The ease agenda combines capital-market access, taxpayer service improvements, compliance rationalisation, and customs digitisation. On the taxpayer side, it lowers certain TCS rates, simplifies administrative processes (including automated certificates), extends timelines for revisions and filing in specific cases, and creates structured disclosure and dispute-closure pathways for smaller taxpayers and honest settlement.
On trade facilitation, it pushes towards interconnected digital windows for cargo clearances and a full roll-out of the Customs Integrated System within two years.
Explainer Table 1 — Citizen/taxpayer-facing changes
| Area | Change stated | Practical outcome |
| Investments by persons abroad | PROIs allowed to invest in listed Indian equity via Portfolio Investment Scheme | Wider participation in markets |
| Motor accident tribunal interest | Exempt from income tax; TDS removed | Cleaner compliance and fairer treatment |
| Overseas tour packages | TCS reduced to 2% (from 5% and 20%) with no amount stipulation | Lower friction for travellers |
| Education/medical remittances (LRS) | TCS reduced to 2% (from 5%) | Lower cost of remittances for essentials |
| Manpower services | TDS rate set at 1% or 2% | Clearer withholding regime |
Explainer Table 2 — Compliance, enforcement, and system reforms
| Measure | What changes | What it is designed to reduce |
| Lower/nil deduction certificates | Rule-based automated process for small taxpayers | Administrative delay |
| Form 15G/15H handling | Depositories can accept forms for securities across multiple companies | Repetitive paperwork |
| Revision window | Extended from 31 Dec to 31 Mar with nominal fee | Deadline stress and errors |
| Filing timelines | ITR-1/ITR-2 till 31 July; non-audit business/trusts till 31 Aug | Better alignment with taxpayer complexity |
| Non-resident property sale | TDS deducted/deposited using resident buyer PAN instead of TAN | Easier compliance |
| Foreign asset disclosure | One-time 6-month scheme below a certain size for small taxpayers | Clean-up of legacy non-disclosure |
| Updated returns post reassessment start | Allowed with additional 10% tax over applicable rate | Faster closure pathway |
| Immunity framework | Extended from underreporting to misreporting | Incentivises correction |
| Decriminalisation | Non-production of books/docs and TDS payment requirement decriminalised | Over-criminalisation risk |
| Retrospective immunity | From 1.10.2024 for non-disclosure of non-immovable foreign assets < ₹20 lakh | Reduced fear for small-value cases |
| MAT for non-residents | MAT exemption for presumptive-basis non-residents | Simplification for certain taxpayers |
| Accounting alignment | Joint committee of MCA + CBDT to integrate ICDS requirements in IndAS | Consistency in reporting Ministry of Corporate Affairs Central Board of Direct Taxes |
| Buyback taxation | Buyback treated as capital gains for all shareholders; promoters pay additional buyback tax | Clearer treatment across shareholder types |
| MAT credit set-off | Allowed up to 1/4 of tax liability in new regime; MAT to be final tax | Predictability |
| Health imports | BCD exemption on 17 cancer drugs/medicines | Lower landed cost |
| Cargo clearance | Single interconnected digital window; CIS roll-out in 2 years | Faster cross-border movement Customs Integrated System |
| Dispute settlement | Close cases by paying additional amount in lieu of penalty | Quicker resolution |