CBDT chief asks officials to be ready for transition to new I-T Act

New Delhi: CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal has asked the Income Tax Department to be ready and active for the new direct tax law that will be implemented this year from April 1, saying he expects tax officials to work with clarity and purpose.

In his customary new year communication to the staffers of the department, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chief said new rules, procedures and forms were under formulation for this transition.

The CBDT is the administrative body for the I-T Department.

The new I-T Act will replace the over six-decade-old current Income Tax Act of 1961.

Calling 2026 a year of “special significance” for the department, the head of the direct taxes administration in the country urged the officials for their “readiness, understanding of the law and shared confidence in its implementation”.

“This year carries special significance. With the Income Tax Act 2025 notified and scheduled to take effect on 1 April, 2026, we prepare for the shift to the Income Tax Act 2025.