Big relief for paint industry: Govt slashes duty to zero amid Iran tensions

Bengaluru housing prices may rise up to 40%: Which areas will see the biggest jump?

L&T Technology Q4FY26 Results: Net profit rises 9.7%, margin improves to 15.2%; Rs 40 final dividend announced

Digital gold: You can start with Rs 1 — but there’s a catch

What is SIP 7-5-3-1 rule? Experts explain simple formula for long-term wealth creation

LTIMindtree Q4 Result Preview: Revenue seen rising 4.8%, margins slipping; guidance in focus

Online Gaming Rules From May 1: Money games barred, boost for social gaming & e-sports

Rs 60 dividend by THIS Bajaj Group stock; Record date announced – Do you own?

600% dividend, 1:2 bonus: Trent Ltd delivers double bonanza as Q4 profit surges 30%

Trade doors open: India, New Zealand to seal FTA next week; duty-free access, services boost on cards

<p data-end="425" data-start="112">India’s tax system quietly hit a major milestone on March 31, 2026, as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signed a record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2025–26. With this, the total number of APAs signed since the programme began has reached 1,034 - crossing the 1,000 mark for the first time.</p>
<p data-end="666" data-start="427">At a time when global companies are increasingly cautious about tax disputes and compliance risks, this milestone sends a clear signal: India is trying to make its tax environment more predictable, less adversarial, and easier to navigate.</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">CBDT has signed a record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2025–26, taking the total number of APAs beyond the milestone of 1000 (i.e. 1034) since inception.</p>
<p>With 84 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs), the highest ever in a single year and new milestones achieved with key… <a href="https://t.co/amG4xnxnq0">pic.twitter.com/amG4xnxnq0</a></p>
<p>— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/IncomeTaxIndia/status/2038973210121892182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><h2 data-end="717" data-section-id="lso7an" data-start="668"><strong>A record year for APAs</strong></h2>
<p data-end="846" data-start="719">The 219 agreements signed in FY26 are not just a one-off spike. They are part of a steady upward trend over the past few years. To put things in perspective:</p>
<ul data-end="962" data-start="878">
<li data-end="899" data-section-id="1daj1j5" data-start="878">FY24 saw 125 APAs</li>
<li data-end="926" data-section-id="y4xc6l" data-start="900">FY25 recorded 174 APAs</li>
<li data-end="962" data-section-id="1ogykwu" data-start="927">FY26 has now jumped to 219 APAs</li>
</ul>
<p data-end="1006" data-start="964">Out of the total 1,034 APAs signed so far:</p>
<ul data-end="1137" data-start="1007">
<li data-end="1071" data-section-id="1yla399" data-start="1007">750 are unilateral (between taxpayer and Indian authorities)</li>
<li data-end="1137" data-section-id="1ur8l08" data-start="1072">284 are bilateral (involving another country’s tax authority)</li>
</ul>
<p data-end="1272" data-start="1139">This consistent rise suggests that more companies are choosing certainty upfront rather than dealing with lengthy tax disputes later.</p>
<h2 data-end="1319" data-section-id="19fghl1" data-start="1274"><strong>Bilateral APAs surge, new countries added</strong></h2>
<p data-end="1400" data-start="1321">One of the standout developments this year is the sharp jump in bilateral APAs. The CBDT signed 84 bilateral agreements in FY26 - the highest ever in a single year, up from 65 in FY25.</p>
<p data-end="1648" data-start="1508">These agreements were finalised with 13 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and others.</p>
<p data-end="1908" data-start="1650">What makes this year particularly notable is that India signed its first-ever bilateral APAs with France, Ireland, Indonesia, and Sweden. That expansion matters because it shows India is widening its tax cooperation network, not just deepening existing ties.</p>
<p data-end="2075" data-start="1910">For businesses operating across borders, bilateral APAs are especially valuable as they help avoid double taxation - a long-standing concern for multinational firms.</p>
<h2 data-end="2110" data-section-id="ay3mey" data-start="2077"><strong>Why companies care about APAs?</strong></h2>
<p data-end="2151" data-start="2112">At its core, an APA is about certainty.</p>
<p data-end="2311" data-start="2153">It allows a company and the tax department to agree in advance on how cross-border transactions will be priced. This agreement can apply for up to five years. That means:</p>
<ul data-end="2393" data-start="2325">
<li data-end="2343" data-section-id="cdvroy" data-start="2325">fewer disputes</li>
<li data-end="2363" data-section-id="qmrpqb" data-start="2344">less litigation</li>
<li data-end="2393" data-section-id="gbx23w" data-start="2364">better financial planning</li>
</ul>
<p data-end="2544" data-start="2395">Instead of fighting a tax case years later, companies get clarity upfront. For many, that predictability is just as important as the tax rate itself.</p>
<h2 data-end="2593" data-section-id="1xwlrwh" data-start="2546"><strong>Safe Harbour rules get a practical overhaul</strong></h2>
<p data-end="2767" data-start="2595">Alongside the APA milestone, the government has also tweaked the Safe Harbour Rules through the Finance Act 2026 and these changes are more practical than they may sound.</p>
<p data-end="2913" data-start="2769">The idea behind Safe Harbour is simple: offer a quicker, lower-cost route for companies that prefer standardised margins over detailed scrutiny. This year’s changes include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Merging various tech service categories into one ‘Information Technology Services’ bucket</li>
<li>Setting a uniform 15.5 per cent margin</li>
<li>Increasing the eligibility limit from Rs 300 crore to Rs 2,000 crore</li>
<li>Reducing paperwork through a more automated system</li>
</ul>
<p data-end="3413" data-start="3222">The framework already covers 12 types of transactions, from IT services to R&amp;D and intra-group financing. With the higher threshold and simpler structure, more companies are likely to opt in. </p>
<p data-end="3413" data-start="3222"><strong>Read More: <a href="https://www.zeebiz.com/economy-infra/news-good-news-for-e-commerce-exporters-as-cbic-rolls-out-major-trade-reforms-from-april-1-392916">Good news for e-commerce exporters as CBIC rolls out major trade reforms from April 1</a></strong></p>


