Business
Lower standing charge tariffs set to be available by end of January, says Ofgem
Energy suppliers will be made to offer at least one tariff with lower standing charges as soon as January under plans confirmed by the industry regulator, but it ditched proposals to remove the fixed costs entirely for some deals.
Ofgem said it wants to give consumers more choice on how they pay standing charges, with the plans set to allow households to pay the costs as part of their unit rate by lowering the daily fixed amount.
If given the go-ahead, the new tariffs could be available by the end of January.
Standing charges are applied daily, regardless of how much energy the customer uses, and are used to cover the cost of supplying energy to homes and businesses.
They also cover the costs of building new network infrastructure and keeping the power on when energy suppliers go bust.
Campaigners say they are unfair because everybody pays the same rate, meaning they make up a far higher proportion of bills for people using less energy.
Ofgem stressed these charges cannot be removed entirely and that they can only be moved from one part of the bill to another, which means they are unlikely to mean lower energy costs.
It said it dropped earlier plans for tariffs with zero standing charges and much higher unit rates, as this could have unfairly impacted consumers with high energy needs, such as those who rely on power for medical reasons.
It is also looking to introduce a minimum usage on to the new tariffs so that those with second homes or properties left vacant for long periods do not disproportionately benefit.
Ofgem is now launching one final consultation on the plans, with aims to make a decision by the end of the year, paving the way for the new tariffs to be available to everyone across Britain by the end of January.
Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: “We’ve listened to thousands of consumers that wanted to see changes to the standing charge and taken action.
“We have carefully considered how we can offer more choice on how they pay these fixed costs, however we have taken care to ensure we don’t make some customers worse off.
“After examining all the options available to us, we believe that the right way forward is to require all major suppliers to offer at least one tariff with a lower standing charge.
“This will deliver the choice we know customers want, without having a detrimental impact on customers that have high energy needs.”
But he added: “We cannot remove these charges, we can only move costs around.
“These changes would give households the choice they have asked for, but it’s important that everyone carefully considers what’s right for them as these tariffs are unlikely to reduce bills on their own.”
It comes ahead of a 2% rise in energy costs when the next price cap change takes effect on October 1, which will see the bill for a typical household rise from £1,720 to £1,755 a year.
Martin McCluskey, minister for energy consumers, said: “Consumers should have freedom and choice when choosing an energy tariff that works for them.
“This proposal will make more tariffs available on the market, giving people more options to pay lower standing charges if that suits their needs.”
Ofgem said the new lower standing charge tariff mandate would be likely to only be a short-term measure while it moots permanent changes to allocate costs within the system, as the UK shifts towards renewable energy.
Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said it was a “small step forward” and called on the industry to make sure that households “properly understand the deals they are signing up for”.
“This development doesn’t negate the need for long-term reform to make the system fairer,” he added.
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Taxpayers facing refund holds due to mismatches must act before December 31.
Knowing revised and belated ITRs can help avoid penalties. (representative image)
The Income Tax Department has recently sent messages and emails to many taxpayers saying their refunds are on hold. The reason given is a mismatch in the income tax return (ITR) details. In these alerts, taxpayers have been asked to take action before December 31, this year, to fix the issue.
This has caused confusion, especially among those who believed they had filed their returns correctly. The department has also stepped up checks on cases where it feels excess refunds may have been claimed. As a result, many taxpayers are now unsure about the right way to respond.
In its email, the department reportedly stated, “As the time limit for filing of revised ITR for A.Y. 2025-26 will expire on 31 December 2025, you are requested to avail this opportunity to file Revised Return within the due date if so required. Alternatively, you may file an updated return w.e.f. 1 January 2026, however, subject to an additional tax liability.”
With the deadline nearing, it is important to understand the options available after the original ITR due date has passed.
What Is A Revised ITR?
A revised ITR allows taxpayers to fix mistakes made in the original return. These errors could include missing income details, wrong deductions, calculation errors, or choosing the wrong ITR form. Under Section 139(5) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, taxpayers can submit a revised return to correct such issues.
A revised ITR can also be filed if the refund amount needs to be increased or reduced based on corrected information.
What Is A Belated ITR?
A belated ITR is filed when a taxpayer misses the original filing deadline. As per Section 139(1) of the Income Tax Act, this return can be submitted until December 31 of the assessment year. However, filing late usually means paying a penalty.
Taxpayers who miss the deadline are advised to file a belated return instead of not filing at all, as non-filing can lead to further trouble.
Why File A Revised ITR?
A revised return is useful when the original ITR has errors. These may include underreported or overstated income, wrong deductions, incorrect refund claims, or other filing mistakes.
As quoted by Livemint, CA, Shefali Mundra, tax expert at ClearTax, says, “There is no penalty for filing a revised return within the prescribed timeframe.”
