October brings a fresh set of changes that will touch your wallet, your kitchen and your business chats. Some rules start on October 1, while one big payment change follows two weeks later. Shops may soon pay a small fee on larger UPI payments, home appliances are getting costlier just before the festive season, and businesses will pay for some WhatsApp replies that were free so far. Families using subsidised cooking gas must complete a fingerprint based Aadhaar check, and taxpayers whose accounts need an audit have a key filing date nearby. Here is a guide to what is changing, who is affected and what you should do next.
As we reported earlier, the prices of home appliances are set to rise starting October 1. The hike will affect air conditioners, TVs, fridges and washing machines. Reports suggest that makers plan hikes of 5 to 8 per cent. ACs are expected to see a sharp rise, whereas the other items may go up by 3 to 4 per cent. The exact increase will vary by brand, and some stores may still sell old-price stock for a few weeks.
The UPI MDR changes will be effective in October, but unlike other changes in the list, they will come into play starting October 15. NPCI has confirmed that a 0.4 per cent fee will be applied on UPI payments made to shops and businesses when the amount is above Rs 2,000. It has also clarified that the fee will be capped at Rs 300 for payments of Rs 75,000 or more.
Certain categories, such as railways, telecom, insurance and fuel, will pay a flat Rs 5 instead, and small vendors receiving up to Rs 1 lakh a month through UPI QR codes remain exempt. Do note that the fee is to be paid by the merchant, not by the consumer. The GST Council meets on October 7 and is expected to take a view on GST on this fee.
Meta has also announced that it will start charging businesses for customer support replies on WhatsApp Business. Each business phone number will get 1,000 free replies per month, but once they are exhausted, each reply will cost about Rs 0.115. Not only that, but the order and delivery updates sent within the 24-hour chat window will also no longer be free. Do note that the free WhatsApp Business app will not be affected.
Oil companies review the LPG rates on the first day of every month. While last month the rates of the commercial LPG cylinder were increased, it is not yet clear whether this month brings any relief, as the revision is due on October 1. When talking about the domestic LPG cylinder, the rates are expected to remain the same. Also note that from October 1, owners using subsidised LPG must complete biometric Aadhaar authentication.
If you’ve not done that, subsidised refill bookings will not be available. However, you will still be able to buy a cylinder at the market price, without subsidy, in 5 kg or 10 kg sizes subject to availability, and subsidised bookings resume once the check is done.
Aside from the above, the Income Tax Department has also extended the due date for filing income tax returns for taxpayers whose accounts must be audited. They can now complete the process till November 21, 2026, as the last date has moved from October 31, 2026. This gives them three extra weeks. The date for submitting the tax audit report has also moved, from September 30 to October 21, 2026.