India’s tax system quietly hit a major milestone on March 31, 2026, as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signed a record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2025–26. With this, the total number of APAs signed since the programme began has reached 1,034 - crossing the 1,000 mark for the first time.At a time when global companies are increasingly cautious about tax disputes and compliance risks, this milestone sends a clear signal: India is trying to make its tax environment more predictable, less adversarial, and easier to navigate.CBDT has signed a record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2025–26, taking the total number of APAs beyond the milestone of 1000 (i.e. 1034) since inception.With 84 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs), the highest ever in a single year and new milestones achieved with key… pic.twitter.com/amG4xnxnq0— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) March 31, 2026A record year for APAsThe 219 agreements signed in FY26 are not just a one-off spike. They are part of a steady upward trend over the past few years. To put things in perspective:FY24 saw 125 APAsFY25 recorded 174 APAsFY26 has now jumped to 219 APAsOut of the total 1,034 APAs signed so far:750 are unilateral (between taxpayer and Indian authorities)284 are bilateral (involving another country’s tax authority)This consistent rise suggests that more companies are choosing certainty upfront rather than dealing with lengthy tax disputes later.Bilateral APAs surge, new countries addedOne of the standout developments this year is the sharp jump in bilateral APAs. The CBDT signed 84 bilateral agreements in FY26 - the highest ever in a single year, up from 65 in FY25.These agreements were finalised with 13 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and others.What makes this year particularly notable is that India signed its first-ever bilateral APAs with France, Ireland, Indonesia, and Sweden. That expansion matters because it shows India is widening its tax cooperation network, not just deepening existing ties.For businesses operating across borders, bilateral APAs are especially valuable as they help avoid double taxation - a long-standing concern for multinational firms.Why companies care about APAs?At its core, an APA is about certainty.It allows a company and the tax department to agree in advance on how cross-border transactions will be priced. This agreement can apply for up to five years. That means:fewer disputesless litigationbetter financial planningInstead of fighting a tax case years later, companies get clarity upfront. For many, that predictability is just as important as the tax rate itself.Safe Harbour rules get a practical overhaulAlongside the APA milestone, the government has also tweaked the Safe Harbour Rules through the Finance Act 2026 and these changes are more practical than they may sound.The idea behind Safe Harbour is simple: offer a quicker, lower-cost route for companies that prefer standardised margins over detailed scrutiny. This year’s changes include:Merging various tech service categories into one ‘Information Technology Services’ bucketSetting a uniform 15.5 per cent marginIncreasing the eligibility limit from Rs 300 crore to Rs 2,000 croreReducing paperwork through a more automated systemThe framework already covers 12 types of transactions, from IT services to R&amp;D and intra-group financing. With the higher threshold and simpler structure, more companies are likely to opt in. Read More: Good news for e-commerce exporters as CBIC rolls out major trade reforms from April 1

