pressure and preserve vision. Recognizing the impact of diabetes on ocular health, Soni Vision Institute offers specialized treatments to manage and mitigate complications arising from diabetic retinopathy and related conditions. What sets Soni Vision Institute apart is its commitment to patient-centric care. Under the leadership of Dr. Ruhi Soni, a board-certified ophthalmologist with over 15 years of experience, the institute emphasizes: Cutting-Edge Technology : Incorporating the latest advancements ensures accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. : Incorporating the latest advancements ensures accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. Personalized Treatment Plans : Recognizing that each patient is unique, care plans are tailored to individual needs and lifestyles. : Recognizing that each patient is unique, care plans are tailored to individual needs and lifestyles. Streamlined Processes : From online appointment scheduling to transparent billing, the institute prioritizes convenience and clarity. : From online appointment scheduling to transparent billing, the institute prioritizes convenience and clarity. Community Engagement: Dr. Soni's involvement in organizations like The Lighthouse of Houston reflects a dedication to broader community health and support. Located at 27700 Northwest Freeway Suite 390, Cypress, Texas 77433, Soni Vision Institute offers flexible scheduling options. Appointments can be booked online, Click here to book your appointment and we will ensure ease and accessibility for all patients. Eye health is an integral part of overall well-being. With a blend of advanced technology, personalized care, and a commitment to excellence, Soni Vision Institute emerges as a trusted partner in maintaining and enhancing vision health. Whether you're considering LASIK, managing a chronic condition, or seeking routine eye care, the institute offers comprehensive solutions tailored to your needs. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
LTA exemption in new tax regime: Can you claim leave travel allowance exemption in new tax regime or is it taxable?
From April 1, 2025, the new tax regime has become more attractive than the old tax regime for a larger number of taxpayers. This is because zero tax is payable on net taxable income up to Rs 12 lakh for FY 2025-26 under the new tax regime. Taxpayers often look for deductions from their gross income to reduce taxable income to Rs 12 lakh or below in order to pay zero tax under the new tax regime. Many would like to know if they can claim leave travel allowance (LTA) deduction via travel bills under the new tax regime or Wealth online tells you if you can claim exemption on leave travel allowance for the FY 2025-26 under the new tax regime. According to income tax rules, LTA exemption is not available under the new tax regime. An individual opting for the new tax regime for FY 2025-26 and getting LTA from their employer cannot claim exemption using it. The tax exemption on LTA is not available under the new tax regime. Hence, if you have received LTA as a part of Cost-to-Company (CTC) and opt for the new tax regime for TDS on salary for FY 2025-26, then LTA will be taxable even if you submit bills of travel. For private sector employees, LTA tax exemption is available if they opt for the old tax regime for FY 2025-26 to pay tax. However, specific rules prescribed under the Income Tax Act, 1961, must be followed to claim LTA exemption under the old tax regime. In the old tax regime, LTA exemption is available under Section 10(5) of the Income Tax the LTA exemption is available twice in a four-year block. The current block extends from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2025. A taxpayer can claim LTA exemption on a maximum of two journeys in this an employee is unable to undertake a journey/claim LTA in the block, then one journey/LTA can be carried forward to the first year of the next block. Abhishek Soni, CEO, - an ITR filing website, says, "The LTA exemption rules for government employees are not different vis-à-vis those for private sector employees. The income tax laws allow government employees to claim LTA exemption twice in a block of four years, either to visit their hometown or to any place in India. Further, this exemption will be available if the government employee opts for the old tax regime in a particular financial year. No LTA exemption can be claimed under the new tax regime."Soni explains the conditions that a taxpayer must meet to claim LTA exemption under the old tax regime. a) LTA part of salary: An employee must be receiving LTA as part of his/her salary from his/her employer. b) Submission of travel bills: Employees must submit the bills and other travel documents to their employer before the date specified by the employer for doing so, to claim tax exemption in a particular financial year. c) No international vacation: The LTA exemption is available for travel within India and cannot be claimed for international travel. d) Cost of travelling for specific family members: The LTA tax exemption can also be claimed for cost of travel of accompanying family members. For this purpose, family members can include spouse, children, dependent parents, and dependent siblings. e) Covers only mode of travel: LTA exemption rules cover only cost incurred for actual transportation for travel, including by air, train, or road. LTA exemption is not allowed for cost of hotel bookings and food expenses during the trip. The maximum LTA exemption that can be claimed depends on the actual cost incurred on transportation and the LTA amount allowed by the employer. Soni says, "The LTA exemption is allowed for the cost of the shortest journey (either by bus, train or air) from the employee's place of residence to the travel destination and back. If the LTA offered by the employer is less than the actual cost incurred on transportation, the exemption would be limited to the LTA allowed by the employer and not the actual costs incurred."