Revised ITR vs Belated ITR Explained
“A revised return is filed to correct errors or omissions in a previously filed return (either original or belated). It can be filed before 31 December of the relevant assessment year or before the department completes the assessment. The revised return is linked to the original filing, and the taxpayer can make corrections without any penalties, apart from paying any additional taxes and interest,” CA Mundra told Livemint.
She added that a belated ITR is treated differently.
“A belated return is filed after the original due date for submitting the return, which is typically 31 July for individual taxpayers. A belated return is still considered an original return, and it is subject to a late filing fee under Section 234F (up to Rs 5,000, depending on the income) and interest on unpaid tax. Additionally, certain benefits, such as carrying forward losses, may not be available when filing a belated return,” CA Mundra also stated.
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Delhi, India, India
December 27, 2025, 10:31 IST
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A rejected critical illness claim may not be the final word if the policy clearly covers the condition.
Policyholders can successfully challenge unfair decisions.(Representative Image)
A policyholder recently faced trouble after his/her spouse was diagnosed with a serious brain-related illness. The condition was identified as bacterial meningitis with encephalitis. Believing the illness was covered, the family filed a critical illness claim with their insurer.
However, the insurance company turned down the request. The reason given was that the illness did not fall under the list of covered conditions. This left the family confused and unsure about the next step, especially at a time when medical stress and costs were already high.
Why A Rejected Claim May Still Be Valid
A claim rejection does not always mean the insurer is right. The first step is to read the policy document carefully. Most critical illness plans clearly list the illnesses they cover. In many policies, bacterial meningitis is included, but only if certain medical conditions are met.
In a similar case, a close review of the policy showed that the illness was listed among 32 covered conditions. The medical records also clearly confirmed the diagnosis and seriousness of the disease. When both the policy terms and medical proof match, the rejection can be questioned.
How To Raise The Issue With The Insurer
The next step is to approach the insurer’s grievance team. This means sending a clear written request that explains why the claim should be accepted. It is important to point out the exact policy clauses and attach all medical reports.
In the case mentioned, the policyholder shared hospital records, diagnosis details, and proof of treatment. Despite this, the insurer stuck to its earlier decision and did not provide any new explanation. This is when many people give up, but there is still another option available.
When The Insurance Ombudsman Can Help
If the insurer does not resolve the issue, the policyholder can approach the insurance ombudsman. Filing a complaint here does not cost anything. The ombudsman reviews both the policy terms and the medical evidence.
During the hearing in this case, the policyholder submitted hospital documents and a doctor’s certificate. The records confirmed that the patient had a lasting brain-related problem for over six weeks, which is an important requirement in many critical illness policies. The insurer failed to provide proof to challenge these findings.
What This Case Teaches Policyholders
After reviewing all details, the ombudsman ruled in favour of the policyholder and asked the insurer to pay the claim amount to the nominee. This shows that unfair claim rejections can be overturned if the policy terms are clear and the documents are in order.
It is always wise to read your policy closely, keep complete medical records, and use the grievance and ombudsman process when needed. Many rejected claims can be resolved because the facts and the policy are on the customer’s side.
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December 27, 2025, 09:33 IST
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Business
India’s Forex Reserves Surge $4.36 Billion To $693 Billion, Gold Holding Rises $2.6 Billion
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India’s Latest Forex Reserves: The value of the gold reserves jumps $2.623 billion to $110.365 billion during the week ended December 19.
India’s Latest Forex Reserves.
India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves surged $4.368 billion to $693.318 billion during the week ended December 19, according to the latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The value of the gold reserves jumped $2.623 billion to $110.365 billion during the week.
The overall kitty had increased by $1.689 billion to $688.949 billion in the previous week.
For the week ended December 19, foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased by $1.641 billion to $559.428 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s latest ‘Weekly Statistical Supplement’ data.
Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effects of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units, such as the euro, pound, and yen, held in the foreign exchange reserves.
The special drawing rights (SDRs) were up by $8 million to $18.744 billion.
India’s reserve position with the IMF was up by $95 million to $4.782 billion in the week, according to the RBI data.
The price of the safe-haven asset gold has been on a sharp uptrend over recent months, perhaps amid heightened global uncertainties and robust investment demand.
After the last monetary policy review meeting, the RBI had said that the country’s foreign exchange reserves were sufficient to cover more than 11 months of merchandise imports. Overall, India’s external sector remains resilient, and the RBI is confident it can comfortably meet external financing requirements.
In 2023, India added around $58 billion to its foreign exchange reserves, contrasting with a cumulative decline of $71 billion in 2022. In 2024, reserves rose by just over $20 billion. So far in 2025, the forex kitty has increased by about $47-48 billion, according to data.
Foreign exchange reserves, or FX reserves, are assets held by a nation’s central bank or monetary authority, primarily in reserve currencies such as the US dollar, with smaller portions in the Euro, Japanese Yen, and Pound Sterling.
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December 27, 2025, 08:17 IST
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