Several financial rule changes are set to come into effect from April 1st. These will directly impact the pockets and daily expenses of ordinary people. Let's explore these changes one by one...

Many financial rules will change from April 1...

New Rules From April 1, 2026: Several financial rule changes are set to take effect on April 1st. These changes will directly impact the pockets and daily expenses of ordinary people. These changes are especially important for employed people, taxpayers, and investors.

These include rules related to PAN card, HRA, credit card, income tax, and ITR filing. Let's explore these rules one by one...

PAN card will be more secure than before

Starting April 1st, other documents will be required in addition to Aadhaar to obtain a PAN card. Until now, applying for a PAN card has been easy using the Aadhaar card. However, a decision has been made to change this. Along with the Aadhaar card, a birth certificate, voter ID, passport, driver's license, 10th-grade certificate, or other government documents will be required.

This government move will make PAN cards more secure than before. However, obtaining a PAN card may take a little longer than before. Furthermore, applications for PAN cards will need to be submitted using a new form.

Increased strictness on HRA claims

Now, the rules for HRA claimants have become more stringent. If an employee pays more than ₹1 lakh in rent annually, they must provide the landlord's PAN number.

Additionally, information regarding whether the landlord is a family member will also need to be provided. Starting April 1st, a separate form will be required for this purpose. The new rules aim to prevent false or fraudulent claims.    

Changes in credit card rules

If you use a credit card, you should familiarize yourself with the new rules. Large credit card transactions will now be monitored. Any digital spending exceeding ₹10 lakh or cash payments exceeding ₹1 lakh in a year will require reporting to the Income Tax Department.

On the other hand, a new feature has been added for taxpayers, allowing them to pay taxes using credit cards. However, using this option may incur additional fees. Therefore, it's important to understand the terms and conditions before making a payment.

Changes for ITR filers

Some changes have been made to the ITR filing dates. The deadline for filing ITR-3 and ITR-4 for non-audit cases is August 31st. Applicants with ITR-1 and ITR-2 can file until July 31st.

Changed rules for ATM withdrawals

Many major banks have revised their ATM and cash withdrawal rules effective April 1, 2026. HDFC Bank has capped the number of free transactions at three in metro cities and five in non-metro cities. Punjab National Bank has also reduced the daily cash withdrawal limit on certain debit cards from ₹100,000 to ₹50,000.

Additionally, Bandhan Bank has revised its ATM rules, allowing only five free financial transactions per month. After that, customers will have to pay additional fees.