Commercial cylinder becomes costlier by ₹ 218 from today: Railway ticket refund and toll rules changed, inhand salary will also reduce; 15 changes in April

Today is 1st April. The new financial year has started with commercial gas cylinders becoming expensive. Government oil companies have increased its price to Rs 218.

Apart from this, now railway tickets will be canceled only up to 8 hours in advance. From today, a total of 15 changes are being made including rules related to Fastag, toll tax along with income tax.

Category 1: Kitchen and Travel

1. Commercial cylinder costlier by ₹218

• shift: Oil companies have made commercial gas cylinders costlier by ₹218. The most expensive one will be available in Chennai for Rs 2246.50. Its price in Delhi has become ₹ 2078.50.
• Effect: Due to increase in the price of commercial cylinders, the expenses of restaurant owners will increase. In such a situation, tea, breakfast and thali can become expensive. Wedding catering can also be expensive.

No change in domestic cylinder prices

2. Rail tickets will be canceled only 8 hours in advance

• shift: Refund will be given only if the ticket is canceled up to 8 hours before the departure of the train. Earlier this time was 4 hours. Passengers will also be able to change boarding stations up to 30 minutes before the departure of the train.
• Effect: Failure to cancel tickets on time will result in loss of money. By tightening the rules of refund, the chances of common passengers getting confirmed tickets will increase.

3. Fastag Annual Pass

• shift: On renewing Fastag annual pass from today, more money will be deducted from your wallet. NHAI has increased the prices of annual passes by 2.5%.
• Effect: Instead of Rs 3,000, you will have to pay Rs 3,075 for the annual pass. This pass allows car users to travel without stopping at 200 toll plazas across the country.

4. No-cash on toll

• shift: From today, cash transactions have been completely stopped at all toll plazas. Toll tax can be paid only through digital means like Fastag or UPI.
• Effect: If you do not have Fastag or your balance is less, then the only option for toll will be through UPI. You may get into trouble due to lack of cash option.

5. New prices of vehicles

• shift: Till March 31, vehicles were available in old stock and at old prices. Today, from April 1, the prices of commercial and passenger vehicles have increased by 2% to 3%.
• Effect: If you have booked a car but the bill is not settled by March 31, then now you will have to pay the increased price. Along with showroom prices, registration charges will also be levied at increased prices.

Category 2: Tax, Banking and Markets

6. ‘Assessment Year’ is over, now only ‘Tax Year’

• shift: The new ‘Income Tax Act 2025’ has come into effect from today. Now instead of financial and assessment year, only the term ‘tax year’ will be used.
• Effect: This will end the confusion among taxpayers. If you earned money in 2024-25, you would have to pay tax on it in July 2025. It was called AY 2025-26. There used to be confusion after hearing the names of two different years for the same earning.

7. Filing under the revised regime

• shift: In the year 2025, the government had changed the tax slab of the new regime. This came into effect from 1 April 2025. This year you will be able to file returns with this change.
• Effect: Under Section 87A of a salaried person, income up to Rs 12.75 lakh is tax free. Others can get tax exemption on income up to Rs 12 lakh.

8. Now new forms 130 and 131 have been introduced in place of Form 16.

• shift: Form 16 was given for proof of TDS deduction and Form 16A for other income. Now the format of these forms has been changed to Form 130 and Form 131.
• Effect: When returns are filed in June-July, the tax calculations and exemption details in these forms will be in more detail than before. This will reduce the scope for error in filling ITR.

9. Rules for availing HRA tax exemption changed

• shift: Employees availing tax exemption on HRA will now have to submit rent receipt. If the annual rent is more than Rs 1 lakh, it will be mandatory to provide PAN of the landlord. Now apart from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad have also been included in the 50% tax exemption category.
• Effect: Employees living in these 8 cities will now be able to avail tax exemption on 50% of their basic salary, which will increase their in-hand salary. Now the tax department will match the receipt and the tax records of the landlord. If caught, a fine may be imposed.

10. PNB ATM Cash Limit

• shift: You will be able to withdraw a maximum of ₹ 25 thousand in a day from the Classic Debit Card of Punjab National Bank. This limit for platinum card will be ₹ 50 thousand.
• Effect: If your need is more than this, you will have to go to the bank. Will have to resort to check book or withdrawal form. This decision has been taken to prevent fraud.

11. STT increased on F&O trading

• shift: The government had announced in the budget to increase tax rates to reduce speculation in the F&O market. The tax on sale of futures will now be 0.05% instead of 0.02%. At the same time, this tax on options premium has been increased from 0.1% to 0.15%.
• Effect: The cost of every trade will now increase for intraday and frequency traders. Paying more tax will reduce their net earnings. It will take time to break even in trade.

12. New tax rule on Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB)

• shift: Now tax exemption on maturity of gold bonds will be available only to those who have purchased it directly from RBI. If you have purchased these bonds from another investor from the stock market, now you will have to pay tax on the profits you get on maturity.
• Effect: This will reduce the net profit of those people who used to save tax by buying bonds from the market. Now the profit received on maturity will be considered as ‘capital gain’, on which after deducting tax, the amount in your hand will be less than before.

Category 3: Other major changes

13. Basic pay now 50% of total CTC

• shift: Under the new code, now the ‘Basic Salary’ of the employee should be at least 50% of his total package (CTC). Companies will not be able to keep the allowances more than 50%.
• Effect: In-hand salary may reduce, because increase in basic salary will increase the share of PF and gratuity. However, its biggest benefit will be that your retirement fund (EPF) and gratuity amount will increase more than before.

14. Full and final settlement will be done in 2 days

• shift: Till now, it used to take up to 90 days to get the outstanding money after leaving the job. Now the company will have to pay all the dues within 2 working days of the last working day of the employee.
• Effect: Those changing jobs will not have to wait for months. If the company does not make payment within 2 days, then the employee can complain to the Labor Department and demand money along with interest.

15. PAN Card Update

• shift: Aadhar card has been removed from the list of ‘valid documents’ for date of birth for making PAN card. Now Aadhaar will be taken only as address proof.
• Effect: If you want to get a new PAN card or change the date of birth in the old card, now you will have to provide other documents along with Aadhaar. This includes birth certificate and 10th mark sheet.

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