Connect with us

Business

State pension alert as Britons may find their National Insurance contributions don’t count | Personal Finance | Finance

CHANNEL TODAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Published

on


Britons are urged to check their National Insurance records as some people may find they are not eligible for the full state pension if there is a shortfall.

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, those nearing retirement are urged to check if they will benefit from as much retirement income as possible.

Ways to boost one’s retirement income could be taking on part-time work, investing in property and other investments, and topping up National Insurance contributions.

In order to secure the full new state pension, Britons need 35 qualifying years on their National Insurance record.

A minimum of 10 qualifying years is typically needed to get any state pension at all.

Some people could therefore be shocked to find although they paid National Insurance in a given year, they did not earn a qualifying year.

Financial expert Laura Pomfret warned Britons that National Insurance is an “all or nothing situation”.

Britons may find that they are missing out on thousands of pounds each year, due to tens or hundreds of pounds.

She said: “She said: “You could go and look and you might find a year would be £20 because you’ve paid it nearly all that year but you just didn’t quite tip over.

“It’s an all-or-nothing situation with National Insurance, so imagine if you could pay £20 and get access to that extra £275.”

There are set criteria to take into account when it comes to what is considered a qualifying year.

Those in work earn a qualifying year by earning a minimum amount of money during a tax year. And they pay the required NI contributions.

For 2023/24 these minimums are:

– For employees: £123 a week, £533 a month, £6,396 a year
– For the self-employed: £129 a week, £560 a month, £6,725 a year

If someone doesn’t earn enough to pay National Insurance for example if they’re claiming benefits because they’re ill or unemployed, they may be able to get NI credits to fill gaps in their record.

For instance, they can build up NI credits for time spent raising a family, if they care for someone who is sick or disabled, or if they’ve been enrolled in full-time training.

Britons can check how many qualifying years they have by visiting the GOV.UK website.

Andrew Tully, technical Director at Canada Life, said: “Paying voluntary National Insurance (NI) contributions to boost your state pension can be a great deal, and you should get your money back after around three years.

“But care needs to be taken as many people will have sufficient NI to qualify for a full state pension, so have no need to pay more.

“Even if you have gaps in your record you may be able to fill these for free by making sure you have received credits, for example, if you were unemployed, or caring for relatives.”

The full new state pension is now £203.85 a week and under the old scheme, the maximum ‘basic’ state pension is £156.20 a week.

Britons can check how much state pension they will get in retirement by checking their state pension forecast.

 People may want to pay voluntary contributions because:

  • They’re close to state Pension age and do not have enough qualifying years to get the full state pension
  • They know they will not be able to get the qualifying years they need to get the full state pension during their working life
  • They’re self-employed, file Self Assessment tax returns and do not have to pay Class 2 contributions because they have low profits
  • They live outside the UK, but they want to qualify for some benefits

This forecast will show people how many qualifying NI years they’ve already built up, and how many more they need (if any) to get the maximum amount of state pension.

Buying one full voluntary NI contribution year costs £824 and adds £275 a year to their state pension – over 10 years, this would work out an extra £2,750. People need to live for around three years to get their money back. 

For more information, people can visit the Government website.



Source link

Business

Sensex Jumps 800 Points, Market Bounce Back On Buying Bank Stocks

CHANNEL TODAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Published

on




Mumbai:

Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded sharply in morning trade on Wednesday after heavy drubbing in the previous session amid buying in blue-chip bank stocks and a firm trend in Asian peers.

The 30-share BSE benchmark gauge Sensex bounced back in early trade and later jumped 835.2 points or 1.02 per cent to 82,021.64. The NSE Nifty surged 262.3 points or 1.06 per cent to 24,946.20.

From the Sensex firms, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Finance, UltraTech Cement, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv, Tech Mahindra, HDFC Bank and Tata Motors were the biggest gainers.

IndusInd Bank emerged as the only laggard.

Moody’s Ratings said on Wednesday, India is well-positioned to deal with the negative effects of US tariffs and global trade disruptions as domestic growth drivers and low dependence on exports anchor the economy.

In a note on India, the agency said government initiatives to boost private consumption, expand manufacturing capacity and increase infrastructure spending will help offset the weakening outlook for global demand.

In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng were trading in the positive territory while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index quoted lower.

US markets ended lower on Tuesday.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude jumped 1.62 per cent to USD 66.44 a barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 10,016.10 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.

Retreating from early highs, the 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 872.98 points or 1.06 per cent to settle at 81,186.44 on Tuesday. The Nifty tumbled 261.55 points or 1.05 per cent to 24,683.90.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)




Source link

Continue Reading

Business

Piccadily Becomes The 1st Indian Alcobev Company To Adapt NFC Technology To Combat Counterfeiting

CHANNEL TODAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Published

on



New Delhi, Delhi, India – Business Wire India 

In a pioneering move to safeguard consumers and reinforce trust in premium Indian spirits, Piccadily Agro Industries Limited has become the first Indian alco-bev company to implement ForgeStop’s cutting-edge anti-counterfeit smart label technology for its acclaimed Indri Single Malt.

With counterfeiting rampant in India – where it’s said that more Scotch is consumed than Scotland even produces – Piccadily has taken a bold and proactive step. By integrating NFC-enabled smart labels into its packaging, the company is setting a new benchmark in authenticity and transparency, investing significantly to ensure consumers receive only genuine, original products, reinforcing trust in premium Indian spirits.