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
‘Heard a huge crash, people were shouting': Two killed, three injured as teen rams car into hut after knocking down cyclists
Hours after a speeding car crashed into a slum in West Delhi's Pankha Road, a group of jhuggi dwellers gathered in the area to recall the horror that had unfolded in the early hours of Thursday. 'We heard a huge crash and people were shouting…we woke up to see that Phool Singh's jhuggi was completely flattened…we first rescued the children in the house and went to help Soni (his wife) because she is pregnant…one of her legs was crushed,' recounted Shakuntala, Phool Singh's aunt. Phool Singh (30), a grindstone maker and seller, was one of the two people killed when a 19-year-old boy allegedly rammed his car into two cyclists around 3:30 am and then crashed the vehicle into his hut on the roadside, said police, adding that the teen has been apprehended. Phool Singh's seven-month pregnant wife, Soni (25), their five-year-old nephew, Vishal, and a cyclist were injured in the incident. Recalling how locals caught hold of the accused after the accident, Ankit, a slum dweller, said, 'People surrounded his car and were beating the driver. We managed to drag Phool Singh and another man (the cyclist) out from under the tyres of the vehicle. We took them to Mata Chanan Devi Hospital. But the doctors said they were already dead,' said Ankit, a jhuggi dweller. The teen, police said, was driving back home from a friend's birthday party in Gurgaon. He was allegedly drunk, said officers, when he hit the first two victims — Anish Ansari (45) and Kuldeep (28). They were both riding bicycles. While Kuldeep was injured, Ansari was dragged roughly 200 metres before the car crashed into huts on the roadside. 'My daughter-in-law's leg is completely mangled and Vishal is so traumatised that he can't utter a word,' said Guddi, Phool Singh's mother, who also lives in the slum cluster. The condition of those injured is being monitored, said officials. According to the police, the teen was accompanied by a friend. They were not injured during the incident. Both men had driving licences, police said. An FIR has been registered against the accused at Janakpuri police station, under BNS sections 281 (rash or negligent driving), 125(a) (act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 106(1) (causing death by negligence), along with section 185 (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) of the Motor Vehicle Act.
News18
5 days ago
- News18
SBI Employee Accused of Sexually Harassing Staff, Customers: Chhattisgarh HC Upholds Penalty
Last Updated: The court dismissed the appeal filed by Ram Krishna Soni, challenging the increment penalty imposed after an internal inquiry The Chhattisgarh High Court recently upheld disciplinary action against a State Bank of India employee on charges including sexual harassment and misbehaviour with customers and colleagues. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Arvind Kumar Verma dismissed the appeal filed by Ram Krishna Soni, challenging the penalty imposed after an internal inquiry. A woman customer filed a complaint alleging that Soni, a customer assistant at the Nawapara, Rajim branch, misbehaved with her during a cash deposit in April 2015. An internal investigation ensued, and based on the findings, the matter was referred to the Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. The committee substantiated the allegations and recommended disciplinary action. Following a detailed departmental inquiry examining six charges—including sexual harassment, misbehaviour, derogatory comments, and habitual lateness—Soni was found fully guilty of three charges and partially guilty of three others. In 2017, the Disciplinary Authority imposed a penalty of two increment reductions with a cumulative effect and disqualification from future increments for two years. The Appellate Authority later modified this in 2018 to a stoppage of two increments with a cumulative effect. Soni contested the decision in the high court, arguing that the inquiry violated the principles of natural justice, denying him the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. His writ petition was dismissed by a single-judge bench in February this year, leading him to file the present intra-court appeal. The division bench found no procedural irregularity in the disciplinary proceedings. It observed that the principles of natural justice were followed and that Soni failed to prove any malice or perverse findings by the disciplinary or appellate authorities. Citing the Supreme Court's ruling in Ajai Kumar Srivastava vs DGM, the high court reiterated that judicial review in such cases is limited to assessing procedural fairness and evidence-based findings, not re-appreciating evidence. Concurrent findings were recorded by both the disciplinary and appellate authorities. The court noted that the penalty inflicted could not be termed shocking or disproportionate. Dismissing the appeal, the court affirmed the fair conduct of the departmental proceedings and found no grounds to interfere with the imposed punishment. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 29, 2025, 16:01 IST
