Date: 2026-04-28Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Income Tax Department reaches out to taxpayers, business community and tax professionals in Ghatkopar to explain the salient features of the IT Act 2025
**Executive Summary**
The Income Tax Department conducted an outreach programme in Ghatkopar on April 28, 2026, to educate stakeholders on the new Income Tax Act, 2025, which came into effect on April 1, 2026. The initiative is part of a nationwide drive to simplify tax compliance and transition to a technology-driven administration. Key upcoming actions include over 30 additional outreach sessions in Mumbai and a Mega Outreach event scheduled for May 12, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**The Income Tax Act, 2025**
* The Act became effective on April 1, 2026, replacing older frameworks with a simplified and rationalized system.
* The legislation aims to reduce the cost of compliance for taxpayers through lucid and easy-to-understand provisions.
* The new system marks a shift from regulatory complexity to a technology-driven, transparent, and trust-based administration.
**Digital Taxpayer Services**
* **Kar Saathi:** An AI-enabled chatbot designed to provide automated assistance to taxpayers.
* **Kar Setu:** A comprehensive booklet containing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the new Act.
* **Educational Resources:** Distribution of Guidance Notes, brochures, and presentations to assist in understanding the transition.
**Outreach and Awareness Initiatives**
* The Department has scheduled over 30 outreach programmes across Mumbai during April and May 2026.
* A Mega Outreach event is confirmed for May 12, 2026, to provide further clarity on tax payment and return filing for the 2026-27 Financial Year.
**Impact Analysis**
**Taxpayers**
**Impact**
Taxpayers benefit from a more user-friendly system and reduced compliance burdens, making it easier to discharge tax obligations for nation-building.
**Action Required**
Taxpayers should utilize the "Kar Saathi" chatbot and "Kar Setu" booklet to familiarize themselves with new filing requirements for the 2026-27 Financial Year.
**Tax Professionals (Chartered Accountants)**
**Impact**
Professionals experience a shift toward a more certain and technology-integrated legal environment, reducing the ambiguity previously associated with complex tax laws.
**Action Required**
Professionals are encouraged to attend the ongoing outreach sessions and review the new Guidance Notes to provide accurate advice under the updated Act.
**Business Community and Trade Associations**
**Impact**
These groups gain from a more efficient and transparent tax administration system that fosters a better business environment through simplified regulations.
**Action Required**
Representatives should participate in the upcoming Mega Outreach event on May 12, 2026, to seek clarifications on specific industry-related tax aspects.
Key Entities Referenced
Income Tax Act, 2025: A simplified and rationalised legislative framework designed to enhance transparency, simplify compliance, and foster a trust-based tax administration system.
Income Tax Department: The primary authority responsible for tax administration and conducting nationwide outreach initiatives to educate taxpayers and professionals on new regulations.
Kar Saathi: An AI-enabled chatbot initiative launched to provide digital taxpayer services and real-time assistance regarding the new tax laws.
Kar Setu: An educational booklet containing FAQs and guidance resources designed to clarify salient features of the new Income Tax Act.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department reaches out to
taxpayers, business community and tax
professionals in Ghatkopar to explain the salient
features of the IT Act 2025
The new Income Tax Act, 2025 is simplified, rationalised and
user-friendly, informs senior Income Tax officials at outreach
programme
Tax professionals opine that the new IT Act has moved from
complexity to clarity
Posted On: 28 APR 2026 7:15PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 28 April 2026
The Income Tax Department conducted an outreach programme on the Income Tax Act, 2025,
in Ghatkopar today (April 28, 2026), as part of a nationwide drive to create awareness about
the salient features of the new Act, which has come into effect from April 1, 2026. These
initiatives underscore the Department’s continued commitment to enhancing taxpayer
awareness, simplifying compliance processes, and fostering a transparent, efficient, and trust-
based tax administration system.Over 350 persons from various cross sections of the society, including taxpayers, chartered
accountants, trade associations and representative from various business communities across
Ghatkopar participated in this programme. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vikram Sahay, Chief
Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai stated that the new Act would be extremely beneficial for
the taxpayers, reducing the cost of compliance by way of simplification, rationalisation, easy to
understand and will help taxpayers in discharging their obligation of paying taxes for nation
building. The Act was drafted by keeping in mind the perspectives of the taxpayers, he added.
Dr. Sahay also mentioned that the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai has
announced that in the months of April and May, over 30 outreach programmes will be conducted
across various locations in Mumbai, and a Mega Outreach event will be organised on 12th May,
2026.
Dr. Maya Maheshwari, Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai, delivered the welcome
address. Dr. Maheshwari said that the Department's officials worked hard over the last two
years to make the Act simple and lucid. A presentation on the new Act was made by Shri Manas
Sahu, ACIT.
Further, the participants were familiarised with digital taxpayers services, including the AI-
enabled “Kar Saathi” chatbot, the booklet “Kar Setu” containing the FAQs on the new Act of
2025 and other educational resources, such as brochures and Guidance Notes.Shri. Jitendra Mehta, Senior Vice President, CREDAI MCHI, Shri. Deepak Chheda, Secretary,
Akhil Ghatkopar Vyaapari Mandal and CA Bhavik Kubadia, Convenor, Ghatkopar Study Circle,
WIRC ICAI, were present amongst the dignitaries on the occasion. The tax professionals
participating in the programme opined that the new Act has moved from complexity to clarity,
and embraces a technology-driven system.
During the two hour long session, the participants raised several questions and sought
clarifications on various aspects relating to tax payment and return filing during Financial Year
2026-27 which were addressed by the senior officers of the Income Tax Department. The event
was well received and appreciated by the various stakeholders.
* * *
PIB Mumbai | Sriyanka Chatterjee/Darshana Rane
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