Taxpayers have received an important update on the Income Tax e-filing portal. The department has introduced a new Integrated Payment Module, allowing taxpayers to make payments relating to both the earlier Income-tax Act, 1961 and the new Income-tax Act, 2025 through a single interface.

The change is particularly useful for taxpayers who may have outstanding tax-related payments under different tax regimes or tax years.

One Payment System for Old and New Tax Laws

The Income Tax Department has integrated the payment process so that taxpayers can make payments under the Income-tax Act, 1961 for dues up to FY 2025-26 and under the Income-tax Act, 2025 for Tax Year 2026-27 onwards from the same interface.

This means taxpayers do not need to navigate separate payment systems based solely on which tax law applies to their liability.

Why Is This Update Important?

India's income-tax framework has moved toward the new Income-tax Act, 2025, creating a transition period for taxpayers dealing with different financial years and tax obligations.

The integrated payment facility is intended to simplify this transition by bringing the payment process together on the e-filing portal.

For taxpayers, the biggest advantage is convenience: old and new tax-related payments can now be handled through one integrated payment interface.

New Statutory Forms Also Added

The Income Tax Department has also announced the rollout of another set of statutory forms under the Income Tax Rules, 2026.

The latest update says 13 additional statutory forms, including quarterly forms, have been made available on the e-filing portal. Taxpayers can access them through the portal under the Income Tax Forms section.

The department has advised taxpayers to refer to the relevant Income Tax Rules, 2026 and the portal's "Navigator" for details before submitting a form.

ITR Filing Is Also Open for 2026-27

The Income Tax Department's portal currently states that ITR-1 to ITR-5 and ITR-7 for AY 2026-27 are available for filing through online and offline utilities, while ITR-6 is available through the Excel utility.

This means taxpayers should check the applicable ITR form and filing requirements based on their income sources and taxpayer category rather than selecting a form simply because they used it in an earlier year.

Taxpayers Should Be Careful During the Transition

The shift to the new income-tax framework means taxpayers may encounter references to both the old and new Acts depending on the period to which a particular liability relates.

The safest approach is to check the relevant assessment year or tax year before making a payment and verify the details displayed on the official e-filing portal.

Taxpayers should also avoid making payments through links received in unsolicited emails or messages. Always access the official Income Tax e-filing portal directly.

What You Should Do Now

If you have an outstanding tax demand, tax payment or other income-tax liability, check your account on the official e-filing portal.

The new integrated payment facility should make it easier to identify and pay applicable dues under the relevant tax law. The portal is also being updated with forms and utilities under the Income Tax Rules, 2026.

The key takeaway: the Income Tax Department has simplified the payment process during the transition to the new tax framework, allowing taxpayers to handle payments under both the old and new income-tax laws through a single integrated system.