Schedule XI of the Income-tax Act, 2025 carries the rules for recognised provident funds and approved superannuation and gratuity funds, Schedule XII the list of minerals under section 51, and Schedule XIII the list of articles or things under section 45(2).
Schedules XI to XIII do not deal with non-profit organisations, international tax or anti-avoidance. The non-profit code is sections 332 to 355, transfer pricing is sections 161 to 177 and GAAR is sections 178 to 184. Schedules XI to XIII are set out below.
The three Schedules, correctly identified
Schedule XI, read with section 2(91), carries the rules for retirement funds — Part A for recognised provident funds, Part B for approved superannuation funds and gratuity funds, and Part C for the power to make rules for all three.
Schedule XII, read with section 51, is a list. Part A lists minerals — aluminium ores, apatite, beryl, chrome ore, coal and lignite, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, manganese, precious stones, silver, tin, uranium, zinc and more. Part B lists groups of associated minerals. It supports the amortisation of prospecting expenditure under section 51.
Schedule XIII, read with section 45(2), is the list of articles or things — beer, wine and alcoholic spirits, tobacco preparations, cosmetics, toothpaste and soap, aerated waters using blended flavouring concentrates, confectionery and chocolates, gramophones, projectors, photographic apparatus and office machines. It restricts the scientific research deduction for businesses making these items.
The Income-tax Act, 2025 takes effect from 1 April 2026 and applies from tax year 2026-27. The Income-tax Act, 1961 continues to govern every year up to 31 March 2026 because of the repeal and savings provision in section 536. The Schedule contents described here are taken from the Act as enacted, incorporating the corrigenda notified in the Gazette on 3 September 2025.
Where each provision actually sits
| Topic | Income-tax Act, 1961 | Income-tax Act, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Recognised provident funds | Fourth Schedule, Part A | Schedule XI, Part A |
| Approved superannuation and gratuity funds | Fourth Schedule, Parts B and C | Schedule XI, Part B |
| Minerals list | Seventh Schedule | Schedule XII with section 51 |
| List of articles or things | Eleventh Schedule | Schedule XIII with section 45(2) |
| Non-profit organisations | Sections 11, 12, 12A, 12AB, 13 | Sections 332 to 355 |
| Transfer pricing | Sections 92 to 92F | Sections 161 to 177 |
| General Anti-Avoidance Rule | Sections 95 to 102 | Sections 178 to 184 |
| Tax on accreted income | Section 115TD | Section 352 |
Each Schedule, and where the misattributed topics really are
Schedule XI — the retirement fund rules
Part A applies to recognised provident funds but expressly not to any fund to which the Provident Funds Act, 1925 applies. It defines approving authority, employer, employee — excluding a personal or domestic servant — and contribution. Paragraph 6 and paragraph 11(2) of Part A are cross-referred by section 16(i) and (j) to bring taxable provident fund accretion and transferred balance into salary.
Schedule XII — the minerals list
Part A lists twenty-seven minerals by name, from aluminium ores and apatite and phosphatic ores through coal and lignite, gold, iron ore, precious stones, silver and uranium to zinc and zircon. Part B lists groups of associated minerals. It is read with section 51, the amortisation of expenditure for prospecting certain minerals.
Schedule XIII — the list of articles or things
Read with section 45(2), which deals with expenditure on scientific research. The list covers beer, wine and other alcoholic spirits; tobacco and tobacco preparations; cosmetics and toilet preparations; toothpaste, dental cream, tooth powder and soap; aerated waters made using blended flavouring concentrates; confectionery and chocolates; gramophones and records; projectors; photographic apparatus; and office machines and apparatus such as typewriters, calculating and cash registering machines and teleprinters.
Where the non-profit provisions actually are
The registered non-profit organisation code is Chapter XVII, sections 332 to 355 — registration (332), switching regimes (333), tax on income (334), regular and specified income (335 to 338), corpus donations (339 and 340), application and accumulation (341 to 343), restrictions on commercial activity (345 and 346), books, audit and return (347 to 349), permitted investments (350, read with Schedule XVI), violations (351), accreted income (352) and other violations (353).
