It’s the start of a new financial year 2026-27, and many small and big changes have come into effect from today, April 1, 2026, in the way you manage your finances and income tax. Some of the changes affect credit card users, FASTag customers, RuPay debit cardholders. Here are some of the key amendments scheduled for implementation from the beginning of the new financial year.modified pan application criteriaTill March 31, 2026, individuals could apply for PAN card using Aadhaar as the sole document. However, from April 1, 2026, applicants will be required to submit additional documents. Applicants can submit any of several documents as proof, such as birth certificate, voter ID card, class 10 certificate, passport, driving license, or an affidavit issued by a magistrate. With this update, PAN seekers are expected to keep these documents ready in advance to prevent possible processing interruptions. Going forward, the name printed on the PAN card will reflect the details entered in the applicant’s Aadhaar, making it necessary for individuals to ensure that their Aadhaar information is accurate.Increase in FASTag Annual Pass FeeThe National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has revised the annual FASTag pass fee for the financial year 2026-27. With the updated fee taking effect from April 1, 2026, the cost will increase to Rs 3,075 from the current Rs 3,000.Changes in rules for ATM useSeveral banks, including HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank and Bandhan Bank, have revised their policies related to ATM cash withdrawals, including applicable charges and limits. These updated rules will be implemented from April 1, 2026.new income tax rules 2026The Income Tax Act 2025 has come into force from April 1, 2026, replacing the decades-old Income Tax Act 1961. The new Act has several important changes with implications for salaried taxpayers in terms of higher HRA limit for certain cities, higher exemption limit etc. You can read about it in detail here:SBI card benefit changesSBI Card has introduced amendments to the benefits associated with its Cashback SBI Card. From April 1, 2026, the redemption framework has been updated, with statement credit redemptions for select cards now allowed only in multiples of 4,000 reward points.Amendment in RuPay Debit Card Lounge AccessAmendment in RuPay Debit Card Lounge Access From April 1, 2026, RuPay Platinum Debit Card holders will lose access to airport and railway lounges. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has informed member banks about these changes through a circular, indicating the update of lounge access benefits linked to specific RuPay debit cards.Update by HDFC BankHDFC Bank has announced several changes that will impact its customers, including revisions in lending rates, fixed deposit returns, ATM withdrawal norms and locker charges. While some of these updates have already been rolled out, the rest of the changes will come into effect from April 1, 2026.Two-Factor Authentication CriteriaThe Reserve Bank of India has reiterated that all digital payment transactions must comply with two-factor authentication requirements. Although no specific method has been mandated, the system largely relies on SMS-based one-time passwords as an additional verification layer. These guidelines will come into force from April 1, 2026, unless otherwise specified for certain provisions.Revised rules for sovereign gold bond (SGB) From April 1, 2026, the benefit of tax-free redemption on sovereign gold bonds will be limited only to original investors who retain their stake till maturity. Investors who buy these bonds in the secondary market will be charged 12.5% long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax at the time of maturity, which reduces the overall returns compared to earlier.TCS reduced on foreign expenditure Tax collection at source (TCS) applicable on foreign travel has been reduced, providing some relief to travellers. Earlier, tour packages were subject to 5% TCS for amounts up to Rs 10 lakh and 20% TCS for amounts above that limit. Under the revised framework, a uniform 2% TCS will now be levied on the entire cost of the tour.Additionally, there has been a reduction in tax at source (TCS) on remittances for education and medical expenses abroad. Earlier, this rate was 5% on amounts above Rs 10 lakh. Now it has been reduced to 2%, which will reduce the financial stress on those sending money abroad for educational or medical purposes.