ForgeStop InfoTap Labels on Piccadily products utilize EM Microelectronic echo-V chips with 128bit AES encryption and dynamically changing tokens – giving them bank level security and making them virtually impossible to fake. They also feature tag-tamper detection – alerting a consumer if the bottle seal has ever been broken – this prevents bottle re-use, a major issue with Alcohol counterfeiting that is difficult to combat with other technologies. Its platform creates a unique digital twin of every product at the moment of production and secures the product until it’s enjoyed by the customer. The software allows for app-free authentication and provides batch level product information – making it the most user-friendly anti-counterfeit technology available. This technology can be connected to the blockchain generating an immutable product journey – securing supply chains.

Unlike static technologies such as QR codes or holograms, this NFC tap and verify experience allows customers to simply tap their smartphones to the bottle to instantly confirm its authenticity and view batch-level information.

“As a brand committed to authenticity and quality, we’re proud to be the first Indian single malt brand to take this bold step,” said Praveen Malviya, CEO (IMFL), Piccadily Agro Industries Limited. “Counterfeit alcohol is a serious issue in India and globally. With ForgeStop’s smart technology, our customers can enjoy Indri with the confidence that what’s in the bottle is exactly what we crafted.”

“We’re proud to partner with Piccadily Distilleries, a globally recognized brand leading the way in product integrity. With ForgeStop’s smart label technology, consumers can instantly verify authenticity and access product information with a simple tap-no app required. It’s a seamless blend of security and brand storytelling,” said Terry Katz, CEO of ForgeStop.

As per the TRACIT (Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade) September 2023 report on India, a significant share of alcohol sold in India is counterfeit-well above the global average-and the problem is escalating rapidly. Counterfeit alcohol not only harms brands but also poses serious risks to consumer health.

With this first-of-its-kind initiative, Piccadily is elevating the standards of transparency, safety, and innovation in the Indian spirits industry-paving the way for a more secure and connected future for whisky lovers.

*Source- Source (TRACIT Report on India)

Source (OECD Illicit Trade Report)

Stock Ticker: (PICCADIL | 530305 | INE546C01010)

About Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited (PAIL)

Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited (PAIL) is a publicly listed company on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE: PICAGRO). The company operates primarily in two strategic business segments: Distillery and Sugar. Its manufacturing facility is located in Indri, Haryana, covers 168 acres and is equipped with advanced technology for producing a diverse range of products, including Malt, Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA), Ethanol, and White Crystal Sugar.

Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited has established itself as a key player in the alcoholic beverages industry, particularly renowned for its expertise in malt spirits. The company boasts a robust portfolio that includes premium expressions of Indri single malt whisky, blended malt whisky brands and Camikara, premium sugarcane juice aged rum.

In 2022, Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited made a significant mark with the launch of ‘Indri’ its flagship single malt whisky brand, aimed at catering to discerning consumers who appreciate quality and craftsmanship in spirits. By focusing on premiumization strategies and leveraging its technical capabilities, the company has successfully positioned itself as a leader in the Indian single malt whisky market by becoming the ‘fastest growing single malt whisky brand’ in 2024.

Website: www.piccadily.com

About ForgeStop

ForgeStop is a connected product technology company that helps brands deliver engaging, trusted product experiences while protecting against counterfeiting, supply chain fraud, and lost consumer trust. Its smart label platform enables interactive product experiences that protect brands and engage buyers.

Website: www.forgestop.com

Media Contact Details

Nazish Khan, Avian WE, [email protected], +91-9538385162
Abhishek Haryson, Avian WE, [email protected], +91-9891356547




Source link

Continue Reading

Business

Filing Guide And Full List Of Deadlines

CHANNEL TODAY BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Published

on



Quick Reads

Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.

Filing ITR is crucial for salaried employee, business owner and freelancer.

But do keep in mind the deadlines for various categories of taxpayers.

Filing your ITR on time saves you from late fees, interest, and scrutiny notices

New Delhi:

Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) is an annual obligation for every eligible Indian taxpayer. It not only ensures compliance with the law but also facilitates access to various financial services like loans, visas and credit cards. An ITR is essentially a declaration of your income, deductions and taxes paid to the Income Tax Department of India. Whether you’re a salaried employee, a business owner, or a freelancer, timely ITR filing is crucial.

Who Needs To File An ITR?

Individuals or entities whose gross total income exceeds the basic exemption limit must file an ITR. For FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26), the exemption limits under the new tax regime are as mentioned on the Income Tax Department’s website are:

  • Rs 3 lakh for individuals
  • Rs 3 lakh for senior citizens (60-79 years)
  • Rs 5 lakh for super senior citizens (80 years and above)

In the Union Budget 2025-26, the government announced zero tax on income up to Rs 12 lakh. The zero tax will only be applicable to individuals opting for the new tax regime. However, you still need to file an income tax return (ITR), even if your taxable salary is less than Rs 12 lakh. Zero tax is payable due to a tax rebate available under Section 87A of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

ITR must be filed by an individual to claim the tax rebate under Section 87A.

Key ITR Filing Deadlines for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26)

Category of taxpayerDeadline
Individual Salaried Employees / Non-Audit CasesJuly 31, 2025 This includes salaried individuals, freelancers, and professionals not subject to tax audit.
Businesses Requiring AuditOctober 31, 2025

If your business turnover exceeds Rs 1 crore (or Rs 10 crore in certain digital transaction cases), a tax audit is mandatory.

Transfer Pricing Cases (International/Specified Domestic Transactions)November 30, 2025 Applicable for entities involved in cross-border or specified domestic transactions requiring a transfer pricing report (Form 3CEB).
Belated or Revised ReturnDecember 31, 2025

Filing your ITR on time saves you from late fees, interest, and scrutiny notices. With the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal, the process has become simpler than ever. Keep your PAN, Aadhaar, bank statements, Form 16, and investment proofs ready to avoid last-minute hassle.




Source link

Continue Reading

Trending