Key financial changes to commence from January 1: Check new rules

New Delhi: We are just going to ring in the new year 2021 in a couple of hours. Come January 1, 2021 and several rules regarding important financial matters are going to change.

Since these rules are going to affect the lives of common man, it is important to know more about these changes in detail.

Here are rules regarding  financial matters that will kick in from January 1, 2021

1. Cheque payments rule

In a bid to check banking fraud, the Reserve Bank of India had a couple of months ago decided to introduce the ''positive pay system'' for cheque, under which re-confirmation of key details may be needed for payments beyond Rs 50,000. This Cheque payments rule of positive pay system will come into effect from January 1 2021. While availing of this facility is at the discretion of the account holder, banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheques for amounts of Rs 5 lakh and above.

2. Contactless card transactions limit

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that the limits for contactless card transactions and e-mandates for recurring transactions through cards and UPI will be enhanced from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 from January 1, 2021. RBI said that the move is aimed to expand adoption of digital payment in a safe and secure manner. These are also well-suited to make payments in a safe and secure manner, especially during the current pandemic. This will depend on mandate and discretion of customers, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said.

3. Google Pay web app

Google is all set kill the web app of its payments application --Google Pay --in January and is will also charge users for instant money transfers. On Google Pay, customers have so far been able to manage payments as well as send money from both a mobile app or from pay.google.com. However, as per the latest notice, now, Google has said that the web app site will no longer work from January next year.

4. GST-registered small biz

Businesses with up to Rs 5 crore turnover will have to file only four GST sales returns, or GSTR-3B, from January instead of 12 at present, according to sources quoted by news agency PTI. The Quarterly filing of Return with Monthly Payment (QRMP) Scheme would impact almost 94 lakh taxpayers, about 92 per cent of the total tax base of the goods and services tax (GST). With this, from January onwards, small taxpayers would need to file only eight returns (four GSTR-3B and four GSTR-1 returns) in a year.