India has crossed the 1,000 Advance Pricing Agreement milestone, with CBDT signing a record 219 tax deals in FY 2025–26, signalling stronger tax certainty. The move, along with Safe Harbour reforms, is expected to boost investor confidence and ease of doing business.

CBDT signs record 219 tax deals in FY26 as India crosses 1,000 APA mark; what it means for investors

India’s tax system quietly hit a major milestone on March 31, 2026, as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) signed a record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2025–26. With this, the total number of APAs signed since the programme began has reached 1,034 - crossing the 1,000 mark for the first time. At a time when global companies are increasingly cautious about tax disputes and compliance risks, this milestone sends a clear signal: India is trying to make its tax environment more predictable, less adversarial, and easier to navigate. CBDT has signed a record 219 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in FY 2025–26, taking the total number of APAs beyond the milestone of 1000 (i.e. 1034) since inception. With 84 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs), the highest ever in a single year and new milestones achieved with key… pic.twitter.com/amG4xnxnq0 — Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) March 31, 2026 A record year for APAs The 219 agreements signed in FY26 are not just a one-off spike. They are part of a steady upward trend over the past few years. To put things in perspective: FY24 saw 125 APAs FY25 recorded 174 APAs FY26 has now jumped to 219 APAs Out of the total 1,034 APAs signed so far: 750 are unilateral (between taxpayer and Indian authorities) 284 are bilateral (involving another country’s tax authority) This consistent rise suggests that more companies are choosing certainty upfront rather than dealing with lengthy tax disputes later. Bilateral APAs surge, new countries added One of the standout developments this year is the sharp jump in bilateral APAs. The CBDT signed 84 bilateral agreements in FY26 - the highest ever in a single year, up from 65 in FY25. These agreements were finalised with 13 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and others. What makes this year particularly notable is that India signed its first-ever bilateral APAs with France, Ireland, Indonesia, and Sweden. That expansion matters because it shows India is widening its tax cooperation network, not just deepening existing ties. For businesses operating across borders, bilateral APAs are especially valuable as they help avoid double taxation - a long-standing concern for multinational firms. Why companies care about APAs? At its core, an APA is about certainty. It allows a company and the tax department to agree in advance on how cross-border transactions will be priced. This agreement can apply for up to five years. That means: fewer disputes less litigation better financial planning Instead of fighting a tax case years later, companies get clarity upfront. For many, that predictability is just as important as the tax rate itself. Safe Harbour rules get a practical overhaul Alongside the APA milestone, the government has also tweaked the Safe Harbour Rules through the Finance Act 2026 and these changes are more practical than they may sound. The idea behind Safe Harbour is simple: offer a quicker, lower-cost route for companies that prefer standardised margins over detailed scrutiny. This year’s changes include: Merging various tech service categories into one ‘Information Technology Services’ bucket Setting a uniform 15.5 per cent margin Increasing the eligibility limit from Rs 300 crore to Rs 2,000 crore Reducing paperwork through a more automated system The framework already covers 12 types of transactions, from IT services to R D and intra-group financing. With the higher threshold and simpler structure, more companies are likely to opt in.  Read More: Good news for e-commerce exporters as CBIC rolls out major trade reforms from April 1