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
How you can save tax on buying a mobile phone, laptop or leasing a car
MUMBAI : Most employees have transitioned to the new regime for lower tax rates without investments, but at the cost of tax benefits like meal cards. However, the new regime still allows employers to reimburse the cost of mobile phones, laptops, or car leases if they are used for official purposes. Some companies allow you to buy these devices after 12 months of use. This is one hidden benefit that you can unlock as an employee in the new regime. How does it work? A phone or a laptop can be structured as a tripartite agreement between the employer, employee, and a leasing company. The company buys the phone and rents it to the employer. The employer allows an employee to use it (for official or work purposes). After 1 or 2 years, the employer sells the phone or laptop to you at a discount, according to Vardhan Koshal, founder of asset leasing company Tortoise. Also Read: How to get taxpayers to spend their tax savings The device leasing process begins with the leasing company reaching out to a corporate client—let's say, ABC Ltd—with a proposal to offer a device leasing programme for its employees 'The leasing firm evaluates the financial credibility of the corporate client, not the individual employees. Once approved, a rental agreement is signed between the leasing company and the corporate entity," according to Tarun Soni, founder and chief executive of asset leasing company Astrafin. This arrangement means the employer holds the financial liability, not the employees, according to Soni. After the agreement is signed, the employer nominates employees who will receive the devices. The leasing company procures and provides these devices. While the employees use the devices, they are not responsible for the lease in a legal or financial sense. Instead, the lease amount is deducted from the employees' pre-tax salary, reducing their taxable income. 'For example, if an employee earns ₹1 lakh per month and leases a device for ₹10,000 monthly, their income tax is calculated on ₹90,000 instead of ₹1 lakh," Soni explained. Also Read: Golden tax window for NRIs: What RNOR means and how to use it This mechanism can lead to significant tax savings. For someone in the 30% tax bracket, the savings would be ₹3,000 per month, or ₹36,000 annually. 'Even after paying the lease amount, the employee experiences a net financial benefit because of the tax savings," Soni added. The lease structure treats the device expense similarly to a reimbursement since the phone is used only for official purposes. Once the lease term—typically 12 months—concludes, the device remains the property of the leasing company. Technically, the contract requires the device to be returned, but in practice, it's often sold to the employee. 'Companies like Tortoise may act as intermediaries in these resale transactions, and the resale value is usually nominal—around 2–7% of the original price," Soni added. Although this price cannot be predetermined in the lease contract, it is validated through market quotations or valuation certificates to ensure fairness. If a device costs ₹1.1 lakh and the employee pays ₹10,000 per month over 12 months (totalling ₹1.2 lakh), they save ₹36,000 through tax benefits. As Soni breaks it down, 'Their effective outflow is ₹84,000 (at a 30% tax bracket). If they choose to purchase the device at the end of the lease for, say, ₹6,000, their total cost becomes ₹90,000—still a ₹20,000 benefit over an outright purchase." Also Read: Capital gains on equities: Here's all you need to know when filing tax returns this year An additional advantage unique to mobile device leasing is the ability to claim input tax credit (ITC) on the goods and services tax (GST) paid. 'Unlike car leasing, which doesn't qualify for ITC under the GST law, mobile phone leasing allows employers to claim ITC. This can even be passed on to the employee, reducing their effective cost further." Given that mobile phones are extensively used for business, often 70–80% or more, classifying them as business expenses is both practical and defensible from a compliance standpoint. Unlike car leasing, which is often reserved for top-tier executives due to its high cost and limited availability, mobile phone or laptop leasing offers a more inclusive and scalable solution for companies. 'Device leasing can cater to a much wider employee base, making it accessible to the broader workforce rather than just a select few," Soni said.