Where international tax and anti-avoidance are
Transfer pricing is Chapter X, sections 161 to 177 — the arm's length charge in section 161, associated enterprise in 162, international transaction in 163, arm's length price in 165, the Transfer Pricing Officer in 166, safe harbours in 167, advance pricing agreements in 168 and 169, documentation in 171 and the accountant's report in 172. GAAR is Chapter XI, sections 178 to 184. Treaty relief is section 159.
Worked example
Where five topics are actually dealt with.
| Topic | Correct provision | Not |
|---|---|---|
| Recognised provident fund rules | Schedule XI, Part A, with section 2(91) | Schedules V to VII |
| Minerals for prospecting amortisation | Schedule XII, with section 51 | — |
| Articles or things restricting research deduction | Schedule XIII, with section 45(2) | — |
| Trust and NGO taxation | Sections 332 to 355 | Schedules XI to XIII |
| Transfer pricing | Sections 161 to 177 | Schedules XI to XIII |
| GAAR | Sections 178 to 184 | Schedules XI to XIII |
The pattern is consistent across the Act: Schedules carry lists and detailed rules, while sections carry the substantive charge and machinery. Non-profit taxation, transfer pricing and anti-avoidance are all substantive regimes, so they live in Chapters, not Schedules.
Compliance checklist
- For provident, superannuation and gratuity fund rules, open Schedule XI and read the relevant Part.
- Note that Part A does not apply to funds governed by the Provident Funds Act, 1925.
- For prospecting amortisation, read section 51 with Schedule XII.
- For scientific research expenditure, read section 45 with Schedule XIII to check whether the article or thing is listed.
- For trusts and NGOs, go to sections 332 to 355, with permitted investments in section 350 and Schedule XVI.
- For transfer pricing, go to sections 161 to 177; for GAAR, sections 178 to 184.
- Remember that section 92 of the new Act is income from other sources, not transfer pricing.
Common mistakes
- Expecting non-profit, international tax or anti-avoidance provisions in Schedules XI to XIII.
- Looking for provident fund rules in Schedules V to VII, which are exempt income lists.
- Citing section 92 of the new Act for transfer pricing; that is section 161.
- Overlooking that Schedule XIII restricts the scientific research deduction for the listed articles.
All sixteen Schedules of the Income-tax Act, 2025
Because the numbering is widely misquoted, the full list is reproduced below from the Act as enacted. Note that Schedules II to VII are all exemption lists, split by who is claiming rather than by what the income is.
| Schedule | Read with | Subject as enacted |
|---|---|---|
| I | section 9(12) | Conditions for certain activities not to constitute business connection in India |
| II | section 11 | Income not to be included in total income |
| III | section 11 | Income not to be included in total income of eligible persons |
| IV | section 11 | Income not to be included in total income of eligible non-residents, foreign companies and other such persons |
| V | section 11 | Income not to be included in total income of certain eligible persons including investment funds, business trusts and their unit holders |
| VI | section 11 | Income not to be included in total income of certain eligible persons in an International Financial Services Centre or having income therefrom |
| VII | section 11 | Persons exempt from tax |
| VIII | section 12 | Income not to be included in the total income of political parties and electoral trusts |
| IX | section 48 | Deduction for tea, coffee and rubber development accounts |
| X | section 49 | Deduction for Site Restoration Fund |
| XI | section 2(91) | Recognised provident funds, approved superannuation funds and approved gratuity funds |
| XII | section 51 | Minerals, and groups of associated minerals |
| XIII | section 45(2) | List of articles or things |
| XIV | section 55 | Insurance business |
| XV | section 123 | Deduction for life insurance premia, contribution to provident fund, subscription to certain equity shares, etc. |
| XVI | section 350 | Permitted modes of investment or deposits by a registered non-profit organisation |
This is an explanatory guide, not tax advice, and it does not reproduce the section in full. Read the bare text of the section before you rely on it, and check for later amendments, the Income-tax Rules made under the new Act, and CBDT circulars and notifications.